A Pair of Battleships [Archive] - World Naval Ships Forums

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Don Boyer

03-10-2009, 04:48

With the exception of some flags and decals that I am waiting on, and the glass for the model case, I have completed my battleship set of the USS Missouri and HMS King George V in their late-war fit as they appeared when operating together off the coast of Japan in July and August of 1945. I don't know if anyone has put these two together as a set for display, but I thought it was ideal for this forum as we American and Brits (and everybody else) have formed such great bonds here.

Some photographs are included: The first shows some of the detail of the Missouri's rigging using fake hair from a wig. Hard to work with, but effective and more "in scale" that most threads. The second are the two ships together and the last photo is the Missouri by itself. I am looking forward to getting these two cased! It's been a three -year project, but great fun all the way.

If anyone is interested, I have more detail photos of both ships.

berry

03-10-2009, 09:04

G'day,great models,fantastic detail,the thought of putting that rigging in place put my teeth on edge!
best regards
Sid

Don Boyer

03-10-2009, 17:41

Thank you for your compliments, Sid. These two ships have been the most fun I've had with a model project, although my wife seems to be particularly happy to have my large model table no longer set up in the living room!

You obviously have worked with rigging before. On the KG V, I tried the old trick of stretching melted sprue down for rigging, and while it was easier to install, I am not all that happy with the effect it has -- it's to "thick" for the scale of the ship, and I may someday remove it from the ship and replace it. I did replace the horizontal wires already.

The hair from a kid's Halloween costume idea I got simply because the threads are strong, flexible and far closer to scale for the models. I used sets of forceps to hold and end (or each end) tight while gluing, which made for straight and even "lines" for the most part without bending the masting. It is not as easy to work with, but I am very pleased with the results. I found that it's easier to replace a mistake, as well. It is a "one string at a time" process, however. I also decided that trying to do a full rigging set was beyond my skill level, and stopped with the basic fit you see.

The rigging I think came out very nicely as far as scale compared to the ship. You can hardly see it except up close, and that matches what you would see in person or in photos. You don't notice the rigging on a warship particularly until you are up close.

Again, thanks for the comments. Hope this will provide some interest for other modelers!

03-10-2009, 17:51

Nice models Don. Thanks very much for posting the pictures. It may even inspire me to finish my Bismarck, although it's not a patch on your pair!

BCRenown

03-10-2009, 20:00

Very nice work Don :). Oddly enough I have the same two models - the only ones I have in 1/350 scale. I built them in the 1980's before I had even heard of photo-etch parts. Fortunately, I placed them in home-built glass cabinets and they remain looking like new. I did my Missouri in her 1944 camo scheme and stayed away from rust and weathering although I am not sure the latter was good idea.

Thank you for sharing,

Monty (who keeps hoping and praying for a 1/350 Renown)

Don Boyer

04-10-2009, 01:09

Thanks for the comments. My two were a most enjoyable project spread out in between having to work for a living...

I am one of those who wishes that the model companies would put out a lot of the old Battleships and Battlecruisers. Renown would be one, in both her pre-war and wartime fits, a decent Vanguard..the list go on. One can hardly go wrong with the British battleships. Not enough of us out there to make it profitable for the few model companies left that make good products.

Sincerely,

Don Boyer

13-10-2009, 08:40

Finished at last!

Have to cough up the dough for a glass case and brass nameplates, and that should do it for this project!

berry

13-10-2009, 09:47

The glass case is worth every penny.Spent many an hour removing fluff,cat fur etc.from rigging,masts etc.with tweezers........
well done once more,
Sid

Don Boyer

13-10-2009, 16:44

Cats and sticky-fingered nephews are the bane of models!

Thanks!
Sincerely,

oldsalt

13-10-2009, 18:52

Finished at last!

Have to cough up the dough for a glass case and brass nameplates, and that should do it for this project!

Don, you should feel really proud of your models, they are brilliant. There is a model of HMS Vanguard in the Science Museum in London, your's look as though they are as good ,if not better.

Don Boyer

14-10-2009, 00:10

Don, you should feel really proud of your models, they are brilliant. There is a model of HMS Vanguard in the Science Museum in London, your's look as though they are as good ,if not better.

Keith:

Thank you so much for the kind comments. Being compared to the "builder's model" level is quite nice. I think I have a picture of the Vanguard model...in a much larger scale than mine. I've always though Vanguard to be a particularly handsome ship, and I note you served aboard. Must have been interesting times. Too bad she was not preserved as a memorial.

Very respectfully,

Don Boyer

15-11-2009, 06:27

Really, really finished with this fine pair of ships. Awaiting the glass for the case and the brass name tags.

Jackaroo

15-11-2009, 12:24

Really, really finished with this fine pair of ships. Awaiting the glass for the case and the brass name tags.

Very nice models Don

Cheers
Jack :cool:

Dave Hutson

15-11-2009, 15:06

One Modeller to another ... a right nice pair of BB's . Would have looked nice with radio control and on the water ... nevertheless the Battleships make great display pieces. In our club we have two guys who between them built the Bismarck and the Scharnhorst, both about five feet long and boy do they look great on the water being chased by a couple of the club's Destroyers and Corvettes.

Dave H

Don Boyer

15-11-2009, 17:54

Thanks for the comments. Dave.

Afraid those big babies are out of my league...well, for sure out of my wallet's league! Otherwise I would give it a try.

I like the models that have been on the forum that are way huge scale and detailed down to the last rivet. Look marvelous on the water. Don't think I could become a fan of those clubs that shoot up their ships though (Nikki will kill me!).

Sincerely,

Jackaroo

15-11-2009, 21:06

Well yes RC and on the water for all model ships even boats (subs) all scratch built too!

Mmmm that would be nice if we had the money :rolleyes::D

Well done to all model builders be it static or RC (thats the models not the builders:))

Cheers
Jack :cool:

Don Boyer

16-11-2009, 07:09

Jackaroo: Thanks. I love my static models...they are always there in the case for bragging purposes! Those RC big boys...what if it sinks or gets damaged? :eek:

I'd be a paranoid sissy with one of those after thousands of dollars and hours into making one!:o

I've been grumbling because no model company makes a 1/350 HMS Tiger (the battlecruiser) which is what I wanted to do for my next go.

NASAAN101

18-11-2009, 04:11

Don,
Dont get them close to a bb gun:)! just me being a smarta--.. remember, im going to smick you the next time we talk(Don't think I could become a fan of those clubs that shoot up their ships though (Nikki will kill me!).:P :P :P
NIkki

Jackaroo

18-11-2009, 07:17

NASAAN101

18-11-2009, 20:18

Jack,
I have that video.. its cool.. Don, you know i ws just joking around! i wouldnt do that!!!
Nikki

Jackaroo

19-11-2009, 09:24

This is a little bit different for modellers that is Waterline models, for use in dioramas.

http://www.shipmodels.co.uk/1590_1.html

Cheers
Jack :cool:

Vegaskip

19-11-2009, 12:34

If you want to see a 'Master Ship Modeler's' work, and how he does it, go to www.battlefleetmodels.com/id133.html

regards

Jackaroo

19-11-2009, 13:13

If you want to see a 'Master Ship Modeler's' work, and how he does it, go to www.battlefleetmodels.com/id133.html (http://www.battlefleetmodels.com/id133.html)

regards

What a lovely finish to the SS Drumgeith...and all done in 22 days

Thanks for the link Jim

Cheers
Jack :cool:

mike d

09-02-2010, 04:17

Don Boyer

09-02-2010, 04:40

Very nice work,Don. Are they both Tamiya kits? It really brings home how BIG Iowa and her sisters were! I have the same K.G.V kit on a shelf in my basement. I bought it over ten years ago when our local hobby shop closed its doors. A steal at 29 bucks Canadian! One day I will buy some p.e. parts and a decent air brush!
I echo your wish for some more Battleship and Battlecruiser kits in this scale. Wouldn't it be great to get Arizona,Maryland etc in kits showing them before and after the major refits? ..i.e cage masts vs. tri-pods Or how about Queen Mary or Invincible........drool!
BTW...I may try the wig hair trick...hope you don't have a patent!

Thanks for the compliments on the models. I am so frustrated now that I can't find a "glass shop" around that will assemble the glass for the cases for me. Still working on that part.

Yes, they are both Tamiya's 1/350s. I regret that the KGV is older, and I will someday have to get with Tamiya on replacing the masts that were both victims of "visiting nephews" and my wife, who thought they were "toys." (She has since achieved enlightenment and nirvana.) I might be able to repair them with the left over parts I have laying about.

The wig hair thing looks great...a bit disturbing at first as they are hard to see on the model after all those hours you fumbled around with them! You step back and you can't see them all that well! But then you remember that when you are walking up on a ship in harbor, it's hard to see the rigging until you are really close anyway, so the hair is actually more realistic and "to scale." One thing I know..making rigging out of sprue is only for certain very heavy (thick) items. I would not do it again for the overall rigging like on my KGV.

My models, by the way, are not airbrushed, they are hand-painted and I also used (master model makers, turn your heads!! cover your ears!) GASP!! --- spray paint for the overall grays and hull colors. I couldn't afford the air brush stuff...lol. And you can tell up close, if you really want to be picky, but I still came off with a great looking paint job anyway, even if air-brushers roll eyeballs or faint or whatever...:) The rest is the usual bottles of model makers paints of several varities. I got the weathered effect by going over the original gray with other shades of gray, a No. 2 pencil, flat black and a few spots of rusty stuff...

I agree there ought to be a lot more 1/350s out there. I am especially waiting to see if Iron Shipwright is going to come across with HMS Tiger (battlecruiser from WW I) which I would jump on in a minute. On the other hand, I would also like to try their Tennessee/West Virginia resin cast.

You should get set up and get going on that KGV..you've had it on the shelf about as long as I had the Missouri gathering dust. I bought it in Roswell, New Mexico in 1996.

Regards,

NASAAN101

10-02-2010, 06:25

Don,
Did you ever get the glass for them?
Nikki

Don Boyer

10-02-2010, 07:28

no...I can get the glass cut to fit, I just can't find a glass shop that will do them for me. Based on the scars on my hands and arms, glass and I do not get along when the glass is not in it's environment..lol...so I'M not about to mess with it! I guess glass shops are more interested in the big bucks from cars and houses and such.

sigh.....

steve roberts

10-02-2010, 09:38

Hi Don.Have you ever thought of Perspex? I know it scratches and fades to opaque,but it is much cheaper and more easy to obtain/work with! Regards Steve. :cool:

Don Boyer

10-02-2010, 16:42

I had thought of the cheaper plastic alternatives, but decided against it for that very reason..yellowing and scratching. I checked into the more advanced acrylic styles...for $244 per case, think I'll pass for now...:)

Regards,

NASAAN101

11-02-2010, 03:22

Don,
How do you keep joey from hurting the models?
Nikki

Don Boyer

11-02-2010, 08:24

Joey is the ultimate gentleman kitty who wouldn't THINK of disturbing my models. Especially as I have them in my three-shelf glass display case
which is thoroughly feline proof. :D

JarrowDave

14-02-2010, 04:05

Don,

If you're going to build a model of Tiger, make it one in seven, then it will be longer than the model of IJMS Yamato in Kure.

JD;)

JarrowDave

14-02-2010, 04:09

Do mean this video from you tube?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WxMpt2KwGw

cheers
Jack:cool:

In "Sink the Bismark", The captain of Prince of Wales is played by the actor Esmond Knight, who was blinded on the bridge of PoW ,as a midshipman, during the actual battle. Top marks to the Producers, Directors etc for making the effort.

JD

JarrowDave

14-02-2010, 04:30

Don,

When you've finished the 1:7 HMS Tiger, I think a 1:7 USS Alaska, then a USS Washington and then a USS South Dakota.

That's enough for 2010, your 2011 programme is as follows:-

HMS Resolution - 1893

HMS Russell - 1903

HMS Lord Nelson - 1908

HMS Hercules - 1911

HMS Queen Mary - 1913

HMS Resolution - 1916

I'll have a think about your 2012 programme.

JD
;)

JarrowDave

14-02-2010, 05:06

Don,

I've had a think for 2012:-

HMS Newcastle - 1937 ( As 1944/45 )

HMS Sheffield - 1937

USS Wichita - 1939

USS Cleveland - 1942

USS Des Moines - 1949

USS Worcester - 1948 ( Very Elegant - in my opinion )

Some Destroyers!

Regards

JD
:)

JarrowDave

14-02-2010, 05:33

Forgot to mention:-

During the rest of 2010,11 and 12:-

Some Aircraft Carriers:-

Don't want to impose my views, but I do think that Albion, Bulwark and Centaur were the best looking.

No pressure! It's up to you it's your hobby.

JD
;)

mike d

14-02-2010, 11:34

JD, I cannot believe that I didn't know Esmond Knight was an actor and that he was in 'Sink the Bismarck' ! You learn something new every day!
For those who can lip read, I believe this movie may have the first recorded use of the 'F' word in film history. It was uttered by 'Sheffield's' Captain after the mistaken torpedo attack on his ship! "Stupid f@#$%#* bastards!

NASAAN101

14-02-2010, 17:15

mike d,
that was funny! i knew what he said.. actually it was bloody f@#$%#* bastards. and i should know, i watch that movie all to much..
Nikki

Don Boyer

15-02-2010, 01:48

I wondered where I learned that word -- from Nikki! :D

NASAAN101

03-03-2010, 22:41

Don,
No, you didn't! were can i fine a model of USS Des Moines!
Nikki