Faraway

Forward gun. I've also added the railings.

What a lovely looking hull . As you say, painting that lovely wood is ludicrous. Jon

I have to say, I’d go for the Aircraft Battleship Hyuga. Simply because I’ve never seen or heard of such a thing. Jon

Rear deck is progressing nicely, just some DC's to add. Just as a change of technique, I thought I'd do a bit of work on the masts, so fired up the soldering iron. Rear mast jigged ready to solder. And there we have it. Main mast next. Some PE and 3D added, a couple of more bits to go, but they'll be very near the end of the build, as there is a square radar aerial to go on top of this, and that will definitely be the last part to be fitted, as I guarantee I'll knock it off. Jon

@Mark Harmsworth that does make a huge difference to the colour on the plane, I’ll have to explore my camera. Jon

The Revell 1/144 does make a very nice ship, there are loads of extra PE and 3D parts available for it. Jon Ah, a real boat. Jon

I often wonder why this is, I mean, if they are making the part why in earth make it so inaccurate ? Jon

They are a bit different, aren’t they. This is one of the reasons I’m not making so many ‘mass produced’ kits. What we think is accurate is often FAR from it. As much as I love 3D printed parts, I find removing them from their ‘sprue’ somewhat traumatic, ESPECIALLY little guns. Jon

Sorry about that. Well not really. I feel decidedly uncomfortable with the thought of continuing with HMS Alert, and I ALWAYS have slight misgivings when I’m working on any ship, whether it be plastic, resin, 3D or whatever it’s made from. I question whether I follow the instructions, or go off on my own route ? What to paint next ? What to FIT next ? Sometimes I even talk myself out of doing anything, which I hate as I don’t believe in giving up without trying. Jon

Maybe the blade is withdrawn ? Jon

https://blackcatmodels.eu/en/

That would be nice, but no. I just think they (although I think there is only one of them) deserve praise where it’s due. The kits might, on the face of it, appear quite expensive, this cost is balanced out due to the fact you don’t have to add anything. So what with Black Cat, Starling, Atlantic there are some splendid and unusual kits to be had, without swelling the coffers of the likes of Trumpeter or Tamiya. Jon

@Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies instructions received, very informative and detailed. Today, I've been slowly moving aft. But first some praise for the 3D printing (not the first time)those of us who insist on using PE to detail our builds, and I do believe we are slightly mad to put ourselves through the ordeal of bending and folding, especially ladders and trying to get those little treads to bend out and to the right angle. Well, fret no more, look at this little gem. A 3D printed ladder. Anyway, back to my progress aft. That'll do for today, need to let the glue harden. I'll then touch up some of the paint and add the minesweeping paravanes. Jon

Look left

Jamie. I’ve not received any links re instructions. But the decals are very good, I’ll let you know when I use them. Jon

Very, very good. Jon

My original wooden deck was going to a piece from my 1/350 stock, which has a 1mm plank, but I thought at the time the planks looked too wide. So I sent an email to the HMAS Castlemaine museum asking them what width the planks were on the actual ship. And they replied that unfortunately all the deck planks had been stripped from her, due to excessive corrosion of the steel underneath. But they did say that from a photo, of her in service during WW2, it showed a crew member on the planked part of the deck so from this shoes, as far as they could tell the planks were 6" wide. Therefore I've changed the deck to some 1/700 which has a 0.5mm plank, which is as near as damn it what a 6" plank would be at this scale of 1/350. Anyway, here it is and looking fairly good. Certainly better than I could have replicated with paint. So I've fitted the bridge, vents and other hamper to this section of the ship. I've then added the depth charges. After fitting the DC's I've added these two pieces of overhanging deck, just a fir of filler and they be ok. Lastly, I'm feeling somewhat honoured as I've had another visit by the postman, two days in a row, it can't last. I've received these splendid decals from Sovereign Hobbies @Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies this should add a lovely bit of detail to the finished ship. That's my progress so far, see you tomorrow. Jon

Scratch building was my thought too. However, if I can find some sort of plastic stone effect of about the right size, it might work. Jon

I just need to source something to make a quay. Do you know what scale 1/350 is when compared to model railways ? Jon

Mine docked yesterday, and you are right it is very small. I’m thinking to do it waterline moored to a dockside. Jon

I forgot to mention, but that sprue in the photo above is the only sprue. So shouldn’t take too long to put together. Jon

Have you read the account that MB id based on, absolutely fascinating. Jon

No building today, just didn't seem to be the day for it, however the Royal Mail finally remembered where I live and delivered this................. And to say it's small would probably be an understatement. I think it'll be my next build and as it can be done as waterline, I think that's where I'll go with it. As far as I know, weathering shouldn't be too much of as challenge as the hull is wood, whether I can produce something like the box art, I very much doubt. Back tomorrow with more Castlemaine. Jon

Jadlam is almost local to me, just a scenic 30 min drive over the Mendips. Loads of stock and quite reasonable prices. At least going there stops me having to use the almost (around here) nonexistent Royal Mail delivery. Jon

I’ve made a couple of Black Cat models and they are always excellent. But since Ben has been using more 3D printing, they are setting a much higher standard. These small producers are becoming a force to be reckoned with. Jon