USS Maine by ERSRich - FINISHED - BlueJacket Shipcrafters - 3/32

[aliluke]

Hi

I just strayed into this log as it isn't a part of the forum that I usually roam. A stunning build is unfolding! I have coveted battleship kits of this era and at this scale and I'm frustrated that they are unobtainable now. I'd leap into one.

 

Hey Ryland - want to sell USS Olympia? I'm only half joking...but back to the main, Maine build - a really informative log with great techniques and results. I'll follow along from now.

Edited June 22, 2023 by aliluke

[alross2]

5 hours ago, aliluke said:

Hi

I just strayed into this log as it isn't a part of the forum that I usually roam. A stunning build is unfolding! I have coveted battleship kits of this era and at this scale and I'm frustrated that they are unobtainable now. I'd leap into one.

 

Hey Ryland - want to sell USS Olympia? I'm only half joking...but back to the main, Maine build - a really informative log with great techniques and results. I'll follow along from now.

Alistair, I recently completed the development of the OREGON kit for BlueJacket.  Same scale and format as MAINE and OLYMPIA,

[aliluke]

Thanks Al

Very tempted but terrified by the shipping cost. Keen now to see how this USS Maine progresses. I have been back through Rich's log and it is very impressive - so many innovations but so many tools that I don't have. Please keep the updates coming Rich, I'm loving this log and build!

A

[Javelin]

On 6/17/2023 at 10:51 PM, ERS Rich said:

It took many iterations of deepening the grooves, fitting the catwalks, and trimming the conning tower catwalk railing to get it nice.

But you persevered and got it nice! Great job on a handsome ship! Very crisp and clean build.

[ERS Rich]

Flying Bridge Supports

 

Had to give this some thought as these supports need to fit exactly through square holes in the Navigation Bridge.  Precise bends are required.  The supports are 1/16” brass rod.  Note my first attempt was not successful and needed more bar stock.  Called Bluejacket and the crew helped and sent out additional stock right away for a reasonable charge.

 

Decided to make a jig, shown below.  The instructions call for 1/8” radius bends.  So measured the inside spacing of the square holes in the Navigation Bridge, and drilled 1/8” holes in the board so the distance between the outside edges of the bits correspond to the measurement - 25/32”.  Also installed a third bit, to minimize the upward bow, midway between the 1/8” bits.   Make a mark on the piece to bisect it’s length, and register the mark on the middle bit, to help get even legs.

 

I used the vise (available at Micromark) to make sure the bar as fully wrapped around the 1/8” bits.

Dry fit….

 

Stacked up the superstructure to get an idea of the leg length.

First pass, about a 1/16” gap between the pilot house roof and the flying bridge deck.

Used wire cutters to take a nibble off the legs.  Evened up the legs with the Ultimation disk sander and a file.  Dry fit on the model….

 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 23, 2023 by ERS Rich
Correct picture position

[ERS Rich]

9 hours ago, aliluke said:

Please keep the updates coming Rich, I'm loving this log and build!

Thanks for joining, appreciate your kind words, and will keep the updates coming.  
 

Cheers!

[Rick310]

Really great!!

Rick

[ERS Rich]

Close Ups

 

Dry fitting, adjusting, painting the details, working towards the superstructure glue up.  Debating about the big gun barrels, leave brass, or paint black, probably black….

 

I just love the character of this ship!

 

 

 

 

[ERS Rich]

Progress Photo

 

Have been telling myself “next week it will be done”, for about the last six weeks.

 

Itching to start something new….

 

Here is where we are.  Notice the bridge wings were installed off the wrong deck, they were higher off the Flying Bridge, now relocated off the navigation deck…

 

Brass frets just about empty, running out of parts to install, it’s all about the journey…..

 

 

Edited July 5, 2023 by ERS Rich
grammar

[ERS Rich]

Progress Photos

 

Finally completed the superstructure.  Painted the Pilot House a second time, a lighter shape of Vallejo Mahogany over a white base coat, followed by light coats of Vallejo Gloss varnish.  Sheet styrene for the windows.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 6, 2023 by ERS Rich

[ERS Rich]

On vacation, resume in about 2 weeks.  Up ahead is ship’s boats, anchors, rigging, and the case.

 

Hope your summer is relaxing where you are…..

 

 

[Rick310]

Looking good!!!

Rick

[aliluke]

Superb! I look forward to the finishing straight.

[ERS Rich]

Back in the office.  Fresh eyes, fresh perspective.

 

Interesting how the model looks better after a break, see the whole ship, rather than just, what could be done better.

[ERS Rich]

Ship’s Boats

 

Finished with Tamiya Flat White XF-2, and Vallejo Medium Brown 71.038.

 

The boilers in the launches are Vallejo Black 71.057 with a few drops of Gun Metal 71.072

 

Eagle Talon airbrush, #1 nozzle and tip.  Straight paint, no thinner, 20 psi.

 

Strip stock from the kit.

 

 

Edited August 1, 2023 by ERS Rich

[ERS Rich]

Locating Ship’s Boats Amidships

 

At this point each assembly steps feels like an added layer of complex detail, which makes the ship comes to life.
 

Boat skids are installed.  Dry fit the boats on the skids to determine the cradle locations on the skids, then installed the cradles and painted.

 

View of boats from port, starboard, and overhead.  Plus a few shots of the model, masts dry fitted.

 

 

 

Edited August 1, 2023 by ERS Rich

[Rick310]

It’s a WOW!!!

Rick

[yvesvidal]

I like the lack of symmetry of that ship. It makes it very interesting.

 

Yves

[ERS Rich]

7 hours ago, yvesvidal said:

I like the lack of symmetry of that ship. It makes it very interesting.

Thanks Ives.  It’s hard to describe.  Words like detail and intricate are trite.  

Often spend time looking at the model and friends and family love it.  (My wife wants me to sell it.  Can’t get there.) It may be the combination of materials: wood and metal, and the shapes: angles and curves of the superstructures, railings, round turrets.  And it’s interesting that this iron ship has masts with the round tubs.

 

Anyway it’s a fine kit with plenty of material.  And certainly worth the effort.  

 

Sometimes I think, how did I make this?  Did I do all of this?

 

My approach to the work is just thinking of the next step, because thinking of all the steps at once can be overwhelming.

 

Getting to this skill point has been an over 10 year journey, that started when I was working full time.  I work part time now and I’m very fortunate to have the space for a nice shop.  And the time to figure out how to do the work.  After many models, and now Maine, I have most of the process figured out.  Except maybe primer on brass, still have an adhesion problem.

 

Not sure what’s next, plenty in the stash.  Probably some plastic for a break.  Faster and helps building finishing skills.

 

It may be another power vessel, I have a Tug, the Nantucket Light Ship, and Olympia.  Also USS California, my alma mater, by Ironshipwrights.

 

Thanks for listening.

 

-Rich

Edited August 2, 2023 by ERS Rich

[Snug Harbor Johnny]

  Your though about 'steps' mirrors Thomas Edison's comments that beginning a project is like facing a very long staircase and one can't really see the top of it.  But you start, one step at a time, and after a while you're somewhere in the middle of that long staircase where the top and the bottom both look far away.  But you keep on climbing, focusing on the next step, and the after a while you can see the top getting nearer and nearer until you finally reach the last step.  And then its just one small step that gets you to the top, and that last step doesn't seem so hard, as did every individual step on the way up.  Yet, at last, you've made it and don't have to look back down the stairway finally ascended.

 

  Congratulations on your super-nice model !           Johnny

[ERS Rich]

Finishing the Gun Barrels

 

Decided to finish the brass barrels.  I wanted a variation from the straight black finish of the smaller guns.

 

Primed brass with Krylon Maxx Grey Primer right out of the rattle can, quick short bursts.

 

Color finish applied with Paasche Talon, #2 tip, air pressure 15 psi. Vallejo Model Air paint, Black 71.057, 15 drops in the cup, then 1 drop Gunmetal 71.072, and stir well.  Finish with thin coats of Valejo Matt Varnish.

 

 

 

Edited August 8, 2023 by ERS Rich

[ERS Rich]

Anchors

 

Used a round file to make grooves in the deck outboard trim to accept the anchor stanchions (holders).  Anchors rest easy in them.  
 

Anchors primed and painted white.  Second shot shows the start of rigging the ratlines into the turnbuckles, and a ladder that needs to be cut down to size.

 

 

[ERS Rich]

End of Construction

 

At this point the construction steps have been completed.  Next is Rigging, beginning on Page 58 of the manual.  Once the rigging is done will fit the railings and the bow and stern scrollwork.  Then final touchup, dusting, and the case.  Thanks for following along.

[Rick310]

It’s been a real pleasure to follow your journey!!

Great job!!  Beautiful model!!

Rick

[Roger Pellett]

Beautiful job- Difficult subject!

 

i certainly hope that you will include a few posts about rigging.

 

Roger

[aliluke]

Superb! Such a great rendition of a great subject. Love it.

[ERS Rich]

Rick, Roger, Alistair,

 

Thanks for the encouragement.  I’ll post pictures of the rigging asI go along.

 

Thinking of making the case with Cherry Hardwood, have some that’s been around too long and may as well use it for this.

 

Thanks again, and have a great weekend.

 

-Rich

 

 

[ERS Rich]

Rigging the Foremast

 

Here is my general approach to rigging, the major steps.

 

First lines are seized with a lashing, using this setup.  To the left are several lines seized to turnbuckles for shrouds.

Here several shrouds are in place, I like to create tension with the silver clamps.

Sometimes I apply CA at the top, this fixes the shroud so one side has tension while the other side is rigged.

The seizing is left relatively loose so tweezers can be used to take up the slack.

Blocks were blackened with a solution from Bluejacket.  First drilled out the hole, then threaded the blocks on brass wire.  Dipped in the solution, then swirled in the water to stop the reaction.  Later the block sides will be painted, after installation.

The blocks were stropped with wire, and a hook formed with the pliers with round ends.

The preventer was built on a piece of plywood, with posts spaced from a measurement of the model.  Tape is used to hold it together for placement on the ship.

The Preventer is installed.

Tape is removed.

 

 

Edited August 29, 2023 by ERS Rich

[schooner]

Nice rigging work!  I'm at a loss figuring out what purpose the preventer serves, although the photo below shows one on each side. Any idea?

 

BTW, if you ever get down to Maryland and DC the Maine's damaged foremast is on the seawall on the grounds of the Naval Academy in Annapolis and the main mast is at Arlington National Cemetery. Photos of both are easily Googled.

 

Keep up the good work, I've enjoyed watching this come together.

Edited August 31, 2023 by schooner

[ERS Rich]

2 hours ago, schooner said:

Nice rigging work!

Good Morning, thanks schooner.

 

Annapolis is a place I’d like to go, just haven’t made it yet, we have a new dog, and my wife would go but she isn’t into museums.

 

Looked up “preventer” in a couple of books I have about rigging, nothing there.

 

I’m not an expert on rigging/line names, I’m a mechanical engineer, so from my point of view seems like extra support, maybe because of the “crows nest”, imagine men/weapons up there at battle stations.  

 

Getting to the finish line, started last October, hoped for six months.  Eager to start something new.  A simpler project.