USS Missouri by Koppalakki - FINISHED - Tamiya - 1/350 - PLASTIC - 1991 configuration with Pontos detail set

[Koppalakki]

8 hours ago, popeye the sailor said:

very nice job on the turrets........what color grays are you using?

For the light gray xf-19 lightened with white and the dark gray is a random mix of dark gray xf-24 , light gray xf-19 and blue xf-50.

Edited July 19, 2018 by Koppalakki

[popeye the sailor]

I thought so on the darker gray    I have been doing research on the U.S.S. Arizona.   most camo paint during that time was various grays.  it has been quite an effort to find out just what these battleships were painted in at the time of Pearl Harbor.   a recent claim is that they were painted in a Mediterranean blue, or a sea blue......but I just don't buy it.   there is a gray quality there.......looking at a forum site the other day confirms what I've been thinking.   they made a reference to a French dark blue gray #2105 , Model Master........there is also a French light blue gray #2109,  which looks more like it,  in my opinion.   Humbrol has a few colors that seem to work too,  but of course,  they have different names for them.

 

I just saw that color and it intrigued the heck out of me........I was going to try and mix paints as well.  but if I can find one that will work,  it will save the last few hairs on my head   

[Koppalakki]

Well I never really care about the colors too much. The way I paint consists of so many layers of shades that using a color match to a certain paint chip would be useless anyway. Also the scale and everything plays a factor. I just mostly make a shade of color that I find pleasing to my eye and go with that.

 

Not sure how many different deck gray colors were used on the Missouri in 1991 but here's a photo you can spot over 4 shades (could be just weathering effects etc.)

on different sections of the decks and turret tops. So I just look at photos and go with that!

 

https://i.redd.it/0p6oaz03vhzy.jpg

Edited July 19, 2018 by Koppalakki

[popeye the sailor]

even that color gray would be good.   I think one thing that has to be taken into consideration,  is fading and reflection from the water.  likely the reason why folks have the idea about the blue.   after my reply,  I was off again looking through paint colors.   I even mixed up some to try out......I took matt aircraft blue {billings} and mixed in some gunship gray {model master}.   it came out to a medium gray / intermediate blue.  good enough to use,  I think.

 

I do pretty much the same......I use photos for reference.  I have a folder full of 'em....mostly trawlers and fishing vessels.   I love wartime vessels,  but I just don't do enough of them.....not since I've gotten into wooden ships.   I usually come up with a paint scheme of my own and go with it.

 

your colors are spot on   

[Koppalakki]

And the 2nd turret finished!

 

 

And on their respective positions.

 

 

Might bring the 1st turret top more inline with 2nd ones weathering. Have to see when all the pieces lock together to see if it's too much of a contrast.

[Koppalakki]

Actually I got some info on this matter (2nd turret has antiskid surface while number 1 does not) and after seeing this picture I think I got them pretty right by chance!

 

Edited July 19, 2018 by Koppalakki

[Tigerdvr]

JMHO but I think the untreated one looks closer to the picture of the real deck. Main battery keeps getting better, thanks for the ruler.

hjm

[RGL]

As usual you’re the master! I agree with the paint as it depends on the time of day/ sunlight/shade as to how a grey looks grey. 

[popeye the sailor]

glad your not going to change this........I think it looks just right    along with what Greg mentioned,  fading is also a factor.   not all parts age the same.   not only that,  you've still got the surrounding areas to weather.  once you do that,  it will look a whole lot better!   wonderful job your doing......

 

I could never achieve this kind of finish.......I'm too much of a clean freak!  

[Koppalakki]

Still finishing and getting the hull ready for some paint operations.

 

Here's some other small stuff which I have worked on the side.

 

Finished the aft Mk 38 director.

 

Pretty straight forward using the Pontos set. Only difference is that I used individual grab handles instead of ladders.

 

 

Some attention was given to the aft tomahawk platform.

 

First some antiskid surfaces were masked with tape then some surfacer 1000 with a brush dappled to give some texture and bring the areas more visible.

 

 

A lot of lights were scratch build from styrene, wires and PE.

 

 

Bottom recieved some generic detailing with styrene and wires.

 

 

I really need to get started on the painting though, but I'm a bit hesitating because I know it'll take me a good 30 hours of airbrushing the damn oil canning effect.

And it's boring

[Koppalakki]

Some more progress on the aft tomahawk platform.

 

Some minor details will be added before gluing it down but otherwise finished.

 

[Koppalakki]

And the construction finished on the rear funnel!

 

Some additional details added, the booms will be added after painting because some decals needs to be placed behind them.

 

Funny how the angle of the photos distort the ladders and antennas making them look really crooked.

 

[Koppalakki]

And a llittle bit more!

Middle tomahawk part primed. Rest of the details will be added after painting.

 

And finished the aft funnel!

 

[cog]

how have you done the oilcanning effect on the funnel? increadible ...

[Koppalakki]

I carefully mask the lines with masking tape. Starting with all the horizontal lines then after those the vertical ones. Just spray lighter shade then some overspray to tone down the effect.

[cog]

Marvelous, never thought of that!

[Old Collingwood]

10 hours ago, cog said:

Marvelous, never thought of that!

Not easy if your hand painting like me.

 

OC.

[lmagna]

1 hour ago, Old Collingwood said:

Not easy if your hand painting like me.

OC

 

You could possibly do something similar with dry brushing with a small brush. Kind of like a woman doing makeup.

[Old Collingwood]

10 minutes ago, lmagna said:

OC

 

You could possibly do something similar with dry brushing with a small brush. Kind of like a woman doing makeup.

Yep,  I do dry brushing.

 

OC.

[cog]

8 hours ago, Old Collingwood said:

Not easy if your hand painting like me.

 

OC.

It takes a bit longer OC, but you can use the same concept ...

[Koppalakki]

So some mail arrived!

 

Like I mentioned, this image made me order some infini launchers!

 

 

And some madness did I get!

 

The infini set is just unbelievable! Though it's not for the faintest of heart! One launcher is about 100 pieces of PE and the smallest ones are tiny. More like new level of tiny I ever encountered! This will put your dexterity and mental toughness to the test. I spent about 4 hour getting everything as best as I could, there's a few bits I'm not too happy about it but the set comes with 2 launchers so if I feel too unhappy about it I can always make a another one.

 

[lmagna]

That is a whole new level of detail! I can't even imagine what they look like in person, little pieces of jewelry! 

[Koppalakki]

They sure do look great, but I'm a bit worried that they stick out like a sore thumb next to the veteran ones.

 

I try to finish it up later today so we'll see!

[cog]

Depends if you use them both ... and of course what detail surrounds them ...

[Koppalakki]

Planing on using one and it's next to 3 closed veteran ones. Hence why I'm doubting!

[cog]

You might indeed see some (major?) difference ... you can always put that spot in the shade ... on the other hand if this one is open and the other three are closed you will probably get away with the difference, since they wouldn't look the same anyway ... different angle, other light fall, etc ... perhaps compare before glueing it down to it's spot?

Edited August 7, 2018 by cog

[lmagna]

Can you use parts of the unused unit to enhance the closed veteran units? 

[cog]

lou you may have overlooked this bit:

 

Quote

The infini set is just unbelievable! Though it's not for the faintest of heart! One launcher is about 100 pieces of PE and the smallest ones are tiny. More like new level of tiny I ever encountered! This will put your dexterity and mental toughness to the test. I spent about 4 hour getting everything as best as I could, there's a few bits I'm not too happy about it but the set comes with 2 launchers so if I feel too unhappy about it I can always make a another one.

unfortunately, would have been a nice alternative though

[Koppalakki]

The outside details are pretty on par with each set. I actually put custom PE bits to the infi launchers to get them to look more like the veteran ones. The biggest difference is the infi launchers are a bit bigger than the veteran ones. It's hard to see as it will be open so it extends even further back.   

 

I'm replacing the 4th launcher on the aft platform (just like the reference photo) all else are closed. I doubt they had multiple launchers open while firing anyway.

 

 

[lmagna]

10 hours ago, cog said:

but the set comes with 2 launchers

?????

I thought that was what I was referring to. Use the second unused Infi launcher as parts for the closed veteran launchers.

At any rate Koppalakki seems to think that the veteran units are as detailed as needed and that was not the issue he was referring to in his first post.

 

I guess I don't write all that clearly sometimes, especially when I try and condense it down to as few words as possible for me.