USS Arizona by Dion Dunn - GPM - 1:200 - CARD

[Dion Dunn]

Well, here we go.  First build log on this forum, first paper model ship kit (I’ve built a few HO scale railroad structures in paper), but I am a long time builder of various mediums.  Building is my stress relief, and after 30 years of building large radio control stuff and running out of room, I finally figured it out.  Discovering paper models has been a whole new world for me, and I’m loving it so far.

 

Back in 1991 I was a young professional traveling between clients listening to NPR news.   When the 50th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor was being showcased on NPR news, they ran a story of the USS Arizona that I could never forget.  It about brought me to tears, and I locked that memory away in the back of my bucket list that someday I would build a scale model of the Arizona.  Then I discovered paper models, then GPM’s version thanks to other members of this site, and the rest as they say is history.

 

I help run a large consulting company, have a busy family, and spend my Summers sailing one of my two sailboats, but tinkering in the shop is one of my life’s pleasures.  This will not be a fast build (my Wife thinks 3 years), but it’s not about rushing to the end, it’s going to be about the journey as they say.  But to help a little, I did buy the laser cut frames and the laser cut detail set.  So after a week, here we are.  The hull is framed up, and I’ve started attaching the seam strips.  I’m afraid the easy part is done.  The laser cut frame set was probably the best, most accurate laser cut pieces that I’ve ever assembled. I wouldn't say it fell together, but absolutely nothing needed modification.

 

soon, the hull plating.  Yes, it scares the crap out of me.  😉

[Captain Slog]

Looking forward to following your progress. I agree with the laser cut forms, quick easy process to get noticeable results. Hull skinning is my nemesis also!

[Old Collingwood]

WOW   -   @Kevin

 

OC.

[Dave_E]

I’m in.👍😀

[Kevin]

great start, I will follow your progress

1 hour ago, Old Collingwood said:

WOW   -   @Kevin

 

OC.

not for me @Old Collingwood, i will have satisfied my card urge after my present SD14  build, back to wood after this

[Old Collingwood]

3 minutes ago, Kevin said:

great start, I will follow your progress

not for me @Old Collingwood, i will have satisfied my card urge after my present SD14  build, back to wood after this

Just thought I would  draw your attention to another  masterpiece  like your own,    you guys are  incredible  what you do.

 

OC.

[French Mr Bean]

It's a nice ship, good luck for build. 😉

[Old Collingwood]

45 minutes ago, French Mr Bean said:

It's a nice ship, good luck for build. 😉

Love the avatar  - love Mr  Bean.

 

OC.

[Dion Dunn]

6 hours ago, Kevin said:

great start, I will follow your progress

not for me @Old Collingwood, i will have satisfied my card urge after my present SD14  build, back to wood after this

That SD 14 would probably be the end of me too.  That is ambitious!

[Kevin]

1 minute ago, Dion Dunn said:

That SD 14 would probably be the end of me too.  That is ambitious!

about 1/2 way through now, hopefully before @chris watton  can release the 1/64 Indy

[ccoyle]

Looks like you're off to a great start. The hull looks very solid and straight.

 

Is that per chance a PZL P.11 I spied on a shelf in the background?

[Dion Dunn]

27 minutes ago, ccoyle said:

Looks like you're off to a great start. The hull looks very solid and straight.

 

Is that per chance a PZL P.11 I spied on a shelf in the background?

good guess, but it is not.  It is a 120" span version of a 1938 free flight design called the "Big Gull".  I scratch built it from the original 1938 plans, added R/C and a motor in the nose.  I also had to build fixtures for the gull wing portion of the wing, and that was a project in itself.  Not the easiest project, but very rewarding.  I tend to go straight for the hardest thing

 

 

[DocRob]

I never tried a carton model, but yours looks sweet and tempting. somewhere, I must have shelved lightship kit, I will look for that.

 

Cheers Rob 

[GrandpaPhil]

Very cool!  Looking forward to seeing this build!

 

Nicely done on the Big Gull too!

[Dion Dunn]

well, my brain is now in dry dock after catching a head cold earlier this week.  So no work on this ship for the last few nights.

 

But I can't complain.  First cold in over 3 years, and still no Covid.  I'm good with that.

Edited June 9, 2022 by Dion Dunn

[kondzik]

You might find photos from this build log useful - http://www.konradus.com/forum/read.php?f=1&i=380584&t=380584&filtr=0&page=1

If you need something translated ask, I can translate it for you.

[Dion Dunn]

On 6/11/2022 at 4:32 PM, kondzik said:

You might find photos from this build log useful - http://www.konradus.com/forum/read.php?f=1&i=380584&t=380584&filtr=0&page=1

If you need something translated ask, I can translate it for you.

Thanks.  I’ve been backward and forward through that build log many times!

 

This weekend was more about playing on my real sailboat than the toy boat, but I did manage to get some hull plating done.  This is hard!  But I’m not going beat myself up on the first ship build, however I do have a lot to learn.

 

 

 

 

Edited June 13, 2022 by Dion Dunn

[Captain Slog]

Your hull plating looks far better than my 1st attempt at it…or 2nd attempt for that matter. Impressive!

[Dion Dunn]

55 minutes ago, Captain Slog said:

Your hull plating looks far better than my 1st attempt at it…or 2nd attempt for that matter. Impressive!

Thank you!

[Dion Dunn]

Well, I haven't quit yet.  😁

 

It's Summer, and if I'm not cycling, sailing, or driving backroads with the top down, then I'm having a bad day.  We also haven't gotten a lot of rain, and that is usually the only time that I will sit down and work on a model.  But I have managed to get some stuff done over the past few weeks.  Not a lot, but it is progress and I'll take it.

 

As reported on the German card model site, the designers of this kit missed a bulkhead near the aft end.  Knowing this, I made my own out of scrap and it worked out great.  I'm also in the middle of the prop shaft assemblies, and as you can see I opted for aluminum tube instead of rolled paper for the shafts.  I'll paint them hull red when it is complete.

 

I'm learning a lot with this build, and also resisting my temptation to get frustrated when I make mistakes.  It's all part of the process of learning how to build card models after spending 40 years of my life on wood and plastic kits!

 

[Aero]

Nice Boat build!

Taking those paper kits seriously!

[Dion Dunn]

23 hours ago, Aero said:

Nice Boat build!

Taking those paper kits seriously!

Aero - looks like you are right across the Ohio River from me.  We sail full scale on the Ohio every week from the Louisville Sailing Club just North of the new bridge.  Let me know if you'd like to join!

[SteveLarsen]

Brilliant.

[Aero]

On 7/20/2022 at 10:40 AM, Dion Dunn said:

Aero - looks like you are right across the Ohio River from me.  We sail full scale on the Ohio every week from the Louisville Sailing Club just North of the new bridge.  Let me know if you'd like to join!

Yes, Dion I know about the club. I guess I should have ID'd myself.

 

-Allen B

Edited July 23, 2022 by Aero

[Dion Dunn]

11 hours ago, Aero said:

Yes, Dion I know about the club. I guess I should have ID'd myself.

 

-Allen B

Hello Mr. Burnham!  Want to take the Capri out with me tomorrow?  I’ll text you.  Today was too hot, so I did some cycling early morning and some building mid day.  She is on her base now.

 

[Dion Dunn]

The deck is secure.  Multiple steps and layers, but the raised wood and drains add realism and worth the extra work.

 

[Dazliare]

Following with great interest - I have two large ships in my paper model kit pile, so reading through your build is sure to give a lot of helpful insights!

I have a much smaller kit in the pile as well that I plan to use as a "primer" for building hulls as I know they can be a challenge. I have a few projects to finish up before that one starts

[Dion Dunn]

My apologies for being so far behind on my posts.  I get so little time to work on the model that I forget to add my updates.  I’ve made some pretty good progress as of late and have found myself getting prepped to make the first set of guns.  I’ve decided to roll the barrels myself.  A royal PITA, but a good learning experience.

 

[Heinrich der Seefahrer]

Hello Dion, that model does look very impressive and intetesting - did you Close down the paper yars as summer does start early in your country? 😜