Ship building and painting - best sequence?

[eng]

This is going to sound like a very silly request for help, but I'm genuinely not sure of the best way to proceed here.

I've got an Airfix Type 45 on the go again after holding off a bit to get some WEM PE, the dilemma I've got is what's the best way to proceed in terms of building and painting?

My normal fare is aircraft and this really is my first foray into the world of ship modelling. My first thought was to build the whole thing and spray the hull/superstructure it's light admiralty gray and then carry out some very tedious and in places complex masking, before spraying the darker grey of the deck area's. This seems like possibly the wrong way to go though, I really don't know

Could anyone shed some light on a possible "best option" with regards general ship building stages, and sequencing of painting and construction?

Many thanks in advance for any support on this. I know there are a few errors with this kit but I'm going to leave them untouched on this build and just improve the overall look with the WEM PE. I wanted to add it to my collection as the 6 ships were built just up the river from where we stay and they're regular visitors to the Clyde still.

Thanks,

Eng

P.s are the Airfix colour call-outs for the hull and decks close enough to the real thing or are there better matches. I use acrylics and won't be using WEM enamels for this one.

[seadog]

Well, fwiw, I start with painting the hull. Depends a bit on whether it's a resin kit - no separate deck or a plastic kit. I usually paint the boot topping first, then cut a thin strip of tape to cover that, then if it's going to be full hull (I usually build waterline) paint the bottom, then the deck, if attached. I pick out all of the raised bits with a fine brush - can't face trying to mask all those diddy boxes and things. You can usually paint the grey of the hull, even with an airbrush without spraying the deck - having said that, I'm working on an Atlantic Models 'Leeds Castle' and have been using thinned enamel, a couple of coats with a hairy stick to do the grey. As to assembly, bottom up, centre out. that way you don't end up trying to reach past delicate bits to put something on in the middle that you forgot....

Hope this helps,

Fraser

[andrewa]

My preferred route is build everything as sub-assemblies, paint, then mask the decks before painting the vertical surfaces and finally add all the smaller bits. When building ships I try to add as much detail during build as possible, but always thinking about how I will mask and paint - if access would be obstructed I'll leave the part off, then add after painting. It's quite similar to the process many armour modellers follow. Take a look from post 35 of this thread of mine:

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234927178-operation-corporate-carrier-battlegroup-1350/page-2

That shows where I took the build to on Broadsword, then also the masking, painting and finishing steps.

I know a lot of other people paint as they build, but I know I'd have to do too much touching up as I went if I took that route. I don't know how well this would work in smaller scales though.

A

[kidcurrie42]

I have to agree with Andrew, even in 1/700 I build in sub assemblies, Thinking and planning ahead, each ship model may pose different angles of attack especially with PE, its no good adding tons of PE to a mast if then you are unable to handle it to fix in position, work out how to add as much as possible, fix in position and then add remaining PE/Details

Happy Modeling

John

[Shar2]

I always start with the hull, painting the anti-fouling first and working my way up. Then build as many sub-assemblies as possible. When the deck is painted I then build up to the upper deck then go from stem to stern adding the sub-assebmlies and smaller parts as I move aft. Finally I add the railings and rigging.

[Rob 1]

Hi eng, that is a perfectly sensible and good question.

I go with the above on sub-assemblies. My method is that each sub-assembled 'block' is built up as complete as possible with all the detailing but kept in discreet chunks (eg. blocks of superstructure, gun turrets, directors, masts, etc) so allowing easy access to paint any part of each assembly. I build them up as much as I can so as many parts are glued on and gaps filled as possible so that when airbrushing the sub assembly everything is captured, covered and sealed up in one go. Small elements like deck hatches or fittings, and the edge between different coloured elements (eg deck and vertical surface) are all finished by careful brush work. The only thing left to ensure is that the completed sub assemblies are dry fitted and prepared so that they can 'drop' together at the end without any gaps or unfinished bits anywhere, to avoid remedial finishing work. My exception is leaving off the main deck railings, crew figures and rigging due to their fragile nature, which I add after everything else is assembled.

Edited June 9, 2014 by Rob 1

[Ravens]

I plan out sub-assemblies, and try to spot areas that may be difficult to get a brush into neatly once other parts are added or once the sub-assembly is glued onto the whole. Also, if I'm likely to be handling the hull section a lot throughout the build then I tend to add the propeller parts, bilge-fins and anchors last of all to minimise the risk of bits breaking off and getting lost without my noticing. There's little worse than discovering a missing part and realising that - gulp - it's probably lost to the hoover!

Ross.