USF Confederacy by Augie & Moonbug - FINISHED - Model Shipways - 1:64

[texxn5]

Looking good Augie. Since they're brass is there a reason you're going to paint them vs. blackening? Just curious.

[augie]

I blacken lots of small items but just prefer to paint cannons.  I'll be using MS Cannon Black acrylic to which I add a bit of dark blue to get what I like.  It's applied in multiple very thin coats to maintain the detail.

[mtaylor]

Are you thinking 20 coats rubbed out between each coat?  Or is that only for candy apple red Chevy's?

 

Your forest looks very impressive, Augie.  I guess with the cooler weather moving in, you have more shop time?

[Sjors]

Nice forrest Augie,

 

One question...those coloured tooth picks....has that a meaning ????

You give each cannon that colour ?????

 

Sjors

[Kevin]

I love the cannons they are going to look great when fitted

[Bill Hime]

One thing I've noticed with all your painting applications is that you stress many layers of thin coat application. That is an echo of my fathers voice, a master of many traits .

In my heart, you are in good company.

 

 

Bill

[augie]

Sorry Mark, only Ben uses 20 coats.  About 8 normally works for me.  Yay--- cool weather!

 

Brian-  no, I don't use primer.  It just ruins the detail for me and I've never had a paint adherence problem.  I just degrease the surface (in this case with alcohol because I used CA for the trunions and rings) and then go.  Granted the first 2 coats look horrible but then it's clear sailing.  We'll see in a few days !!!!!!

 

SJORS-  those are the Admiral's party toothpicks.  We bought 100 in 1967 and haven't used any yet.  Only you would notice that!

[mobbsie]

Nice touch with that breach ring Augie, by far the neatest I've seen so far, I'm going to bookmark that for sure.

 

Looking forward to seeing the finished guns mate.

 

Be Good

 

mobbsie

[KenW]

Great discussion on painting cannon barrels.  I will bookmark these pages to refer back to on my next model.

When you say you  degrease in alcohol, I assume you mean rubbing alcohol.  And what do you do to the barrels between coats of paint?  Sand?  Use steel wool?  Also, do you water down the MS paint?

Thanks.

Edited November 5, 2014 by KenW

[Blue Ensign]

Just enjoyed a catch-up on your log Augie, love those deck shots a few pages back.

 

I see you're adding breeching rings to your guns, is there a historical basis for this in relation to Confederacy or is it a case of Captains fancy.

 

I ask because somewhere in the back of my mind I recall that the Breeching ring was a feature of the Blomefield  pattern gun introduced around 1790, which I think post-dates Confederacy.

 

Of course our American cousins, or rebels as we might have described them back then,  may have already introduced the Breeching ring to their ordnance without telling us

 

B.E.

[augie]

KEN-  Yes, 91% isopropanol to be exact --- available at WalMart.  And I buff down with a piece of old cotton tee shirt between coats.  And yes, I thin the paint with distilled water.

 

BLUE ENSIGN ---  Thanks for stopping by!  I'm not the first rate researcher you are.  Chuck P. called for the rings, so rings there are.  We here in the colonies stick together.

[Blue Ensign]

Either way they'll still look marvellous

 

B.E.

[Chuck]

You are correct.  There would not have been breech rings at that time.  But it simplifies the process of rigging them.  Have you ever tried to splice plastic rigging line properly?   So it was an oversimplification to spare folks the headache when trying to rig the breech line around the button of the cannon as supplied by MS.  Especially after a fine paint job.  I talked about the decision quite a bit on the original build log for the prototype.   Nice catch again and hopefully this log will now serve as the place to get the scoop on that.

 

Its looking great Augie. 

 

Chuck

[texxn5]

The breech rings look very good Augie, I'll keep that in mind next time I do cannons. Chuck's cannons would really be hard to beat, what a great upgrade, he does such awesome work.

[SkerryAmp]

Definately a right move upgrading those cannons, boy what a difference huh?   Those should look real good when you get them all painted up.  I like the idea of adding the touch of blue - will be looking forward to seeing how they come out (am sure they will be faaaantastic!)

[Gahm]

Those cannons are marvelous! I can't wait to see them painted!

 

Thomas

[popeye the sailor]

cannon barrels look great Augie.......do you need to assemble the carriages as well?

[augie]

Yes, Popeye.  Lots of parts in those carraiges!  I'll be showing some details in a week or so.

[SawdustDave]

Hi Augie:

Just playing a little catch up on some of my favorite builds on this quiet Sunday morning. Can 't wait to see your next update on my favorite ship.

 

Dave

[cookster]

Wonderful Augie.  I'm jealous of those cannons....  Can't wait to see them finished and rigged.

[augie]

Just a quick update.  The cannons have been painted .... and I included the anchors for good measure.

 

 

Wound up using 8 coats of my black/blue acrylic followed with a coat of Testor's Clear Flat acrylic.

 

Now, before anyone goes ballistic on the brass muzzle faces........

 

.....  About 1 1/2 years ago, I was very impressed with Mobbsie's treatment of the guns for his Agamemnon.  He leaves the entire muzzle section in natural brass as his trademark.  It was my thought that a scaled-back reveal of the brass on just the muzzle face might be attractive, if not true to actual practice.  As it turns out, I find this approach very appealing but the jury is still out until the guns are mounted in the gun ports.

 

Naturally, I requested Mobbsie's approval on this blatant pilfering of his idea.  He was kind enough to offer his tacit approval.  Yes, there was some discussion about renumeration for certain taxes on tea that apparently were overlooked a while back....but all has been resolved.

 

Work has already begun on assembly of the gun carraiges.  Hopefully, progress by Thanksgiving!!!

[SawdustDave]

Oh yea! Lookin good Augie. Fun stuff.

[Sjors]

Nice touch with the muzzle faces Augie !

Paint job well done !!!

 

Sjors

[Guest Tim I.]

Beautiful!

 

You could also add muzzle covers like most ships had at sea during the period. I have a couple on my shelf in my office patterned after some from the American War for Independence, and the War of 1812. Some cover the entire muzzle, others just about a half inch larger than the bore on the cap.

 

Here is an example of a muzzle cover. Most of the period the Confederacy had an eyelet with a ring, with a rope that ran inboard to through the gun port for easy removal, and recovery if necessary. I have also seen them on some of the older naval board models painted red. 

 

 

- Tim

[augie]

Thanks all for the comments and ideas.  

 

Lawrence- you can't go wrong having that clear flat acrylic around.  I know others use Testor's Dullcoat in either spray or brush-on but I've never found it. This Testor's product is in the Model Master line and I use only the brush on.  Dries very quickly and will take that wee bit of 'shine' off of anything.

 

By the way, I just noticed something on that photo.  I'm usually pretty lazy and take photos with a paper towel background.  For this shot I 'borrowed' a piece of material from the Admiral's stash.  That material is actually a light sky blue!  It appears my camera and/or shop lighting 'eats' blue.  I do have a window in the shop and always carry my parts 'over there' for color matching in natural light.  Just something to keep in mind for those of us who work in artificial light.  

[riverboat]

Nice color on the guns Augie.....

Frank

[mobbsie]

I'll send you my bank details Augie, though I'm still woefully short on remuneration for that tea party you guys had. I wouldn't have minded but us Brits weren't even invited.   

 

I like your paintwork mate, a new trademark methinks.

 

Be Good

 

mobbsie

[trippwj]

Very nice, Augie.  Me likes much!

[Bill Hime]

I like the black/blue hue of the paint. The dull coat seems to give a sense of "heaviness" to the guns and especially the anchor without masking the details. I think the brass face is a nice detail that will slow the eye down looking across the length of the ship.

Very nice work Augie, love the attention to detail!

 

 

Bill

[src]

augie,

In referance to your comment on the background color, it looks as if your white balance was off. Did you shoot under fluorescent and had it set to daylight or auto?

Sam

Edited November 11, 2014 by src