HMCS St Thomas by NavyShooter - FINISHED - Bensworx - 1/48 scale - 3D printed

[NavyShooter]

In case anyone is interested, here is the 81 page instruction manual that is included with the download files.  

 

So far, I've been assembling things without looking at it...I am now at the point where I probably *should* read the instructions.

 

 

uploads_files_2715711_3D_Printed_1.48_Scale_Castle_Class_Corvette_Instructions.pdf

[ddp]

should always do a R.T.F.M.D. 1st before diving into something you have not done before.

[NavyShooter]

Some slow progress - I spent the weekend working on a hull for another friend of mine.  He's a model railroader, so ships are not his thing.  He brought beer over and we puttered away in the garage building a rudder, and getting a layer of gelcoat over his hull.

 

I did assemble the Orelikon guns and the searchlight platform though.  Starting to come together.

 

NS
 

[ddp]

are you certain the ammo drum is on the left side of the gun & not the right side?

http://archive.hnsa.org/doc/guncat/cat-0004.htm

http://archive.hnsa.org/doc/guncat/cat-0006.htm

http://archive.hnsa.org/doc/guncat/cat-0008.htm

http://archive.hnsa.org/doc/guncat/cat-0010.htm

http://archive.hnsa.org/doc/guncat/index.htm

[NavyShooter]

Maybe I screwed up, but maybe not.  From what I can see, there's 20mm Oerlikons that feed from both left and right.

 

 

[mtaylor]

I vaguely recall the the American .50 cal had that ability.  Did the Oerlikons have that as a feature also?  Or was it a separate model?

[ddp]

the twin barrel 20mm gun mount has the magazine on both sides.  http://archive.hnsa.org/doc/guncat/cat-0014.htm

[NavyShooter]

A friend of mine pointed out that these ships in RCN service actually had BLACK painted hulls below the waterline.

 

So.

With a pause enforced by being out of province for a bit for work, I'm now back to the bench and decided to shoot a layer of black gloss on the bottom of the keel.  

 

More to follow...and this time I'm going to be PATIENT and WAIT the 48 hours before recoating.  I promise.

 

 

 

[NavyShooter]

The progress this weekend was....a second coat.

 

After waiting over 48 hours with a small heater/fan pointed at the hull to dry things out faster.

 

Tomorrow, I'll be putting her into her cradle and marking a waterline, then it's off to the 'above the waterline' work.  

 

I did a screen capture of a video from a gent who built one, and he's got her with a red hull (incorrect) a black boot top (irrelevant with a black hull bottom) and a dark gray upper hull, with some black camo lines on her.  

 

I'm leaning towards a white camo style, with dark blue lines.  I suspect we're working from similar ship photos, but his interpretation of the colour might be off because it's black and white.  I'm not going to say he's wrong...but based on my proximity to HMCS Sackville, I'm going to guess that other Corvettes were painted up in similar colours to her. 

 

NS
 

[NavyShooter]

Here are the photos I've managed to collect of HMCS St Thomas.

 

From what I can tell, there are 3 different camouflages that may have been applied to her.  Looking at Pic 1, you can see a light hull background, with a darker swell or wave coming up.  

 

Pictures 2 and 3 show the light hull with a darker slash and very dark stern.  This is repeated in Picture 4 and 6.

 

Picture 5 shows a simulation of a smaller hull in a darker colour against a light background hull.

 

My intent is to 'match the swoop' as seen in pictures 2 and 3, with a darker stern area.

 

My interpretation of these photos is that it's a white hull, with a blue 'swoop', and a darker blue or dark gray stern.

 

I've carefully selected paints (the best that Tremclad sells!) that I'm going to use to do the painting.

 

First layer will be the white base layer.  Then I'll add a light blue swoop with the slash that goes across the superstructure, then a darker gray stern.

 

Sackville is white with a very light blue.  That's the source of my inspiration.

 

Anyone have any better images or colour recommendations?

NS
 

[ddp]

do not think the base layer is white but maybe a light gray as the bow waves are whiter then the ship.

[mtdoramike]

Thanks for the blow by blow Navy, I was curious how you can make a boat with a 3d printer. This is awsome. 

[NavyShooter]

She's come a fair ways in the past couple of weeks.  Even with me being out of area for a long weekend.

 

You can see the camo pattern I've adopted.  Black hull, white sides, light blue 'swoop' and dark blue stern.

 

Decks will be a standard dark gray, and in doing a bit more research, I've determined that there were portions of the uppers that were actually covered in wood, so I'll be digging up some grown paint and adding that in too. 

 

[lmagna]

Got all caught up on this tonight Brad, This is going to be and impressive ship  when you get her in the water, as well as on the shelf. It is not easy to cover both worlds but from what I see you will do it easily. What is also nice is that you already have a tug in the same scale to help with ship handling! Looking forward to future installments. 

[NavyShooter]

Plugging away...some decent progress.  Realized that I've not printed all of the bits - there are a lot of the ventilation mushrooms to be made!

 

I painted some sections of the decks in brown to represent the wooden portion of the decks.

 

My never ending problem with bubbling paint seems to have returned as well.  I'm going to end up with some extra work due to that.

 

I expect I'll have her done in the next few weeks. 

[NavyShooter]

I went over the ship last night, and put all the bits and pieces in place.  

 

I think I have all the parts printed.  Most of the parts are painted.  Some of the parts are glued in place.

 

The next step will be finishing the painting of the 'bits' and gluing any of them in place on the superstructures that I can.  

After that, I plan to put on a layer of West System Epoxy over the painted hull - as a protective and sealing layer.  The last paint went onto the hull over 2 weeks ago, so it should be fairly well dry by now. 

 

Because the model is destined to be in a pond for several months, floating on display, I need to be certain that she won't leak. 

 

My plan for retaining the superstructure is to mount a threaded rod on a block that I'm going to affix to the keel on the inside, and have a hole protruding through the top of the superstructure.  I'll then be able to tighten it down with a nylock nut to hold it in place.

 

The inside of the hull will get the rest of the ballast added to bring her closer to a correct depth, then the voids will be filled with foam, so that if there is a leak, it will NOT see the ship end up on the bottom of the pond. 

[ddp]

the "wooden portion of the decks", are you certain they are wood covered & not steel plated?

[NavyShooter]

8 hours ago, ddp said:

the "wooden portion of the decks", are you certain they are wood covered & not steel plated?

David,

 

I'll reference this website:

1/72 scale wood deck for Flower Class | Ships of Scale

 

And this image.

 

There were sections of decking on the Flower class that were wood.

I am assuming that the same was true for the Castle class.

 

I'm OK with being wrong...but suspect pretty strongly that I'm correct that they had wooden deck areas, (OK, wood covering steel decking...whatever...) 

 

[NavyShooter]

OK. 

 

A mistake I made a few steps ago has come back to bite me now.

 

As you can see, there's some bleeding going on...I put on a layer of West System epoxy to give the hull a really good seal coat...and the blue marker that I used to mark the waterline has bit me again. 

 

The marker reacted with the epoxy and bled blue.  

 

Damn.

All I can see to do is to let it dry, then put on a touch-up layer of white, then do another sealing layer of epoxy.

 

Dang. 

[king derelict]

This is looking real very nice. Your printed details are a lot tidier than mine. As regards the wooden decks at least for the Flowers it seems to be a case of some of them had wooden decks some of the time and the layout was variable too possibly depending on which shipyard built them so I expect you are probably correct in what you have done.

Alan

[NavyShooter]

Masked...and sprayed.

 

Now to dry it for a few days, then another layer of clear epoxy coat. 

[NavyShooter]

Whilst I wait amidst the humidity for the paint to fully cure, I have been plugging away at assembling the superstructure. 

 

The 'fiddly bits' got some attention last evening, with the forward superstructure seeing almost full completion.  I glued on the mast, the 20mm guns, the searchlight platform, etc.  Then I added some detail painting to the inside of the bridge area.  The Pelorus stand got glued in, brass/gold finish with the appropriate red/green markers on each side for the compass correction balls.  The phones were painted red and yellow, the indicators and 'buttons' on the panels were painted as well.  Some touch-up white to cover a few little mistakes when I did the deck 'wood' faux finish.  Gluing on the doors, painting the hinges and handles, adding the life-preserver rings, painting the port-holes...it was a good night.  

 

In looking at the superstructure, and comparing it to the hull, I have pondered adding a layer of the clear epoxy to it...but I think instead I'm going to put a few layers of clear gloss spray paint onto it instead.  I'll do a test-shot of that tonight and see how it looks.  With all the small nooks and crannies...I don't think the epoxy will do a good job coating things.  

 

2-3 layers of clear gloss paint?  That should suffice...I hope.  

Worst case?  I have to re-print the superstructure in a year or two and re-paint things.

 

Best case?  It lasts.

 

NS
 

[NavyShooter]

OK....the spray on clear coat was a bad idea.

Got a bit of bubbling.

 

So.

 

Another batch of West System epoxy got mixed up, and it's now curing on the superstructure...

 

Please recall, this is destined to be a stand-off display model that first and foremost has to survive for several months in a pond. 

 

[NavyShooter]

OK, here's how she looks after tonight.  

 

The bits on the table still have to get glued into place, then I need to add ballast, water test, then fill the remainder of the interior with foam so she's not likely to sink.

 

I have to do up the K488 and paint that on still as well. 

 

I figure maybe a week or two of work? 

[NavyShooter]

All the bits are glued on....needs a few more items finished up...

 

1. Epoxy final coat (hull numbers and superstructure details)
2. Name plate
3. Glue on gun tubs and Funnel
4. Make hold down for bridge (seal to deck)
5. Float test - adjust ballast
6. Add foam inside to prevent sinking

 

Then she's ready for the pond!

 

NS

 

[NavyShooter]

Final layer of epoxy added tonight.

Superstructure hold-down system created (I just need some 1/4" threaded rod now and a nyloc nut)

 

Name Plates printed - ready to paint and install. 

 

 

[NavyShooter]

Here you see the drilled and tapped hole for the 1/4-20 threaded rod.  I'll pick that up on the way home from work tonight along with some blue foam insulation to slice and dice and fit into the hull for floatation.

 

Second photo shows the 'bits' being held down after the layer of epoxy has been added.  VERY pleased with the progress.   A couple of days for the epoxy to cure and we'll be having a float test, and adjusting ballast!

[NavyShooter]

OK, here's the hull, stuffed with foam so she won't sink, with the threaded rod added and the nyloc nut on top holding the superstructure on!

[NavyShooter]

And, we have a successful float test!  I shifted some of the ballast around between these photos - the first picture is the final ballast positioning.  I took almost 4 pounds out from where I started.

 

She's back in the garage for two final touches - name plate and a flag.

 

On Saturday, we've got a fun float with the model ship Guild, so I'm going to bring her out and we'll push her about with a tug-boat!  Should be fun!

[NavyShooter]

Here's the Name Plate.  Quite pleased with how it turned out.