Thom216 Posted February 20, 2023 Share Posted February 20, 2023 Lovely etch. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArnoldAmbrose Posted February 20, 2023 Share Posted February 20, 2023 5 hours ago, Alan P said: I'm getting my bonus paid this month so decided to pre-splurge on the Trumpeter Kitty Hawk CV-63. It was in a clearance sale from an online retailer at about £100 less than usual, so I had a rush of blood to the head. Still, that's £400 I've spent on kits and accessories this year already...😬 So far I'm still alive, but I've put away all the kitchen knives just in case....!!! Gidday Alan, put the knives back where they belong, it's probably a quicker way to go anyway. 😁 Money can't be eaten, only spent. The trick is to spend it wisely and that differs for us all. I once had a big lottery win. I spent half of it on alcohol, served by nubile young ladies with scant clothing, loose morals and wanton behavior. But I'm afraid the rest of the money I just wasted. 😁 Seriously, she's coming along superbly. Regards, Jeff. Lottery win? Don't I wish . . . 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted February 21, 2023 Author Share Posted February 21, 2023 Thanks @flashlight and @Thom216 and Jeff @ArnoldAmbrose for the belly laugh, you really had me in the first half 😂 Big step today...making a start on the sea base. Going to try a new technique (for me). Fingers crossed... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArnoldAmbrose Posted February 21, 2023 Share Posted February 21, 2023 28 minutes ago, Alan P said: Going to try a new technique (for me). Fingers crossed... Gidday Alan, any new technique provides lessons, even those that don't work. Good luck with this one. Regards, Jeff. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby No Mac Posted February 21, 2023 Share Posted February 21, 2023 Superb detail, I like it a lot Good luck with the sea base, I'm interested to see how you go about it because I'm pondering that dilemma with the lighthouse. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted February 21, 2023 Author Share Posted February 21, 2023 Cheers Bobby, looks quite daunting as it's the largest sea base I've attempted up to now, still considering if putting it up on sticks might not be better 🤔 but ships are built for sailing, so 🙃 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomprobert Posted February 21, 2023 Share Posted February 21, 2023 I take my hat off to anyone who can work with this much etch and to such a high standard. This is looking really quite marvelous! Tom 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted February 21, 2023 Share Posted February 21, 2023 Wow! 21 hours ago, Alan P said: Very happy with the way this looks now. You've every right to be happy with that fine work. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted February 22, 2023 Author Share Posted February 22, 2023 Thanks very much Tom @tomprobert and @Col. So, working on the sea base - I'm using 5cm thick polystyrene as a base. This is a new thing for me. I intend to put the whole thing in an acrylic case so the thick base isn't really an issue. Couldn't resist taping up the USS Montana hull to see the size difference, and it's quite impressive! The New Jersey will fit completely inside the Montana-class hull, which just shows how huge those planned battleships were going to be! I considered digging out a hole in the polystyrene to see if I could keep the hull intact but it seemed like too much trouble. So...I crossed a line of no return...the hull is now waterlined. No going back! After another test fit, I think the base might be a bit too big, so got the cutter out again.... The base looks a bit better proportioned now. The cutoff hull makes a good template for marking the base... That works out pretty well. Getting the proportions of the sea base is a bit of an art and a science. You want the ship to be the centrepiece, but don't want to lose it in a big base. In this case, less is more. This technique is laborious but I want to see if it works out. I'm using Liquitex Modelling Paste for the base texture. It's made from marble powder in a polymer suspension. It should dry rock hard overnight. The texture isn't important for this application, as there's going to be another layer on top when this has dried. Fingers crossed again to see if this works out... Cheers, Alan 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted February 23, 2023 Author Share Posted February 23, 2023 Back to the sea base... (my phone autocorrect keeps wanting this to say 'sea bass'! ) Second layer, added a few waveforms for the bow and stern waves Added the other wave textures using scrunched up aluminium foil. First time using this technique, and I'd have to say it wasn't great but wasn't bad either. More practice required, I think! Should be able to produce something nice as long as I paint it properly! Also, probably need to dig a little furrow for the ship as she's riding a little high in the water. Just been looking for a suitable case and found a shop in Germany that does custom cut acrylic cases for about €75 - does anyone know a UK alternative for about the same price? This will be 850x180x250mm Cheers again Alan 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted February 23, 2023 Author Share Posted February 23, 2023 On a side note - I'm holding off painting anything else on the ship until I get some more paint - I just realised after a particularly unsuccessful effort that the Modern US Navy Haze Gray paint I'm using isn't my usual favourite Sovereign Colourcoats but an old leftover tin of White Ensign which must be at least 12 years old and possibly older. So I've ordered a full set of modern USN paint from @Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies and hope normal service will be resumed soon! Did I say Colourcoats is the best model paint in the world? I usually do about a dozen times on every build Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flashlight Posted February 23, 2023 Share Posted February 23, 2023 The base is looking good already! How will you paint it, once it's done? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted February 23, 2023 Author Share Posted February 23, 2023 15 minutes ago, flashlight said: The base is looking good already! How will you paint it, once it's done? Something like this, using acrylic paints and Gloss Heavy gel: 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flashlight Posted February 23, 2023 Share Posted February 23, 2023 Just now, Alan P said: Something like this, using acrylic paints and Gloss Heavy gel: Ooh this is going to look wonderful! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted March 2, 2023 Author Share Posted March 2, 2023 This has slowed down a bit (a lot!) as I'm having to wait a day for each stage of the sea base Got some paint on, again this going to take ages...the white unfortunately dried PURPLE when I went back to it this evening... Looks ok for a start. Plenty more work to do on this...I want to get back to building and painting, I miss my PE fix! Alan 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thom216 Posted March 2, 2023 Share Posted March 2, 2023 Wishing you clear skies and purple seas.😉 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andwil Posted March 2, 2023 Share Posted March 2, 2023 2 hours ago, Alan P said: the white unfortunately dried PURPLE The Wine Dark Sea. AW 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArnoldAmbrose Posted March 3, 2023 Share Posted March 3, 2023 48 minutes ago, Andwil said: 3 hours ago, Alan P said: the white unfortunately dried PURPLE The Wine Dark Sea. Or he's wearing his rose-tinted glasses. 🙂 But seriously, it looks white in those photos - or are they photos before the purplization (a new word) took effect? Regards, Jeff. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted March 3, 2023 Author Share Posted March 3, 2023 5 hours ago, ArnoldAmbrose said: are they photos before the purplization (a new word) took effect? Yep, I took those right after painting, I'll show you the purple version later 😂 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted March 3, 2023 Share Posted March 3, 2023 1 hour ago, Alan P said: Yep, I took those right after painting, I'll show you the purple version later 😂 Now there's a chat-up line! The sea bass is coming on grand Alan and the purplization may work in your favour to blend the blue into the white froth after a couple more coats. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chewbacca Posted March 4, 2023 Share Posted March 4, 2023 That sea base seems to work a treat from those photos. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted March 19, 2023 Author Share Posted March 19, 2023 Must admit I'd almost given up on this after the struggles with the sea base, but I've tried a couple of new techniques with it and think it might just work. Trying to finish off the remaining bits and pieces to paint and add: There are four different types of boat to mount on the ship, but I'm adding these personnel boats by Veteran Models to go with the whaler and admiral's barge. Meanwhile the collection of extra parts is growing, with the addition of the boat davits, refuelling post, boats and OE-62 satcom aerials. I might need a holiday from photoetch after this! I have a whole day free tomorrow to work on this, so I'll get some good daylight photos of the sea base and the superstructure so far. Alan 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wings unlevel Posted March 19, 2023 Share Posted March 19, 2023 5 hours ago, Alan P said: might need a holiday from photoetch after this! Or you could give the rest of us a masterclass! Incredible work so far. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted March 19, 2023 Author Share Posted March 19, 2023 47 minutes ago, Wings unlevel said: Or you could give the rest of us a masterclass! Incredible work so far. Thanks 😃 yeah, I love it really 😂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArnoldAmbrose Posted March 19, 2023 Share Posted March 19, 2023 29 minutes ago, Alan P said: Thanks 😃 yeah, I love it really 😂 Gidday Alan, with a touch of masochism thrown in? 😁 But I have to agree with others - the PE is very good and raises the model to another level. Regards, Jeff. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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