Update HMS Victory

I have been hard at work on the HMS Victory and the results so far (to me at least) are stunning.

 Looking from the Starbard side you can just make out a few guns below. If you notice there is a missing gun. Darn thing came loose and I am unable to get it back out as it is below decks and there is no opening.

 The Forecastle. I used to wonder why it was called that, and now I know. It really does look like a castle. lol

 Beneath decks. Hard to see, I wonder sometimes if it was worth going through alot of detail work when you can't really see it.

 The stern gallery. Makes it look like the rest of the ship disappeared at this angle.

 Looking forward on the Port side

 Bit of a closeup view on the bow. Need to do some touch up painting as soon as the glue dries.

This project so far has been my most difficult. Mainly because of the directions. Some are not too clear and I rely heavily on my own experience to get things just right. BTW I switched to acrylic paints. I find they are much easier to work with and clean up. And they now make gloss acrylics if I need those. (So far I haven't)
I highly recommend them even to first time modellers. I use Anita's All purpose from Hobby Lobby. If you have a hobby shop in your town look for it. It will be in the paint section, not the model section.

3 Foot Enterprise TOS Update

Everybody quick get out your drool blankets... 

The following is an update from the 1701 club. This is showing the parts as they will look (at least that's what it seems to me.) 

 And the assembly of the test model. Again, drool drool...

 Ever get the feeling that you will need some VERY small brushes???

 What I wouldn't give to get my hands on just one of these test models....

 Color schemes are very important.

 I believe this is gonna be one of the things that I will have to decide if I want to do or not...

 Smaller dish, larger dish, decisions decisions decisions....

 Yes it will be lightable and here is the proof.

I cant wait, I cant wait! October can't come fast enough!!!!

Progress on the HMS Victory

Here is a quick update on my HMS Victory.

Progress is going slowly but that is the way I like it. UhHuh UhHuh

 A long shot of my cannon work. Note the two things I am using are glue and tweezers.

 A closeup view of finished cannon

 All the cannon came in 7 parts. Two cannon halves, two side stocks, two wheel trucks and one height adjuster.

 Cannon put together waiting trucks.

Almost finished cannon, still needs a coat of black on the cannon itself, (I know, they are already black, but they still need a coat of flat black to give them the appearance of cast iron. And to cover up glue spots.)

If you are doing or considering doing this kit, be prepared for alot of detail work. TEDIOUS!!!!

Polar Lights Update.

For those of you who are not part of the 1701 club, I wanted to post an update on their progress in the creation of the TOS Enterprise 1/350 scale.
The artwork chosen is amazing and almost makes me drool. (wiping drool off chin) I am so excited and can't wait to get mine. I think that this particular artwork will be on the production model itself and not the exclusive one I will be getting.


Now as for the parts, It is becoming increasingly clear that there is still a bit of work to do, but WOW!

I believe that these are just trial peices. Polar lights also said that the model will be molded in two shades of grey to give the modelers a bit of help with the paint schemes. Of course, any serious modeler knows that painting is always going to be paramount. I will need a few things before this kit is finally released. (Below is a short list)

Spring clamps

Cement

Paint

Lighting kit, (May have to have one made)

Masking tape

Airbrush

I know this model will cost me at least $300 to $500 to do, but I want to do it right.

I also must decide which version I want to do...First Pilot, Second Pilot, or Production. So many choices, so little time.

TITANIC FINISHED!!!

At long last, I have completed the Titanic.
It was a painful journey, but the effort was well worth it in the end.


So, Ok maybe somebody else could have done better, but for a guy who has a tremmor I think I did a fantastic job of it.

Smoke is made from some batting painted black. I got the idea from somebody else I admit, but a heck of an idea!!

Pain in the *ss was the fact that a couple of decals got ruined when they came in contact with my thinner solution. I swear, when am I gonna learn not to keep those things so close together? (In other words, where is my brain?)

The fun was in the doing but even I would admit more could have been done to do it right from the start, like buying the PE (Photo Etched) parts.

All in all a very worthwhile kit and a fun project. I hope you liked it, (If you are reading this) and if you plan on your own, know that my mistakes may help you to not repeat them. lol

NEXT UP: THE HMS VICTORY!!!!

Another Titanic Update

Once again I have an update on my Titanic.
First off I have to say that if I had this to do all over again I would have taken a different route. Lots of problems with this kit. Didn't notice them till it was too late. Now I just have to fix all the little mistakes somehow.


"She looks Tres Jolie but is she seaworthy?" (willy wonka and the chocolate factory)
From a distance she looks fine but closer in and the mistakes become quite obvious, lots of touch up painting to do.

I ruined all but six of the railings included with the kit, and for some reason the PE parts that were supposed to be here arent. Teaches me not to buy second hand. Oh well. The first and second funnel are done and I think they look ok. Maybe not up to some standards but then I also have alot of touch up white to do. I used some eyebolts from a 1/96 scale constitution kit and they work perfectly.

Started the 3rd funnel. BTW I had to redo the decks earlier as I ran out of the formula I had mixed up before. Now I wish I had gotten a can of the wood for the decks before I had even began. But all in all not really all that bad.

Second funnel close up.

A fuzzy pic, need a new camera.

Okay, laugh all you want at the yellow line but honestly, hard to do. I will touch up this with black and white to straighten it.

Details, details. Lots of details. I will caution model builders, this kit is maddening! Be prepared. I wasn't. Below is a list of things you SHOULD have before doing this kit...

Photo etched railings

Spray paint (White, Black, Red, and Wood)

Small paint bottles (White, Black, Wood, Rust, Green, Gold, Steel or Aluminum)

Glue

Brushes

A hot surface but not fire

Scissors

Tweezers

Masking tape

Sandpaper

Drill, dremmel, or pin vise

Clamps

PATIENCE!!!

NEWLY AQUIRED!

I am totally stoked! I just aquired the 1.100 HMS VICTORY!!!
I took a browsing trip to a local antique mall on a whim Saturday, and turning a corner I found a booth with about 6 model kits including a 1.96 scale Constitution and this one and since the price was right ($43.80 including tax) I just had to have it!!!

The kit is HUGE! The box alone measures a good 3'x 2'x3" and the artwork is beautiful.

Everything is there except some thread which is no problem since it is fairly cheap.

The instructions are in both French and English. At first I thought there were only the French ones but looking further I found the English ones. (WHEW! Thought I was gonna have to learn French.)

For those of you who know the kind of detail in the Constitution, throw all that out the window. This thing has more detail than you can shake two sticks at. It has got two tools in it that I wish I had had long ago and will keep long after I finish this thing. One is a tool for making Ratlines and the other is a tool for making netting. I may even utilize these tools to finish my Constitution.