Had some time this afternoon to start adding details. ZOOM for full size This ship, about 9 inches long, has been an utter blast to build. I'd suggest that anyone interested in N-scale ships start with something about this size. When you get into Liberty Ships (450 scale feet) or aircraft carriers (humongous), it gets pretty daunting. This little ship has allowed me to experiment with modeling techniques without wasting a lot of material. I'm about ready to paint. There are a few spots on the hull that need a better finish, and the mast needs a lot of work. I'm still deciding whether to buy hose reels, life rings, and fire hoses, or to try to build them.
Bill, As Boston was a Coast Guard HQ, I think I'll do a Long Endurance Cutter next. There were some pretty interesting ones in the mid-50s, when the WWII destroyers were converted. I am going to re-install the radars on the Acushnet soon, and finish off that scene. The poor thing's been beaten up so much, it really deserves an R-and-R! ZOOM for full size [ September 07, 2005, 09:18 PM: Message edited by: Pete Nolan ]
Pete, great progress on that cutter! Thanks for keeping us posted, and glad you are getting some train, er, ship time!
Russ, I agree a military port would look so much better so if you dont mind can you sendme that container ship please Bill and Pete, Those ships are just awesome, very inspirational.
Pete, Bill and Russ, Excellent and amazing efforts, all! I play at 1/72nd WWII subjects time to time and of course that seems "easier" than N-scale for fabrication- BUT, it's for that reason that I can truly appreciate the work and dedication being displayed! Don
Thanks, Don. I've played a bit in 1:64 and 1:96. It's easier to locate and glue parts in larger scales because you don't have things sticking to tweezers or fingers or flying off at scale hypersonic velocities. Glue and paint control is a lot easier too. I use the ships and bridges as a relief when the railroad seems too much of a bother for a while. It allows me to concentrate on small tasks rather than a whole railroad room. Mistakes are easy to correct, and don't entail much money or effort. Relocating a mast is a whole lot easier than relocating ten feet or more of track.
Pete, I've been doing a bit of shipbuilding myself. It's difficult enough to do in 12"=1' scale. The N scale ships you guys are doing are wonderful!! Keep up the good work. Jim
I'm getting there. Spent a lot of time with friends and wife outside this weekend, doing social and maintenance things. Butr I did get to paint the deck. There's lots of touchup still to come, and more details. I've held off on the rigging until most of it was painted. Reminder to self: paint the friggin' decks before adding details on the next ship! Bill, how do you like my 3" gun? ZOOM for full size
Pete that ship looks great. I like the 3 inch gun. I was going to try and make a mold of one of the twin mounts on the Okinawa, but they were so complicated I gave up the thought. I can sympathise with the deck painting dilema, I've been there done that god knows how many times I wish I would have gotten some pics of the Acushnet when she was still stationed here on Humboldt Bay. I did managed to get on her for a tour once, but I was more excited about the submarine tied up alongside her.
Same here! And that's without footrests, sights, recoil mufflers, and more. I'm going to add rigging, radars, antennae, and other details after I finish basic painting. I think a small building complex on shore--Pete's Fish Processing, for example--is a lot easier, even with interiors!
I'm reaching a difficult decision on this ship, and others. 1.) Are we model railroaders who use ships to create scenic interest, and a destination, to enhance our railroads, or 2.) Are we ship modelers who happen to have chosen a scale where there is little available? And, therefore, enjoy the challenge? I used to be No. 1 all the way. Now I'm tending to No. 2, and adding details I never considered before.
Pete: I started out just wanting to have a background object, but I'm used to scratchbuilding 1/35 scale vehicles, and being a naval history buff, I couldn't just stop at okay. I had to have as close to an exact replica as I could, anything else wouldn't do. This is partly why the Okinawa isn't done yet. I'm still waiting on the rest of the helicopters for the marine air group, and some flightdeck vehicles I have to scratchbuild. I always try and add as much detail to the ship as possible without pulling my hair out
If you're enjoying yourselves, don't analyze it too much, just go with it! I can tell you that the rest of us like seeing your work, whatever the motivation behind it.
I marvel at modelers who mount handgrasps on boxcars. Ships have many more of these than any boxcar. I'm actually enjoying the modeling of this small ship a whole lot! But I am going blind with the details.
Building this small (125', 210 tons) ship has taught me more about model shipbuilding than any previous ships, which have ranged from 240', 2000 tons, to 475', 10,000 tons. With a smaller ship, I was able to experiment with many techniques. If I made a mistake, I could just rip it out and start over, without feeling that I'd wasted a lot of time, or ruined a huge project! I'd hoped to have it finished today, but work and my wife had other ideas. Next weekend, I promise! I've learned a lot of stuff that I'll detail.
Here's my ship progress this week. The tape on the stern says I'm still working on that! ZOOM for full size Ran out of painted railing at just the wrong time!
