USS Choctaw by Canute - Heinkel Models - 1/200 scale - CARD

[dgbot]

I have gone through your log several times and am learning something new every time I do.  As for your skin try running a dowel over it in different directions to make the skinning easier.

David B

[Canute]

Thanks for the likes, folks. And David, I'll give it a shot. Thanks for the idea.

[Cathead]

Good stuff, Ken, thanks. The previous extent of my knowledge on this topic came from visiting the Cairo in Vicksburg. BTW, that link doesn't work as entered; it needs an http:// in front of it, at least in my browser. Just a note for anyone else who tries to follow it.

[Jack12477]

Happy Birthday, Ken

[GLakie]

I see it's your Birthday again Ken!  Happy Birthday!  

[Canute]

Thanks, guys. Much appreciated. The Admiral will be taking me out to dinner somewhere, when she gets off work. As a "gentleman of leisure", time off is easier to schedule, although I do a fair amount of volunteer work with my church and the County Sheriff.

[Landlubber Mike]

Very cool build Ken, thanks for sharing all the steps with us.  These card models look really intriguing

[dgbot]

Mike, the most important tool you need is a very sharp knife to make  clean cut. Just make sure your hands are steady when you start.  You do not want any boo boos.

David B

[Seventynet]

Ken,

 

I just found your log and read through it. That is a very cool project. I hope you don't mind if I dust off a seat and join you.

 

Best, Ian

[Burroak]

Canute I never have seen a card model before. I'm impressed with your build. I will be watching from now on. Looks great. Where do you get those card models by the way?

 

Greg H.

[Canute]

Greg, go to Ecardmodels.com and look for steam era ships. If you want to read about the actual ships check this site out: http://users.wowway.com/~jenkins/ironclads/ironclad.htm

 

Ecardmodels.com carry American Civil War, European ships and some South American ships, too. They also have loads of other stuff (aircraft, armor, structures), too. The Confederate ships may be a little easier, since they're more flat plates on casements. Some of the Yankee stuff is  more rounded (turrets and such) and cutting those parts out is my nemesis. Need multiple sized steel circle templates or a reliable compass with a cutting blade.

[Captain Slog]

Hi Ken,

 

sorry to clutter up your log but Greg if you look here http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/2745-pt-iii-shopping-for-card-models/for where to purchase kits.

 

Also Chris (ccoyle) has a whole series of threads on building card models in the card section of this forum.

 

cheers

Slog

[Canute]

Slog, any time. We're all going the same way. Thanks.

[Omega1234]

Hi Ken

 

I was reminded of your model when someone mentioned making card models earlier today.  It made me think of your ship and so, I thought I'd check in to see if you've been able to make any more progress so far?

 

Cheers

 

Patrick

Edited March 14, 2016 by Omega1234

[Canute]

Patrick, thanks for asking. I put it on hold until I can cut better looking curves in flay sheets of paper and card. Bounty launch is back on the front burner.

[captainbob]

Your model is coming along nicely, very interesting. 

 

I am fascinated by the riverboats that were converted into gunboats.  As packets, the boats went in one direction on the rivers to the last stop and then went all the way back.  But as gunboats they had to be where the action was.   Yes the lower Mississippi river is wide but can you imagine turning around a floating football field sized boat in some of the smaller tributaries?  

 

Bob

[Canute]

Choctaw was a conversion and pretty active in the mid- Mississippi River from just before Vicksburg  in 1863 thru the end of hostilities in 1865. She took part in the largely futile Red River expedition in March - May 1864. She was 270' long and 69' wide, with a draft of 8'. Pretty heavily armed with 3 x 11" Dahlgen smooth-bores, 2 x 30# Parrot rifles and 2 x 24#. Her 1-2" armor was supposedly laid over India rubber. Choctaw was said to be able to make 2 knots heading up river. Speedy it was not!

[mtaylor]

Considering her size and the Mississippi flow, 2 knots probably wasn't too bad at the time.

[BANYAN]

Hi Ken, sorry to have missed your log before this as I limit myself to a certain number of builds otherwise i would spend all day on the PC

 

An interesting subject and build you have going; card is an area I have not yet dabbled in so I will pull up a chair and have a closer read from the beginning.

 

cheers

 

Pat

[Canute]

Pat, I've got Choctaw on hold until I can cut the cardstock into cleaner circles. Right now they look like stop signs and such. The rounded casements will look good, if I can cut them out better. The paddle wheel boxes are too jagged, so I have to redo them.

[Captain Slog]

Hi Ken,

 

Not sure if it will help your circle cutting issue but in my last couple of posts in another card modelling forum I did a mini tutorial on using a circle cutter.  The wheel rims I cut out were about 22mm outer diameter and about 3mm wide from 0.5mm card.

 

If you are interested in checking it out just click on the link for the Mazur D-350 in my signature.  Unfortunately you have to be a member and logged in to see the images full size other wise its just small thumbnails.

 

Can you post what it is you are trying to cut as I have a few techniques I use depending on the size of the part and the card thickness.  Small thick laminated parts I take multiple small slices etc. Some times I will file the shape in to sheet brass so I have a hard edge 'ruler' to follow and a few more techniques.  I am sure others have methods to share also if you can elaborate what the issue is. 

 

Cheers

Slog

Edited April 25, 2016 by Captain Slog