Group Build: Historical Warships of WWII

[Edbert]

February 22, 2025

 

[blakeh1]

only 2 planes left now



also got some primer on the Shinano. now off to mix some colors

 

[blakeh1]

Well, I definitely screwed this one up

When I put these platform bases on I had them oriented the wrong way. I only noticed when I was trying to mask for the camo scheme, and could not figure out why the lines did not go through them in the paint guide illustration

It should have been a red flag when there were gaps and stuff, but for some stupid reason I chalked it off to maybe it being how they used the hull from the Yamato and some more generic bits from other aircraft carriers planted on, and that was why the parts didn't seem to fit the hull curve and leave gaps.

Being a Tamiya kit, I really should have known this thing should just fall together near seamlessly.

Sometimes I get blocks like that though and forge on ahead not realizing until too late that I have something glued on the wrong way. I blame it on the fumes

at any rate, had to pry off these platform supports and orient them better





and then do the same thing on the other side as well



Was hoping to have had the other camo color laid down, but will now have to wait

 

[BarleyBop]

...but you did catch it, and you are remediating.

In similar situations, I've found it extra hard when I've used cement like Tamiya extra thin and the pieces are literally welded, great for strength, terrible for taking apart: mild-mannered BarleyBop turns into SupaNoid.
With CA, a few drops of BSI un-cure and light prying usually does the trick, being careful it doesn't run elsewhere. But CA not always appropriate.

 

[blakeh1]

Hah! If only I had used CA

I had a similar, but worse goof with the 1/700 Mogami

Granted this was an old kit and the instructions were very lacking (like 2 or 3 total drawings) and kind of vague about placement of things


These I just cannot get off at all without damaging them and or the deck

It is supposed to look like this where the guns circled above are moved back to the arrow and the life boats and other details where they are

Also note, the below seems to be a better detailed 2002 retooling of the kit above from the 70s

It is also a good excuse to grab the new kit

 

[Edbert]

at any rate, had to pry off these platform supports and orient them better

This IJN sailors appreciate the extra support underneath them I am sure!

 

[Edbert]

Getting close to applying a clear coat prior to weathering her up a little bit. I intend to keep it moderate, mainly to break up large sections on monochrome

The decals are few but present some problems.
1.) There are 4 insignias for the aircraft. Two for the fuselage and two for the wings (one upper port one lower starboard) but...there are two aircraft. Guess I'll just be making one.
2.) There are two set of numerals, 0-9. No indication where these go, they are too large for waterline measures. Do I just add them to the bag of spares?

 

[Calico Jack]

Getting close to applying a clear coat prior to weathering her up a little bit. I intend to keep it moderate, mainly to break up large sections on monochrome

The decals are few but present some problems.
1.) There are 4 insignias for the aircraft. Two for the fuselage and two for the wings (one upper port one lower starboard) but...there are two aircraft. Guess I'll just be making one.
2.) There are two set of numerals, 0-9. No indication where these go, they are too large for waterline measures. Do I just add them to the bag of spares?

View attachment 139713
View attachment 139714

Looks like they go in a bag of spares to me.

 

[Edbert]

Looks like they go in a bag of spares to me.

Thanks, I was afraid they were needed and it was something a ship-guy would just know about.

 

[blakeh1]

Getting close to applying a clear coat prior to weathering her up a little bit. I intend to keep it moderate, mainly to break up large sections on monochrome

The decals are few but present some problems.
1.) There are 4 insignias for the aircraft. Two for the fuselage and two for the wings (one upper port one lower starboard) but...there are two aircraft. Guess I'll just be making one.
2.) There are two set of numerals, 0-9. No indication where these go, they are too large for waterline measures. Do I just add them to the bag of spares?

View attachment 139713
View attachment 139714

Weird about the decals

I though at first maybe it was because the aircraft sprue is a "generic" sprue and only 1 plane was on the boat, but I just read somewhere that there were actually 3 planes assigned to it

AS far as the numbers 0-9, maybe those are supposed to be for the planes?

 

[blakeh1]

p.s.

I guess the decal sheet could represent a period when they were missing and aircraft (like during Okinawa)
still lazy though by Revell

She carried complement of 2 or 3 of these aircrafts during WWII. During the Invasion of North Africa in November of 1942, one airplane sank and another bombed enemy tanks. After the invasion, Walter Chronkite flew off TEXAS in a kingfisher when the ship was within range of Norfolk. He was the first to report back on the event and launched his career.
During the invasion of Normandy, the airplanes and catapult were removed and the pilots were given Spitfires to fight German fighters and be spotters.
During the invasion of Okinawa, one sank during recovery due to damage from anti-aircraft fire and another strafed small Japanese boats.

https://www.tumblr.com/lonestarbattleship/678108003042525184/uss-texas-bb-35-vought-os2u-kingfisher

 

[blakeh1]

Got the Shinano's hull painted and started on the flight deck decals plus some of the planes

 

[Calico Jack]

@blakeh1 Looking good, really like the color scheme and colors.

 

[Calico Jack]

So it was a busy week through the weekend and only got back to the bench today. I think I attempted to lose all my marbles at once working on PE portholes! Whoever came up with the idea to make and sell photo etch portholes needs to have 1,000 of these things super glued to all there fingers permanently!!! Anyway, got a dozen or so done and the main decks have gone on and will clean them up and sand down everything being replaced with PE parts. Hope everyone else's builds are going smoothly.

 

[blakeh1]

Good god that is dedication. But it does make a difference for sure.

It will be one of those stories someday that you can tell to the younger generation who are used to kits that have next generation molding or 3D printed stuff.

"well back in my day we had to glue on every porthole individually after removing the molded ones"....

 

[Edbert]

Whoever came up with the idea to make and sell photo etch portholes needs to have 1,000 of these things super glued to all there fingers permanently!!!

I cannot give a love and a laugh reaction to the same post or I would!

I haven't touched my battleship in several days, but I do have bench time. I'm at a stand-still due to indecision; I've come to realize I am a long way away from being "correct" for measure 22. I would have to paint all horizontals surfaces blue not gray as they are now. Scroll back to see what I mean. It is not impossible, but I am 100% not willing to do what it would take to do it right, so that option is off the table.

I have two ways out:
1.) Forget about the missing blue parts and just finish it up despite being "incorrect".
2.) Repaint the entire upper 2/3 of the ship dark blue for her 1945 duty.

I just cannot decide, so I am working on other squirrels while I come to terms with which I prefer. I have started accumulating materials for building a case. I think I can make a nice one for under $50USD if I use plexiglass. I intend to make the first one that way, as a proof-of-concept. If it works very well I'll swap out the plexi for custom cut glass.

 

[scottrc78]

Oh boy, I did the porthole thing once. Once! 1/350 Bismark. I swear to this day those pesky things are not in a strait line and whenever I look at the model I want to send a torpedo into it. I will never understand what tempts us to do such projects. The older I get, the less wiser I must be because I now build in 1/700 scale and tried the same thing on the Prinz Eugene. At least I am being more level headed with the Texas. No wooden deck and no replacing 80% of the model with photo etch.

 

[scottrc78]

p.s.

I guess the decal sheet could represent a period when they were missing and aircraft (like during Okinawa)
still lazy though by Revell

Shinano was a nice looking ship. Your paint pattern turned out really good.

 

[Edbert]

Alright, alright, alriiiight.



Made a decision the other day, and decided to act before another squirrel made me make a different decision. For good or ill, only look forward!

Painted the entirte upper surface dark gray-blue. At that point AI realized that ships are the hardest airbrush subjects I've ever messed with. I thought do a 4-quadrant approach, N/S/E/W. But quickly realized there was another 8 quadrants, 045/135/225/315. GOT IT!

Nope, now introduce the vertical dummy!

Okay, I did my best. The color is intentionally on the light side, I expect a heavy clear coat to darken it considerably.

 

[Calico Jack]

Alright, alright, alriiiight.

View attachment 140596

Made a decision the other day, and decided to act before another squirrel made me make a different decision. For good or ill, only look forward!

Painted the entirte upper surface dark gray-blue. At that point AI realized that ships are the hardest airbrush subjects I've ever messed with. I thought do a 4-quadrant approach, N/S/E/W. But quickly realized there was another 8 quadrants, 045/135/225/315. GOT IT!

Nope, now introduce the vertical dummy!

Okay, I did my best. The color is intentionally on the light side, I expect a heavy clear coat to darken it considerably.

View attachment 140597

View attachment 140598

Looks great! The color looks very nice on her and the clear will darken it a bit like you mentioned. Did you have to mix the batch to make that color?