USS Zumwalt by RGL - FINISHED - Snowman Model - 1/350 - PLASTIC

[RGL]

I’ve been sitting in this one for a while, and there are not that many builds out there. Eduard makes a small upgrade kit and there are some aftermarket helicopters to use as well. 

[RGL]

So now an open source photo dump

[BANYAN]

A very different subject for your next effort Greg; did all that rust attract you      I have seen some info that suggested both guns may be removed to make-way for the installation of four 87-inch missile launcher modules, carrying up to 12 missiles.  Which version are you building?

cheers

Pat 

[ddp]

Greg, is there another piece for the bow for below the waterline as it currently does not look right?

http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/pix1/0501100001.jpg

http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/011000.htm

[ccoyle]

I wonder if the rust in those photos increases her radar cross-section? 🤔

[RGL]

This is the perfect example of a racehorse designed by committee. Underpowered, overpriced. Each round for her cannon valued at USD$1M and designed for NGS offshore but too valuable to expose to the shore. I was going to wait until they did the forward hyper velocity cruise missiles but I reckon they realise they would be too expensive again. 

[RGL]

Modelling challenges will be the oil canning from the hull panels, including the Mk57 VLS. The bow piece is a 2 part that attaches to the bow. 

[RGL]

This so a really simple kit, the PE from Eduard is very nesessary if you’re going to use the back deck as it has a hydraulic system that makes up the safey rails which is recessed on the kit. Also the boat deck and helicopter hangar is closed so I’ll open it up and park some new helicopters 

[RGL]

So a new thing, whilst drilling the holes for the pedestals; I looked on my shelf and saw a pencil eraser (rubber - no not that type). It works perfect for snugly holding the brass pedestal rod! 

Edited June 4, 2023 by RGL

[RGL]

Hull joined, annoying as the alignment is a pig. Putty sand putty sand primer sand 

Edited June 4, 2023 by RGL

[RGL]

Superstructure. There are some gaps!!!!! 
 

this is in 8 pieces, at an angle on each. 

[RGL]

So the hangar added. 

[LED]

@RGL,

For some reason YouTube put this in my picklist:  The Stealth Ship So Powerful They Couldn't Build Any More

There is some nice footage of the Zumwalt in there.  The photos you presented seem to have most of what you might want, but maybe take a peek

[RGL]

Thanks, I started but the heroic voice over kinda pissed me off ! Publish or perish I suppose 

[RGL]

So I went away interstate with some club friends for a hobby comp, got best ship for Thetis Bay, Best Sub for U-9 and Peoples Choice for Seydlitz. Got golds for all and for HMS Zulu and a silver for the Porco Rosso. Nice review on U-Tube, last few minutes  https://youtu.be/Aq1T8z5jz9g

 

So anyways back to the Zumwalt. I have really stuggles to date getting the hull smooth to my satisfaction as the hul join is not flush. I’ve now drawn in the hull welds below the waterline which I’ll scribe in lightly. 

[yvesvidal]

8 hours ago, RGL said:

So I went away interstate with some club friends for a hobby comp, got best ship for Thetis Bay, Best Sub for U-9 and Peoples Choice for Seydlitz. Got golds for all and for HMS Zulu and a silver for the Porco Rosso. Nice review on U-Tube, last few minutes  https://youtu.be/Aq1T8z5jz9g

 

Yes, I watched with pleasure and admiration, your models presented on the The Model News. I placed a link in your Porco Rosso thread.

Congratulations.

 

Yves

[BANYAN]

Congrats Greg, that is great recognition of your efforts.

 

cheers

 

Pat

[lmagna]

Congratulations on your results on the show. Was that "Best in show" for the Sedlitz/Zeppelin or "Peoples Choice"? Either way, well deserved.

[RGL]

The best in show went to a MIG, people’s choice is the voted one by visitors 

[RGL]

Lower hull done. I need to start grunging it up a little but I think I’ll leave that till the upper hull is done. I’m also in the process of doing up a half hull weathering demo for November as I’ve been asked to do a presentation of ship building/ Weathering and rigging. 

[RGL]

I’ve added a light alge coat, next is the deck area 

[RGL]

So the upper hull. I’ve scratch built the hangar, painted and plugged it in. You can’t see much without a torch. A few little gaps I’ll need to fix but it goes on fairly flush. 

[RGL]

The PE set basically blanks out all the potholes. The PE you see on the rear deck are for both the safety barriers (which I will model deployed as opposed to the kit flush ) and VLS silos near the actual hangar 

[RGL]

Flight deck. I used a black/Grey for the VLS hatches and the helicopter barriers. Once the flight deck dries ill mask then then the rest of the deck will be dark grey. 
 

the barriers are a pain, the PE is blank but the undersides have warning colours and hydraulics 

[RGL]

Masking up. Deck sone, then I want to put in the lines where I will be doing oil canning. Lots of different shapes 

Edited July 11, 2023 by RGL

[RGL]

Base coat down. 

[knightyo]

I was initially surprised at the depth of oil canning effect in the photos, but now that I think about it, with sides that are basically flat, the waves hitting them head on would definitely have more of an impact as opposed to hulls which are more rounded/curved; just such a strange ship.    Greg, I love what you did with the internals in the hangar; the flag looks great in there. 

 

Alan

[RGL]

This one’s been a bit of a shelf Queen for a while. I thought I’d get some paint on today 

[BANYAN]

Looks good Greg.  How are you finding those SMS paints to use?  What thinner do you use with it?  I have tried Tamiya 400 and it seems to work okay.

 

cheers

 

Pat

[RGL]

I used his brand, I am finding (and no doubt my fault), it does not like really fine work. This is a haze grey overspray at around 30/70 thinner