Bronco - 1/350 USS New York

[MunchMunch]

Ok, just received my new kit in the mail today. Thanks Eb.. for a great deal.

That being said, I haven't built a ship model in probably 30+ years. I've recently done a easyfit Star Wars model for my son and a Kinetic M-ATV for me (it was difficult).

What advice can you experts give me, where are the gotcha's in this?

Appreciate all the help.

[Alan P]

This is a nice easy kit. The pitfalls are very few but quite significant.

Your first choice is whether to build it waterline or full hull. The kit gives you either option. The reason you need to decide this before starting is because the big issue with the kit is the fit of the upper hull to the lower.

You have to make sure you have completely finished the interior (hangar and well deck) before attaching the upper and lower as the fit is quite bad, leaving some big seams to fill. Any tinkering with the interior after fitting will pop any remedial puttying work you may have done along the sides!

If you are doing a seascape, this will mean you will have to add water to the well deck before you complete the adding of the upper hull. It's unlikely you will be able to fill the seams on the hull sides if the lower half is already attached to your base!

So, you need to do the water effects in the hull interior separately to the main sea base. I've never known another model that required this build order, so as a relative beginner, you might want to build it full hull and mount it on the provided base.

Long winded reply, but otherwise it's a very nice one stop kit with all the stuff you need for it in the box.

Edited January 6, 2015 by Brokenedge

[MunchMunch]

Thanks, going to do it as full hull.

That is a big gotcha. Not going to do water effects yet, no quite ready.

[Jockster]

Nice looking ships, I've been curious about these models but my stash says no so I'm looking forward to your build!

@ Brokenedge, not longwinded, great heads up for anyone building it!

[MunchMunch]

I started on it last night- assembling the two hull pieces. Got them together well, the lower hull was twisted a bit but fixed that. Working on seam now, will get a pic posted tonight.

I posted this question in the paints section but also going to put it here.

What grey do I use for the hull? I mostly use acrylics but am not against enamel.

[Alan P]

The grey in use for modern US warships is Navy Haze Gray. This carries an FS no of 26270, which equates it with either FS36270 Neutral Gray or Medium Gray. Most of the acrylic paint producers make something approaching this colour! Otherwise you can use Medium Sea Grey which is a good match.

[MunchMunch]

Ok, working on the well deck (I think that is the right term). The Bronco kit does not have the upper area correct.

This is my first try at scratch building something. So I'm trying to add some detail. Added the wall, using some tubing and wire to add some piping.

I tried something I saw on this site for the hand rail. I used my wife's "Scan-n-cut" to cut it out. You can draw something and then scan it in and then cut it out. I think they came out ok. Would rather have photo etched parts but for where this is going to be fine.

I'm thinking of adding an led to light up the deck so it can be seen better when completed.

[Alan P]

Nice start, are those railings made of paper then? Good improvisation!

I don't know if you've seen

but it's a guided tour of the USS San Diego with some good interior shots and information.

[MunchMunch]

Thanks for the link! I have not seen that video. Actually the railings are plastic. The cutter will cut a lot of different materials (paper, leather, fabric, chip board) but the railings are 0.025 (I think) plastic. It worked pretty well.

Actually got me thinking this AM in the shower of finding the plans on making a paper Firefly ship from the show Serenity and doing it in plastic.

[warreni]

Don't be too fussy with the colour mate. Ships colours vary all the time depending on how long it has been since it was painted, the liaght at the time, how long it has been at sea and lot of other factors.

Just enjoy your first build for a while.

[MunchMunch]

Well, advice on seam for hull and superstructure was correct, not the best seam. Got it filled and sanded, primed and ready for paint. Was only going to the lower part, black and red. Shot the black, came out great. Shot the red (or what I thought was red), used Vellejo hull red for the bottom. I'm red-green color blind but I can tell, this isn't red, more like a brown with a little red in it. Not happy with the color at all. Going to re-shoot it with Carmine Red. I know not to be too picky but I just don't like it.

But other than that, making progress. Had to scratch build one little room with crane and inflatable boat. Dog got the room, took about 10 minutes figuring out what it was. Luckily didn't get the boat or crane.