DKM Graf Zeppelin by RGL - FINISHED - Trumpeter - 1/350 - PLASTIC

[RGL]

Moving on with the underside, I had to add extra gussets at the bow end of the flight deck, cut out plastic for the catapults. 

 

Primer coat then a lighter grey coat. This deck is a nightmare to align properly. 

[RGL]

The elevators and catapult carriage runways, painted German Red/Black then a satin coat. Tomorrow I can give them some chipping fluids and an overspray of greys. Then chipping. 

 

I have to add the platforms before placing the deck on. 

[cog]

You do not seem to have a problem aligning it. Rust colour over the primer, and chipping fluid on top of that, I presume.

platforms look rather spiffy ... but for the final top coat, straight from the factory I might say

[RGL]

I’ve been dry fitting the deck over and over and to get it to sit correctly and flush will take it being put down in sections. Then it has to be glued. That will be probably the hardest part of the build apart from the air wings. 

 

As for the primer, if you put a clear coat over the red primer I’m hoping it will weather better. 

Edited June 19, 2019 by RGL

[cog]

1 hour ago, RGL said:

As for the primer, if you put a clear coat over the red primer I’m hoping it will weather better. 

Most likely, mate

[BANYAN]

A lot of detail under the deck (for the catapult) mate; how much will be visible?

 

Good lock with laying the deck in sections; hope all goes without drama.

 

cheers

 

Pat

[RGL]

Plane elevators, 

 

primer

 

3 shades of grey, with some panels

 

chipping 

 

filters and washes

 

Edited June 20, 2019 by RGL

[RGL]

2 elevators plugged in, the final one will be carrying a plane up to the deck and the gap is biggest I can do to fit other aircraft inside

[RGL]

The lid is on, hardest part of the build now needs a full day of touch ups and the rear support struts under the flight deck. I’ll have to pull off half of the support gussets and glue them flush to the hull. 

 

Everything above the flight deck line can be done after everything below it is finished. Armaments will be done second last to the aircraft. 

 

The massive holes cut cut in the front of the flight deck will house the catapults. 

Edited June 20, 2019 by RGL

[cog]

The only thing missing from the flight deck down seems to be the water ... weathering turned out real good

[popeye the sailor]

did you need to cut those channels........must have been nerve wracking  I'd be worried about knocking gussets off!  looks really good though.....she's coming along really nice    as usual,  your weathering is extraordinary.......so freak'in good! 

[RGL]

I cut them before the metal was attached. 

 

The rear flight deck, supports added plus a few stabilisation struts made from offcuts, paint, rust, rudders now it can stay on the stand. Notice the angle of the rudders which is more like the real thing. 

Edited June 22, 2019 by RGL

[cog]

Looking good, but what about the yellow streaks sloshing down at the stern?

[RGL]

It’s dried rust, as it’s a dark colour it comes up very bright. I might work some scratches into it with a lighter primer colour on panel lines yet. There is a really big flagpole and a quad cannon in the stern that does distract a bit. 

 

Once  I get the deck on I need to paint on nazi flags, landing lines and the weather it. Yes, there will be nazi flags as it’s still historically accurate regardless of it being repugnant. 

 

There will then be every bit as much as detail as Yamato or Ise. 

[RGL]

One of the hardest things about putting on a pre chewed deck is alignment. The bigger the deck, the harder. This one’s about 1mm out of alignment. I must say the de k is quite nice and well defined. 

[RGL]

Next are the metal PE runways for the aircraft trolleys

[RGL]

Finally, I hand painted all the features that are supposed to be metal. There was a tiny bit of over run but after weathering and parking airplanes on top it want stick out. 

 

Next is to paint a big yellow line down the centre and the flags. The wind barriers don’t need to go on yet permanently. Coming along OK. 

[cog]

Very lucky on the small misalignment. The deck does indeed look very well. Follow the yellow brick road ...

[Old Collingwood]

Supprised to see a wooden deck on a carrier,     really nice work there greg.

 

OC.

[Canute]

US and Japanese carriers used wood decking. RN went armored pretty early. The kamikaze attacks off Okinawa disabused the USN of wood decks.

[Kevin]

very nice work

[GrandpaPhil]

Very cool!

[CDW]

I got bleed-thru on my USS Essex carrier deck when I masked and painted the ship numbers on fore and aft ends of the deck. In retrospect, I could have first spraying a coat of flat clear, let it dry, then applied the black numbers. I think this would have prevented any bleed-thru that could be seen. Secondly, maybe should have reduced the paint a little less.

In any case, the wooden deck acts as a wick to pull the paint under the masking.

[RGL]

Yes, the bleed through! I’m going to use the airbrush for the rest of the deck painting so hopefully it won’t be wet enough to soak. 

[CDW]

9 minutes ago, RGL said:

Yes, the bleed through! I’m going to use the airbrush for the rest of the deck painting so hopefully it won’t be wet enough to soak. 

Keep it very light, misted on coats. Several light coats to cover are better than a heavy coat that bleeds thru.

[RGL]

Yellow line done, and 4 arrestor wires added. 

[RGL]

Now, three yellow bars done. I’m not going to put a flag at the stern, as it does not make sense by 1944 to identify herself so easily. 

[RGL]

Small update, bow deck flag, and the catapult covers (open position) each of which have 27 gussets. 

[popeye the sailor]

superb progress Greg!  the deck looks awesome!

[BANYAN]

Nice work Greg.  Are you going to distress the deck and add tyre marks at the landing area etc?

 

cheers

 

Pat