Academy 1/400 Titanic (Eduard PE)

[Massimodels]

Hello! 

 

I have recently bought the Academy 1/400th scale S.S. Titanic with Eduard PE. This is my first post on this wonderful website and hope to get helpful tips and comments from fellow model makers!

 

I plan to post timely updates during the next few weeks (or as long as it takes me).

 

Here is my first build update:

 

[Massimodels]

Attached propellor shafts:

 

Edited June 29, 2020 by Massimodels

[Massimodels]

Decided to spray over the existing red hull shade. Masked and sprayed with Tamiya TS-33. 

 

Worked like a charm, the perfect colour!

 

 

 

 

[Massimodels]

While the hull sits, I've decided to start the PE cranes. I have encountered an issue, however, it seems that there are only 6 middle sections (part 48 and 42) for the 8 cranes. There are 8 of every other component but this one.

 

These are both the Eduard and Academy plans:

 

Eduard:

 

Academy (indicates that 8 [6+2] cranes need to be made):

These are all 3 of the PE sheets:

 

 

 

 

If anyone has had this issue, or if I've just missed something please feel free to respond!

[Massimodels]

Started on the cranes, and will tackle the issue at a later time.
 

 

 

[BluesModeller]

You’re off to an excellent start!
 

Strange about the missing parts.  I’ve never used photo tech but I’m wondering how hard it would be to fashion the missing parts out of some scrap bit of photo etch?

[Massimodels]

I've fashioned the two parts out of some spare card, the photo etch was too tough to cut through without disrupting other parts.

 

I've also started adding the PE on the crane mounts.

 

 

 

Edited July 1, 2020 by Massimodels

[Massimodels]

Finished painting the bare plastic forecastle deck.

 

First sprayed the base deck with Tamiya Acrylic Mini XF-78 Wooden Deck Tan and hand painted the rest.

 

[Massimodels]

Building and painting is pretty much complete on the forecastle deck!

 

Started painting and building on aft well deck.

 

 

 

[Massimodels]

Completed the walls and fixtures on B Deck, and continued building on the aft well deck.

 

 

 

Here is an image with the current finished/WIP decks for some perspective and overall visual progress:

 

Edited July 8, 2020 by Massimodels

[Massimodels]

Finished the aft well deck with the PE rail on the Docking Bridge and deck detail.

 

 

 

[Massimodels]

Moving on, I have completed the walls and window etch for A Deck.

 

 

The Eduard plans instructed that the original window fixtures to be cut out, but with lack of visibility when completed and the time it would take, I decided not to cut them out and instead just glue it on top.

 

 

Next is the boat deck...

 

 

[BluesModeller]

Coming along nicely.

 

Did you figure out what to do about the missing PE?

[Massimodels]

1 hour ago, BluesModeller said:

Coming along nicely.

 

Did you figure out what to do about the missing PE?

I think it was posted but unclear, I replaced two of the long rectangular parts with some thinly cut card.

 

They are pretty similar in size and practically look the same. I’m quite chuffed about how they turned out so I wasn’t too upset about replacing them with another material.

[Massimodels]

Off to the cottage for the next week and thought I would leave you with this glimpse of what’s to come...

 

 

I’ve dry fit the decks on top of the hull and it is starting to look promising. 
 

Should start posting again around next weekend, hope to see you there!

[BluesModeller]

On 10/07/2020 at 01:58, Massimodels said:

I think it was posted but unclear, I replaced two of the long rectangular parts with some thinly cut card.

 

They are pretty similar in size and practically look the same. I’m quite chuffed about how they turned out so I wasn’t too upset about replacing them with another material.

I missed that post for some reason! 

 

You’re right.  If the end result looks good that’s all that matters.  Strange of Eduard not to include the correct amount of parts on the sheet but not the worst thing to have to fashion I suppose.

 

This is coming along quick and the results are excellent so far.
 

 

[Chewbacca]

On 01/07/2020 at 23:59, BluesModeller said:

I’ve never used photo tech but I’m wondering how hard it would be to fashion the missing parts out of some scrap bit of photo etch?

Actually it's not too bad.  Just take it slowly with lots of strokes at very gentle pressure and eventually it will come away cleanly.  Too much pressure and it will curl up.  Lots of my HMS BULOLO and Op Corporate Wasp builds are detailed with offcuts of scrap PE.

 

But the solution here with thin plasticard has worked just as well 👍

[Massimodels]

4 hours ago, Chewbacca said:

Actually it's not too bad.  Just take it slowly with lots of strokes at very gentle pressure and eventually it will come away cleanly.  Too much pressure and it will curl up.  Lots of my HMS BULOLO and Op Corporate Wasp builds are detailed with offcuts of scrap PE.

 

But the solution here with thin plasticard has worked just as well 👍

Well the area that I was attempting had parts attached to it so , in addition, my hobby knife is not the best and needs replacing.

[Massimodels]

Back from my break and building has resumed.

 

On my trip back, I picked up some white primer from Tamiya due to the difference between painted and plastic white. Here is the before and after on the hull wall. I also noticed that it looks more crisp and realistic, which was a nice bonus!

 

Before:

 

After:

 

 

Also started on the boat deck and will continue to clean up and improve the paint job.

 

 

Plan to do some major airbrush painting tomorrow, maybe even start the funnels...

 

 

Hope you are still enjoying my build! Expect more updates in the coming days!

Edited July 17, 2020 by Massimodels

[Massimodels]

Continued to work on the forward boat deck superstructure. The painting went okay accept for the wheel house roof, I needed to hand paint it. Most likely going to redo it.

 

I used an undetermined mix of Tamiya XF-1 and 2 to get the grey for the roofs of the deck houses.

 

 

I also tried a technique on the staircase dome. I covered the whole thing with a black dry-erase marker and let it dry for a minute or so, then gently wiped the excess off. It stuck to the raised areas.

 

 

Finished building the bottom section of the smokestacks, and will prime and paint them next.

 

 

Time to figure out how to get White Star Buff out of my Tamiya paints...

 

 

Edited July 19, 2020 by Massimodels

[Massimodels]

Painted the smokestacks with Tamiya white primer and a mixture of XF-2,15, and 78. Got it as close as I could to what I think is "White Star Buff".

 

 

Dry-fit it to give some context and perspective.

 

 

Started work on other deck segments and the PE navigation tower.

(Still wet, not glossy)

 

[Massimodels]

Got to work on the latter half of the boat deck superstructure. I added the smokestacks as well.

 

In this process it was clear that the raised sections of A Deck needed to be fit exactly to the boat deck parts. Therefore, I partially glued the decks together and left area in the front and back to allow for easy access for rigging.

 

This is the final product from today's work on the boat deck.

 

 

Looking ahead, I also added the base rigging for the forecastle and aft well deck. Labeling (as per the plans) and connecting them with tape.

 

 

Tomorrow is going to be exciting, the PE rails are next! It will be my first time using PE rails....

 

 

 

 

Edited July 21, 2020 by Massimodels

[Massimodels]

A rather uneventful update, just some etch added in the forward section of the boat deck.

 

 

Similar updates will follow....

[Massimodels]

Finished the PE rails and have started on the rigging. Leaving the 4th funnel for tomorrow because I have not completed all of the PE stair railings (third picture) in that area. The rigging is just some simple thin thread I purchased at the craft store, I will give more details about it next update. The included rigging is too thick and not to scale. Also painted the lifeboat davits.

 

 

Instead of using the rigging method advised in the plans, (tie one end to a cylindrical piece of sprue and tie the other onto a cylindrical piece underneath the deck) I opted to glue one end of the rigging into the first hole. After it had dried, weave the thread through the smokestacks and the deck. Then take the excess thread and tie it to the work surface after gluing the end of the thread to the deck hole to ensure a tight and sharp drying result.

 

[Massimodels]

This is a very eventful update, I have been hard at work completing the rest of the boat deck and starting on deck and hull wall assembly into the hull.

 

First order of business was to tackle the yellow stipe. It was actually a great deal easier than I had originally thought. I masked it off with Tamiya's 10mm and airbrushed Tamiya XF-3 and it came out very nicely. I am very happy with my results! 

 

 

Next I easily installed the main hull wall and cut off the plastic rails which were moulded to the bow and stern raised sections. I also used a thin black marker to line the insides of the portholes. Don't know if I'm going to do the same for the middle section.

 

 

To ensure an easy insertion into the hull wall, the boat deck required a slight dip in the middle. Hopefully this will help with it.

 

 

I have also started to glue in B Deck into the hull.

 

 

It won't be long till this build is complete!