Rebuilding the fleet by mikegr - 1/700 - restoring old plastic models

[mikegr]

I am in a hurry to finish it by this Sunday at least the model if not the sea bed.

I glued almost everything except few pieces left as well as rails on main deck. I did also deck weathering. After  gluing parts, rigging and weathering. I do rigging first before works comes first , then pleasure(rigging is boring).

[mikegr]

I finished rigging added rails and whatever boats I could found as I have missed a couple. Took the pic with light near the bright wall so 0.05 mm elastic rigging can be visible. Anchor chains and weathering are left for tomorrow.

[mikegr]

I done with weathering. These ships on photos seems to have issues with their paint so I did a lot of chipping. Unfortunately after some corrections sea bed proved a bit small unless model will be displayed anchored. I will make a new one with a different method.

[mikegr]

A set back on my scratchbuilt consumed most of my free time so I left behind on this.

I used expanded polystyrene on this so I can dig in easily. Give it 3-4 layers of primer and paint. Added a heavy coat of gel and waiting for it to dry at  for 24-48 hours.

[mikegr]

I covered the sides with painted balsa and did some test fittings before adding final details

 

 

Edited November 3, 2021 by mikegr

[mikegr]

Done. POW training her turrets during heavy swell.

Not the thick rigging from rear mast top to stern. I put it here temporary to correct the mast top forward inclination cause by elastic rigging. Lessons learned:

1. Always control its tension when use elastic rigging with fragile masts.

2. Best CA glue simply can't compete with soldering in strength if you want to make brass mast.

[mikegr]

I made a 3/4 fiberglass case

 

The taller caser in Yamashiro reflects the higher bridge and masts.

 

Yamashiro vs PoW. A possible scenario than never happened

 

[mikegr]

Next project. Aoshima IJN Taiyo. A not so popular warship and even less popular 1:700 model.

[mikegr]

To rebuilt this I have several PE parts.

IJN aircraft upgrades, 25 mm AA guns and some other parts from where I can extract some useful items like masts, safety nets,railings etc.

Finally I have wooden deck sticker that can be cut on demand

[mikegr]

I think its time for a clean up

I am going to use some planes from an old vintage fujimi kit. They don't look that bad they even have their own propellers, of course I will use PE instead of them.

[mikegr]

I (re)built at last the first plane

[mikegr]

The first batch of air group is done. Some PE parts were nightmare and the belly of the planes is not well painted but it won't be visible.

[mikegr]

The air fleet is almost done. Smaller that before but better with better look

[mtaylor]

The planes look good.  If anyone asks, the rest of them are out on patrol, attacking something, or down below in maintenance.

[mikegr]

I removed the flight deck so I can work easier underneath.

Square barrels of 5" guns were replaced by proper round ones. Added PE bridge windows.

 

Edited December 6, 2021 by mikegr

[mikegr]

Some missing planes are no big deal but two missing AA 4.7" must be replaced. I scratch built the supporters and got 2 guns from my spare box.

[mikegr]

I built 4 of the 8 25mm AA guns. 

Lesson learned: Epoxy primer is better that Etch primer for shinny parts.

[mikegr]

I did some paintwork on the rear deck. I used brush. It was trickier than I thought. I also modified the bow making an "open" frame.

[Veszett Roka]

12 hours ago, mikegr said:

I did some paintwork on the rear deck. I used brush. It was trickier than I thought. I also modified the bow making an "open" frame.

 

 

Why it was tricky? This seems quite simple for me using masking tape and brush, so i'd like to learn some technique for the future. Check out my Titanic here, it was entirely hand-painted by brushes. Also i'd like to restore and bash a lot my childhood models (Russian battleship Potemkin and ice breaker Lenin), both 1:400 and i think your tips will be needed there.

[mikegr]

1 hour ago, Veszett Roka said:

 

Why it was tricky? This seems quite simple for me using masking tape and brush, so i'd like to learn some technique for the future. Check out my Titanic here, it was entirely hand-painted by brushes. Also i'd like to restore and bash a lot my childhood models (Russian battleship Potemkin and ice breaker Lenin), both 1:400 and i think your tips will be needed there.

Because enamel paint should be perfectly thinned in order to work easily with it without the risk of microdrips getting under the tape. An airbrush could help but still need experience about matching color thickness, spraying distance etc. A white thinned paint over dark paint would require several layers. A primer would have helped here.

[Veszett Roka]

8 minutes ago, mikegr said:

Because enamel paint should be perfectly thinned in order to work easily with it without the risk of microdrips getting under the tape. An airbrush could help but still need experience about matching color thickness, spraying distance etc. A white thinned paint over dark paint would require several layers. A primer would have helped here.

 

Ah, it makes sense. I understand your concerns here, i would need properly thinned paints too. Especially because the old models have several layers of paint plus lacquer. Still don't know yet how to remove (or overpaint) the old colors. Also the fine pigmentation is important, i think Humbrol enamels is one of the best in this manner (disadvantage is their tendency to sedimentation, and you cannot know how long a paint bucket kept on the self).
Thank you!

[mikegr]

4 minutes ago, Veszett Roka said:

 

Ah, it makes sense. I understand your concerns here, i would need properly thinned paints too. Especially because the old models have several layers of paint plus lacquer. Still don't know yet how to remove (or overpaint) the old colors. Also the fine pigmentation is important, i think Humbrol enamels is one of the best in this manner (disadvantage is their tendency to sedimentation, and you cannot know how long a paint bucket kept on the self).
Thank you!

I used humbrol enamel on all these models. No primer no finish varnish. The color deterioration is minimum after 25 years. Removing these old paints chemically is risky I think without damaging the plastic.

[mikegr]

Benting this piece in 4 seemed impossible. However it took me few minutes. Fujimi PE are the best ever worked with.

 

I use my knife and another blade usually to curve these pieces. I have more 3 to make. Note the tiny part close to the blade. I lost it but found it again

 

 

Edited December 18, 2021 by mikegr

[mikegr]

I finish the masts and deck crane. I cut the deck sticker. Front elevator mismatched about 4mm. Correct measuring needs skills...

[mikegr]

Not much progress I just feel the need to update.

Deck sticker added. I marked the arresting gears. First I used marker and ruler. Attempt was disastrous because the surface wasn't smooth as it looked. I hope parking a couple of aircrafts would cover it somehow.

For the rest, I used paintbrush hair painted with black marker.

[mikegr]

Merry Christmas to all.

Santa came on time as usual. I think I will make a long kit review thread for the models of my stash so potential buyers can have a look.

[mikegr]

I painted the ship, first airbrush attempt. Test fitted the deck.

[mikegr]

I finish weathering the deck. I had to remove the arresting cables put the white stripes and install them again. Kinda foolish.Correct planning is useful apart modeling skills. There suppose to be a circle but I don't have it neither I'm good enough to airbrush one, I can't afford a second deck disaster. This is going to be a heavy weathered rusty dog of war.

 

Edited January 4, 2022 by mikegr

[mikegr]

I decided to use airbrush approach for weathering but some bad paint thinning prevented me. I used the old brush technique. Deck is not glued and some 5" gun barrels missing. I will airbrush practice on my Aoba experimental hull this weekend.

[mikegr]

I found at last some info online and some pics of a nice finished model so I had the chance to add some details. I scratch built a communication loop antenna. Apart from fragile PE parts i have to work with weathered plastics. One piece of wing broke off just while sanding it. Air group has landed and antennas too. Only one was rigged for today.