Queen Mary 2 by ChrisSC - FINISHED - Heller - 1/600 - PLASTIC

[ChrisSC]

I decided to do a quick build of a 1/600 Queen Mary 2. I'm going to try to build all the 1/600 ocean liners available before I move back to the larger scales.

[wemattson]

So, after tackling the Normandie, which came out phenomenal I might add, you decided to go after all the 1/600 ships? Sounds like a great idea!

[wemattson]

I meant to add that you're off to great start on this one as well.

[yvesvidal]

11 hours ago, ChrisSC said:

I decided to do a quick build of a 1/600 Queen Mary 2. I'm going to try to build all the 1/600 ocean liners available before I move back to the larger scales.

 

That is an excellent decision, Chris. Wow, look at that hull, quite a prominent bulb in the front.... I like the three bow thrusters. They must help tremendously to steer that leviathan, in the absence of tugs.

 

Yves

[ChrisSC]

Thanks wemattson and Yves. The kit has a tremendous amount of decals, I've never seen anything like it. I chose to paint the waterline area as opposed to using the decals. I didn't have much confidence in getting them to line up properly as they are in 6 pieces. They are also very thick and require about 3 minutes to slide them off. I have found they are silvering despite my using a gloss coat to apply them on. If you enjoy working with decals this is the kit for you lol.

[wemattson]

Chris, are you lighting this model?  I ask because it looks like you added LED light stripes on either side at the main deck level.

[Old Collingwood]

Another Superb piece of artwork in the making  - will follow along again mate.

 

OC.

Edited March 26, 2021 by Old Collingwood

[ChrisSC]

Thanks OC. Wemattson, no I'm not lighting it. There are a lot of decals and some areas painted white, that may be what you're seeing.

[ChrisSC]

1/600 Queen Mary 2 is moving along quickly.

[Old Collingwood]

That's a Beast   -  you are doing a Marvellous job of her.

 

OC.

[lmagna]

Certainly a different look than the liners you already have done but the quality is sure still there.

Edited March 30, 2021 by lmagna

[ChrisSC]

Thanks OC and Lou. It is a pretty large kit for a 1/600 scale. Lou I'm not really all that enthused about building her but I figured since I have a few other 1/600's I may as well add her. I've decided that I'm just going to build the kit out of the box and not add any significant amount of PE. I think it would cost me more money to buy enough railings to fit this ship out with PE than the kit itself. Just the balconies would need who knows how much railing to purchase. I have this ship in the 1/400 scale also so I guess I will detail that one.

I'm not a fan of cruise ships and she does remind me a bit of a cruise ship with all the apartment block decks. That being said, she still is the only passenger ship currently in service I would build a model of.

[ChrisSC]

More progress on 1/600 Queen Mary 2.

[lmagna]

I agree with you Chris in that the model is available in the scale of the liners you have already chosen to model and therefore should be added to the "Set." Not so sure about the railings though. I know it would be a hassle and added cost but won't she kind of stand out next to the others without them? Toms Model Works and White Ensign both seem to carry them in that scale at somewhat reasonable prices. 

[ChrisSC]

5 hours ago, lmagna said:

I agree with you Chris in that the model is available in the scale of the liners you have already chosen to model and therefore should be added to the "Set." Not so sure about the railings though. I know it would be a hassle and added cost but won't she kind of stand out next to the others without them? Toms Model Works and White Ensign both seem to carry them in that scale at somewhat reasonable prices. 

From the start I did plan to make it a quick build just to add to the set. The PE is a decision I've wrestled with. One point in favor of building her simply as the manufacturer suggests is that the kit does come with a very extensive decal sheet and clear parts that would go in spots that usually have railings. I considered just putting PE on the bow and stern but thought that would look kind of half way done. The main stopping point for me on the PE is the balconies, there are just a crazy amount of railings to be put there. I think I am figuring it will be all or nothing and looking at the kit when completed it will be obvious that it's an out of the box build. I'll put this one on a low shelf lol!

 

I'm glad Queen Mary 2 was built in real life, she is an ocean liner, but I just don't have a passion for the ship. It is the apartment block decks that put me off. I understand they were necessary to make her profitable enough to be built but I guess I'm old fashioned in what appeals to me aesthetically. I think that has crept in to my enthusiasm towards building the model. It is similar to how I feel about the France vs Norway. After the profile of the France was changed with the addition of more decks she lost much of her appeal to me. Same with military ships, a battleship I would enjoy building much more than a modern cruiser or destroyer. As with most things I like the classic looks of things from an earlier time.

 

Just the other day I watched a TV program on the SS United States which has been just sitting there rusting for a couple of decades. I would rather have her sit there than someone buy her and add ten decks to her as a floating hotel. I think the original Queen Mary made out the best, from the exterior she still looks like the Queen Mary but is still maintained. 

 

In the end I will wind up building the Queen Mary 2 in 1/400 scale and she will get all her PE lol!

[Old Collingwood]

I agree totally about the looks of these floating  hotels  - just no attraction for me either,     you are doing a marvelous job Chris.

 

OC.

[lmagna]

17 hours ago, ChrisSC said:

I'll put this one on a low shelf lol!

No need for that. Your skills do much to make it worthy of a better position than that........... Maybe the back of the shelf.  

[ChrisSC]

I said I was gonna build this out of the box but I flip flopped and started doing black PE railings on the balconies of 1/600 QM2. Did the first four blocks on one side. I have some Gold Medal stainless PE which I can never seem to bend correctly so I’ll use it up here since these are straight runs. I’ll use brass for the rest of the railings. I also changed the color of the screw blades from copper to something more towards a steel color.

[Old Collingwood]

Thats a job and a half mate   - looking super  - so makes a difference PE does despite it fiddly-ness.

 

OC.

[ChrisSC]

Thanks OC. I don't know what I got myself into here, it's a lot of railing lol.

[Old Collingwood]

24 minutes ago, ChrisSC said:

Thanks OC. I don't know what I got myself into here, it's a lot of railing lol.

Tell you what  - if anyone can - you are the man,    you have become the go to man here for liners  - great stuff.

 

OC.

[lmagna]

I almost hate to say it Chris but those railings look fantastic! I'm kind of sorry I brought it up in the first place because of all the extra work and expense but darn, it really looks nice.

[ChrisSC]

The actual ship has dark tinted glass instead of railings but I definitely wasn't going there. I had the PE set aside for other projects but I realized it was Gold Medal Stainless Steel PE which I hate working with on railings. I can't get it to bend at 90 degrees perfectly crisp as brass does. So in the end I thought I can get rid of a lot of this stainless PE by putting it on this ship. Lou you are off the hook lol!

[ChrisSC]

I added most of the PE. Once the davits are installed I’ll add the boat deck railings.

[lmagna]

It's amazing what a few railings, (properly installed) can accomplish! They are like jewelry on the lady!

[Veszett Roka]

On 3/26/2021 at 2:31 PM, yvesvidal said:

 

 Wow, look at that hull, quite a prominent bulb in the front....

 

 

Hi there Yves,

 

you might saw THIS already

 

(Well, the antifouling is not on its best 🙃 )

 

Edited April 8, 2021 by Veszett Roka

[ChrisSC]

Lou, so far she has taken on a lot of PE with all the terraces.

Veszett Roka, awesome photo. It really gives you an appreciation of how large this ship is. He's a very cool captain for taking that shot.

[Old Collingwood]

She is looking Superb Chris.

 

OC.

[lmagna]

8 hours ago, ChrisSC said:

so far she has taken on a lot of PE with all the terraces.

Yes I suppose I should have left out the word "few." But I still stand by the fact that they really dress her up.

[ChrisSC]

Thanks OC. Lou, I agree. Now that it's done she looks better with the PE.

 

 That’s all for 1/600 Queen Mary 2. Out of the box with some railings. The funnel decals had me using curse words I didn’t even know I knew lol. Time for a break. I am going to build a 3D printer from a kit and try to learn how to use it.