RMS Titanic by popeye the sailor - Academy - PLASTIC - 1/400 scale

[lb0190]

I'm enjoying your build Popeye. I've never seen a plastic model with such detail and build quality.

[NenadM]

Big like !!!

[Jim Lad]

Coming on very nicely, Popeye.  By the way, just to be pedantic, the lifeboat 'cradles' are officially called 'chocks'.

 

John

[popeye the sailor]

thanks John.......I was stuck for a word as to what they were called.   apparently some manufacturers don't even know that. 

 

thank you for your kind comments and likes...you all are so kind with my clumsy attempt at a plastic model.  if anyone hasn't clicked on the link to see Doris's build of the Academy Titanic,  I strongly suggest that you do.   there may be a language barrier,  but the pictures speak completely for themselves.  she has the kit with the photo etch and wooden deck and her process and work on this model is exquisite.   it's very hard to see all the detail from the picture she posted of her.  bravo Doris.........I was speechless with the level of modeling you put into this build..........absolutely stunning!   

 

I did a few bits on her yesterday .........not a whole lot.   the two decks are cemented together now,  and I attempted to do the window detail on the forward skylight / hold......it covers a domed skylight.   I must say........I couldn't have botched it up,  in any finer fashion.  to make matters worse,  I think I scratched the window aspect in the process of trying to remove the tape I had cut,  in the effort to mask it.  so it's off to removing the paint and starting over.......I just hope I didn't scratch the 'glass to badly.   to me,  aside from the chrome,  this is probably the second bad point about this kit...molding parts in clear plastic.

    if they were to do it,  I would have imagined that some,  if not all of the windows,  would have had clear glass inserts..........odd that the skylights would be the only place where clear 'glass' would be seen,  considering how many windows are on this model.   I hope to post some sort of an update,  since this is the last day of my vacation.   back to the grind,  I suppose...............but,  I'll be plotting my next vacation.   I still have enough time accumulated for 1 more 

[augie]

Don't know if it would help, Popeye, but I've had success removing scratches from acetate type windows using very fine (1500 or 3000) grit sandpaper, wet.  Not easy to find.

[src]

Try McMaster-car for that. search for polishing paper. They have it down to 0.1 microns (2500grit) PN: 8258a11

Sam

[src]

Or PN: 4611a201. 3000grit

Sam

[Omega1234]

Hi Dennis

 

It goes without saying that your Titanic's looking damn fine, however, I never really gave it much thought (why, I don't know), but your close-up photography is just brilliant! It's a joy to squizz at your photos.

 

That must be another one of your multiple strengths?

 

Cheers and all the best!

 

Patrick

Edited July 10, 2015 by Omega1234

[popeye the sailor]

Thanks for the suggestions,  but there is a further snag...........the part in question is broken     don't know how.........I was just wiping the roof off with thinner on a rag.   looks like I'll be doing some scratch building,  perhaps 

[NenadM]

Magic of scratch ... nothing without ... dark side force is strong with you ... think there is no help for you ... and no chance to make bad model

[kpnuts]

Just. Thought when I lit mine I lined the inside of the hull with tinfoil (not to block light out but to reflect it so I needed less leds) but it did have that effect you could line anywhere you didn't want light escaping with foil (I used double sided sticky tape to stick my foil with) just an idea.

[Greg the peg leg sailor]

I'm enjoying your build Popeye. I've never seen a plastic model with such detail and build quality.

This is true to me as well. In actual fact, I have never thought twice about plastic model, but your build and log has changed my view completely!

[kpnuts]

There are some amazing plastic kits out there and with the aftermarket parts I'd say they could challenge wooden kits.

[popeye the sailor]

ohhhhhh.........getting use to being back at work again,  is a complete drag!   what was worse....it was above 90 degrees all week end!    I'm glad it's over,  and I'm on my 'week end' again 

 

they do come with difficulty levels Greg.......but,  like wooden kits,  they are not clearly defined.   I started this medium with an expert level wooden kit,  but i've found equal enjoyment with advanced beginners kits.  the one big hurdle that the plastic kit has to maintain with wooden kits though,  is the ability to mimic the wood appearance.   plastic kits do command more attention towards painting prowess,  and the ability to weather finishes.   complexity of plastic kits,  can be noted by the number of parts and how much detail is included into the finished model.   both mediums have enjoyed the benefit of photo etch and resin.........as long as aftermarket can satisfy both mediums,  then folks will find them equally as enjoyable.

[popeye the sailor]

I just looked in my pictures folder,  and I found these two that I had imported before recharging my camera.   rigging the decks needed to be done at this stage.    the stern section was rigged with back stays.......then the funnel lines were added to the boat deck.

 

 

then the A deck and the boat deck was cemented together

 

 

I have other pictures,   but they are still in the camera   I'll post them later 

[NenadM]

Killing work, my friend. I enjoy looking

[augie]

Great to see these.  Never imagined there would be so much rigging on a steamer.  Appreciate you pointing out all these details.

[popeye the sailor]

thanks Nenad 

 

that's the tough part.......all the little parts need to be done first....I'll be knock'in things off left 'n right       wait till I tackle the communication wires 

[mtaylor]

A fully rigged Titanic.  Who knew? 

[GLakie]

It's amazing how many guy-wires there are.  When looking at her profile, you don't really pay any attention to them.   

[Greg the peg leg sailor]

G'day Denis

Thank you very much for in depth answer. I didn't realise that there vast arrays of difficulty in plastic! I guess on one level plastic could be harder than wood because you don't have the same amount of latitude as in wood. Btw your Titanic is coming on great gun!

Havagooday

Greg

Edited July 15, 2015 by Greg the peg leg sailor

[usedtosail]

My problem with plastic has always been getting glue where it isn't supposed to be. Much harder to deal with than cleaning glue off wood, I think. But hten again, it has been probably 45 years since I built a plastic model 

[popeye the sailor]

you would be amazed with the rigging that the Titanic had Mark.........the TRMA has some very nice diagrams for those who are doing the wooden kit.  it's too bad I can't include some of it on this model.

 

I'm finding a little harder Greg..........I've been spoiled ........soooooooooooo bad!   

 

on wood,  it's a lot easier Tom..........I usually use white glue.   it dries flat and hardly noticeable......where I use flats almost exclusively,  I'm forever touching up the glue marks.

[popeye the sailor]

I finally got the other pictures out of the camera.   when the camera was ready to go,  the clamps had been removed from the two decks.  I was doing some dry fitting,  as well as painting some of the part with flat white.

 

 

I had looked through Doris's complete build log......for those who haven't seen it,  it is a work of art.  she reveals another botch in the kit's design...........I may follow suit with her solution.

 

 

these countersunk structures look good from the sides.......but what of the ends?   to be honest,  I saw a glimpse of this earlier,  but didn't think much of it until I read her log.   both raised decks are like this.

 

 

I had mentioned that I botched up the forward skylight......tried to mask the windows,  since it was made from clear plastic.   it didn't go as planned.

 

 

the only solution was to clean off the paint and try redoing it.........I was going paint the windows with the window maker, to see if that would fix the scratches I had put into them.   but my luck went downhill fast........the part simply crumbled and broke in my hands!

 

 

if you recall what I had mentioned earlier,  clear plastic is pure styrene..........harder,  unforgiving,  and apparently a bit more brittle,  that plastics that have had color additives added to them.   the only recourse here,  is to make another one. 

   I was talking to the admiral about getting some thinner plastic sheet to make it from.........and then I realized that I had those decks from the United states kit.........I could use that      so I've trimmed all the raised stuff off of one of the pieces,  and I now have plenty of sheet plastic ti make it......as well as fix the problems with the raised decks.   we'll see where I go from here 

[Jim Lad]

You're doing well, Popeye.  I'm sure a little problem like that skylight won't even slow you down.

 

John

[GLakie]

Somehow I knew you'd be doing some scratch-building sooner or later Dennis.   I have no doubt the sky-light will turn out better for it. She's looking better and better with more deck structures being added to her.  

 

Cheers

[mtaylor]

I got my fingers crossed for you Popeye even though we all know it'll turn out well.  I do remember clear styrene being exceptionally brittle from my model car days.   What about plastic from a bubble/blister pack? 

[Greg the peg leg sailor]

G'day Denis

Bummer is all I can say for you. I'm very sorry about the clear skylights. I've got an idea that might help, have you thought about getting some plastic laminate sheets. it is only an idea but it might work.

 

Well anyway mate have a good day.

Greg

[popeye the sailor]

thanks you for all your kind comments and suggestions....I really appreciate them     another day of not finding any time to play .........but I did manage to do some browsing.  I found this really good documentary on you tube.   I was hoping to find the one that was on  H2  {it's a history channel}.......it focused on the expansion joints that were segmented along the decks.   just another guess-ta-ment on how she sank.  I hope you enjoy this....it's in five parts,  and the next one starts automatically {it did for me}

 

 

anyone who has build planes and cars,  know this plastic very well 

[popeye the sailor]

here are a couple more bits of footage for you to enjoy 

 

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFfHhdjs9cI