johndon Posted November 12, 2016 Share Posted November 12, 2016 (edited) So, having decided to get back in to ship modelling, I've decided to go large: And, as I've got the Pontos detail set, first up to be built is the Iowa. A little reference material: First up is to fit the bow (quite why Trumpeter felt the need to do the hull in two parts, who knows) and, to give it some extra strength, I've drilled the join and added styrene rod to help reinforce it: Next up is to fill and sand it all smooth and then figure out where the boot topping should go as I plan on doing this as a waterline model... John Edited November 12, 2016 by johndon 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johndon Posted November 13, 2016 Author Share Posted November 13, 2016 An hour or so's work with wet and dry and the hull seam is almost gone. Pretty happy with this as I've not, so far, used any filler on the join albeit let's see what it looks like with some primer on it... John 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper_city Posted November 13, 2016 Share Posted November 13, 2016 Watching with interest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johndon Posted November 14, 2016 Author Share Posted November 14, 2016 As it is clear that this will be a very long term build, I'm determined to get something done each day, however small. I couldn't resist making a start on turret 1. The barrels will, in due course be replaced with those from Pontos and the turret roof still needs to be glued down. John 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johndon Posted November 14, 2016 Author Share Posted November 14, 2016 One thing I have become acutely aware of already is the need to keep a very close eye on two sets of instructions as the Pontos set replaces so much of the Trumpeter plastic, I'm already checking everything twice to make sure I don't use a plastic part when a PE part is available... John 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies Posted November 16, 2016 Share Posted November 16, 2016 Great to see you've made a start John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johndon Posted November 16, 2016 Author Share Posted November 16, 2016 Cheers James, another order will be on it's way as soon as the Hood set is released I've decided I'm going to treat each turret as a kit in it's own right and get it built and painted before moving on to the next thing. I've made a start on the insanity that is the Pontos set but some of the parts are microscopic! The photo below shows strengtheners that replace the kit details round the bottom of the turrets - some of them are so small I can't even figure out how to pick them up, let alone glue them in place... John 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johndon Posted November 16, 2016 Author Share Posted November 16, 2016 PE going on turret 1: John 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thom216 Posted November 17, 2016 Share Posted November 17, 2016 That turret looks great. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johndon Posted November 18, 2016 Author Share Posted November 18, 2016 Tonight's short modelling session has seen more PE added to the turret with the side ladders and floater net basket supports added. The Pontos set includes replacements for the triangular ribs on the turret ring bases but some of those pieces as so small, I've decided, in this case, to stick with the kit parts as I reckon the chances of getting all the PE pieces in place is almost zero. John 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johndon Posted November 19, 2016 Author Share Posted November 19, 2016 Construction of turret 1 is nearing completion. Ladders on the front: Floater net baskets (not fixed yet) on the rear: Next to the pin the photo below is one of the triangular parts that are meant to go on the top the turret ring at the front of the turret, how on earth are you supposed to pick it up to get it in place, bearing in mind this is the largest of 6 parts!! John 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aginvicta Posted November 20, 2016 Share Posted November 20, 2016 Looking good John. With the small P.E. parts I use a cocktail stick with a sharp point. Put a small dot of PVA glue on it and then lift the P.E. part using the glued end of the cocktail stick. Apply a dot of CA gel to the P.E. part and fix it in place. Hold it there until the CA gel sets, then remove the cocktail stick. It can take a few goes to get it right and lots of patience. Andy 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johndon Posted November 20, 2016 Author Share Posted November 20, 2016 Cheers Andy, I'll give that a go. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob 1 Posted November 20, 2016 Share Posted November 20, 2016 Some nice big ship kits in the first post. The Iowa class 16" turret is looking good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johndon Posted October 8, 2020 Author Share Posted October 8, 2020 This has been sat on the shelf of doom for nearly 4 years now, I really need to get a case for it before I start work on the superstructure. Here are some photos of what she looks like now... John 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArnoldAmbrose Posted October 9, 2020 Share Posted October 9, 2020 Gidday John, you started this build before my time with BM so it's good to see it now. I think that hull join was well done, as are the turrets. Regards, Jeff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johndon Posted November 23, 2020 Author Share Posted November 23, 2020 Well, four years after I started building it, turret 1 is finally complete and has a coat of primer. Some refinement needed, especially the blast bags but at least it's progress. Fifty seven parts make up this one turret... 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted November 23, 2020 Share Posted November 23, 2020 Fantastic, glad you're back on this one, John. I really should get back to mine! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArnoldAmbrose Posted November 24, 2020 Share Posted November 24, 2020 Gidday John, fifty-seven parts? That's a model in itself. But it looks beautifully detailed. I'm looking forward to seeing more. Regards, Jeff. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johndon Posted November 24, 2020 Author Share Posted November 24, 2020 4 hours ago, ArnoldAmbrose said: Gidday John, fifty-seven parts? That's a model in itself. But it looks beautifully detailed. I'm looking forward to seeing more. Regards, Jeff. Actually, there are more parts inside the turret that I forgot about so more than 60 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johndon Posted November 26, 2020 Author Share Posted November 26, 2020 (edited) Basic painting of turret 1 is now complete. I've decided to do the ship in Measure 32 camouflage, there were some variations of it, at least one of which had all three barrels and the front of the turret painted black which is what I've chosen. Black is Tamiya Nato Black and grey is Tamiya Sky Grey, both acrylics. I will give the blast bags a coat of a slightly different black and try to give them a bit of a sheen. Not decided if i'm going to give it a wash or not... John Edited November 27, 2020 by johndon 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thom216 Posted November 27, 2020 Share Posted November 27, 2020 Back on deck! Very nice progress with the turret. Well worth the wait. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johndon Posted November 27, 2020 Author Share Posted November 27, 2020 11 hours ago, Thom216 said: Back on deck! Very nice progress with the turret. Well worth the wait. Thanks for that. I'm more enthused about getting her built than I have been in a long time and I'm trying to get something, however small, done on the kit every day now. I'm trying to treat different parts of the kit almost as separate models and getting them built and painted so I don't get bogged down doing one particular thing. Plan now is to get the turrets finished and then move on to the hull... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve5 Posted November 28, 2020 Share Posted November 28, 2020 very nice work john , hope you stay with her , that turret look's sensational . 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johndon Posted November 28, 2020 Author Share Posted November 28, 2020 (edited) Turret 2 is almost ready for paint. One thing I have found very useful is to super slue some square tube to the bottom of the turrets which allows them to be held in a clamp. This way I have both hands free to work on the turret and no issues trying to figure out where to hold it while I'm working on it. The barrels are able to move slightly so will line up far better than they currently do in the photo. One thing I've not quite figured out yet is how to deal with the handrails that go round the top of the turret roof. If I add them before painting, it is going to be all but impossible to mask the turret roof but if I add them afterwards, they are going to be difficult to paint as the Tamiya Acrylics I use don't brush very well at the best of times, let alone on bare brass... Edited November 28, 2020 by johndon 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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