sjanicki Posted March 4, 2018 Share #1 Posted March 4, 2018 Hi All, recently got back into the hobby after a number of years and purchased the combined USS Monitor and CSS Virginia kits from BlueJacket. This build log will cover the Monitor portion. I emailed BlueJacket with some questions on the kit and MrBlueJacket answered them quite promptly and also pointed me to this awesome website - so consequently this first entry in the build log is a bit retroactive on my progress. Will continue posting after this as I continue with progress. Started off by sanding and forming the hull taking as much care to maintain the required sharp edges. Made a small mistake while carving out the propeller well which was easy enough to fix with some wood spackle. Next up for the main work on the hull was scribing the deck tiles. Began by drawing the tiles with a ruler and pencil to be sure I was getting the shape I wanted and then scribing them. Recently primed the hull and will post a picture of the scribe lines post prime to see a reference without the pencil marks. Next up was installing the propeller and rudder assembly. This didn't take too much time but required a bit of fineness on my part to make it all square. In retrospect I probably should have cut a jig or something to help me hold it in place. Any tips on this? Next up was rolling the turret photo etched brass. Probably on account of my low skill level, but it took me a bit of time to get the turret to look truly round. This photo is before trimming the cardboard on the interior of the gun ports though. The turret seriously looks gorgeous in person though, a little sad I will have to paint it. So far I have been having a seriously awesome time with this kit and look forward to continuing on it. Once again I am recently back in the hobby (was never that good at it years ago) and would love any feedback or tips and tricks people have Also, huge thanks to MrBlueJacket for pointing me to this site. mtaylor, Ryland Craze, russ and 4 others 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjanicki Posted March 4, 2018 Author Share #2 Posted March 4, 2018 Primed most of the parts a couple nights ago, just now getting around to taking picture of it. Got a first coat of paint on the turret, and dahlgrens - still more work to do to cover the couple spots I missed on the cannons. Actually super happy about how the deck plates turned out. They are a bit easier to see after priming. Just seeing how the paint looks on a couple spots. thibaultron, Canute, mtaylor and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtaylor Posted March 4, 2018 Share #3 Posted March 4, 2018 Welcome to MSW and back to the hobby. From what I'm seeing, she looks pretty good. BETAQDAVE, thibaultron and Canute 3 Quote Mark "The shipwright is slow, but the wood is patient." - me Current Build: Past Builds: La Belle Poule 1765 - French Frigate from ANCRE plans - ON HOLD Triton Cross-Section NRG Hallf Hull Planking Kit HMS Sphinx 1775 - Vanguard Models - 1:64 Non-Ship Model: On hold, maybe forever: CH-53 Sikorsky - 1:48 - Revell - Completed Licorne - 1755 from Hahn Plans (Scratch) Version 2.0 (Abandoned) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Lad Posted March 4, 2018 Share #4 Posted March 4, 2018 Nice to see you back into it! She looks very nicely built to date. John mtaylor, Canute and thibaultron 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeithAug Posted March 4, 2018 Share #5 Posted March 4, 2018 17 hours ago, sjanicki said: In retrospect I probably should have cut a jig or something to help me hold it in place. Any tips on this? A jig for drilling the prop shaft hole is a good idea. The attached is a more complex jig than you need but gives an idea of what to do. Basically it is 2 pieces of MDF drilled with holes to align the drill for the prop shaft tube. Nice little model by the way. Ryland Craze, thibaultron, mtaylor and 1 other 4 Quote Keith Current Build:- Cangarda (Steam Yacht) - Scale 1:24 Previous Builds:- Schooner Germania (Nova) - Scale 1:36 https://modelshipworld.com/topic/19848-schooner-germania-nova-by-keithaug-scale-136-1908-2011/ Schooner Altair by KeithAug - Scale 1:32 - 1931 http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/12515-schooner-altair-by-keithaug-scale-132-1931/?p=378702 J Class Endeavour by KeithAug - Amati - Scale 1:35 - 1989 after restoration. http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/10752-j-class-endeavour-by-keithaug-amati-scale-135-1989-after-restoration/?p=325029 Other Topics Nautical Adventures http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/13727-nautical-adventures/?p=422846 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjanicki Posted March 5, 2018 Author Share #6 Posted March 5, 2018 Thanks Mark and John for the encouraging words! Thanks Keith for the cool jig idea. May try to make one for the CSS Virginia model next. Next up on the Monitor is painting so hopefully will have a bit of time for that tonight. Canute, Ryland Craze, thibaultron and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjanicki Posted March 6, 2018 Author Share #7 Posted March 6, 2018 So had enough time tonight to get a few things done. Installed the deck, anchor, and propellor hatches as well as the mooring cleats, flagstaffs, pilot house, and anchor chain. Also got a quick first coat of black pain on the deck. Some of the primer is still showing through so at least another coat will be required. Progressing Very happy with how the deck platting pattern turned out in this photo. mtaylor, thibaultron and Canute 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrBlueJacket Posted March 6, 2018 Share #8 Posted March 6, 2018 Your progress makes me smile. Canute, thibaultron and mtaylor 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papa Posted March 6, 2018 Share #9 Posted March 6, 2018 (edited) Very nice looking model. I did the Monitor about 25 years ago. I used the copper strips i had left over from coppering the Essex to simulate the plating. I embossed rivets (man was that boring) around all the edges. Once painted it look great. Edited March 6, 2018 by ragove Canute, mtaylor, thibaultron and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjanicki Posted March 7, 2018 Author Share #10 Posted March 7, 2018 Thanks MrBlueJacket and Ragove for the kind words. As for the deck plates I just used a simple scribe as the instructions suggested - so a little less time consuming then the individually embossed rivets. Had just enough time tonight to add another coat of paint as well as mount the dahlgrens into the turret. Very happy with how the turret has turned out after painting Up next is seeing how the deck looks after the paint dries and any touchup required and then painting below the waterline. JerseyCity Frankie, Canute, glennreader and 3 others 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Rogers Posted March 7, 2018 Share #11 Posted March 7, 2018 Have you looked into model railroad rivets? Canute, thibaultron and mtaylor 3 Quote Regards, Jim Rogers Damn the Torpedoes , Full speed ahead. Adm David Farragut. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canute Posted March 7, 2018 Share #12 Posted March 7, 2018 Check this company out: http://www.archertransfers.com/index.html They have a wide range of rivets and weld lines, along with a lot of other goodies. Jim Rogers, thibaultron and mtaylor 3 Quote Ken Started: MS Bounty Longboat, On Hold: Heinkel USS Choctaw paper Down the road: Shipyard HMC Alert 1/96 paper, Mamoli Constitution Cross, MS USN Picket Boat #1 Scratchbuild: Echo Cross Section Member Nautical Research Guild Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjanicki Posted March 8, 2018 Author Share #13 Posted March 8, 2018 Jim Rogers and Canute, thanks for the rivet resources! Spent a little time last night doing a little fine sanding on the paint. What do people think of adding a clear coat to the model? The paint kit included a clear coat but would it be overly glossy? thibaultron, Canute and mtaylor 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Rogers Posted March 8, 2018 Share #14 Posted March 8, 2018 You can get a flat clear coat in a spray. Your Monitor is looking great. Canute, mtaylor and thibaultron 3 Quote Regards, Jim Rogers Damn the Torpedoes , Full speed ahead. Adm David Farragut. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjanicki Posted March 14, 2018 Author Share #15 Posted March 14, 2018 Jim, thanks! Life has gotten in the way a bit but hopefully can make some more progress tonight or tomorrow after work. Canute, thibaultron and mtaylor 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thibaultron Posted March 14, 2018 Share #16 Posted March 14, 2018 Nice work so far! Canute and mtaylor 2 Quote Ron Thibault Shipjack Carrie Price from Pyro kit, with upgraded detailing and history. Going From A 2D Drawing To A 3D Printed Part Tutorial Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjanicki Posted March 26, 2018 Author Share #17 Posted March 26, 2018 (edited) Ron, thanks! Just getting back to it. Painted the first coat of black under the waterline. Will paint it a nice shade of red once the black dries. Super happy with how it is going so far! Edited March 26, 2018 by sjanicki russ, Ryland Craze, Canute and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjanicki Posted March 27, 2018 Author Share #18 Posted March 27, 2018 Only had like 10 minutes tonight but managed to mask the freeboard to get ready to paint below the waterline. Very happy with how it is turning out! Ryland Craze, Canute and mtaylor 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjanicki Posted March 30, 2018 Author Share #19 Posted March 30, 2018 Finally making progress on painting the lower hull! Slow but steady progress. KeithAug, Canute and mtaylor 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Rogers Posted March 30, 2018 Share #20 Posted March 30, 2018 She is looking good. mtaylor and Canute 2 Quote Regards, Jim Rogers Damn the Torpedoes , Full speed ahead. Adm David Farragut. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjanicki Posted June 18, 2018 Author Share #21 Posted June 18, 2018 Sorry for not posting in a while, haven't had time Made a ton of progress on the Monitor this weekend and am basically calling her done! Few little things like the flags but mostly done. Took some marginal photos but should be able to take some better ones outside this week maybe. Anyways, I am extremely happy with how the model turned out, especially as my first foray back into the hobby in years. Special thanks to @MrBlueJacket and company for making such a fine little model. Next up are some quality finished photos and then the CSS Virginia! Canute 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrBlueJacket Posted June 18, 2018 Share #22 Posted June 18, 2018 Nice job! Especially the scribed deck plates, nice and even. mort stoll 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JerseyCity Frankie Posted June 18, 2018 Share #23 Posted June 18, 2018 (edited) There’s a nice bronze memorial sculpture of Ericsson in New York City’s Battery Park in which he’s depicted holding a scale model of the Monitor. Ericsson lived in Hoboken NJ for a while, just North of where I am in Jersey City. -just a few miles away from this location on the NJ side of the Hudson River. Edited June 18, 2018 by JerseyCity Frankie Jim Rogers, mort stoll, mtaylor and 1 other 4 Quote Quote Niagara USS Constitution Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjanicki Posted June 27, 2018 Author Share #24 Posted June 27, 2018 So I realized I had forgotten to attach the anchor to its chain when I had posted before. Not too much work to get it connected though - quick bit of thread work. Canute and Ryland Craze 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjanicki Posted June 27, 2018 Author Share #25 Posted June 27, 2018 Nice enough weather tonight to take her outside and capture some completed shots. So happy with the result! I am finally calling her finished. Excited to get started on the CSS Virginia next. Would highly recommend this kit to anyone looking for a fun build. Canute, Ryland Craze, mtaylor and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Rogers Posted June 27, 2018 Share #26 Posted June 27, 2018 Great job. A great display would be a Monitor vs Virginia diorama. sjanicki, Canute and mtaylor 3 Quote Regards, Jim Rogers Damn the Torpedoes , Full speed ahead. Adm David Farragut. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjanicki Posted November 7, 2018 Author Share #27 Posted November 7, 2018 So after continuing work on the CSS Virginia I am much more satisfied with the quality of my paint work when utilizing an airbrush (I hand brushed the Monitor). So I decided to sand off a layer of paint and re-paint with an airbrush. I’ll need to continue airbrushing the Virginia so I don’t think it will take long. Canute, mtaylor, Jim Rogers and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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