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SeaHarrier2006
Posts: 82
Joined: Wed Sep 20, 2006 5:38 am
Location: Droitwich Spa, United Kingdom

Post by SeaHarrier2006 »

Hi guys,

Here is my latest completed ship. She is the DKM Graf Spee, and my first go at any sort of camo. I have set the model up so that the main guns can turn, but the secondary had to be fixed in position.

I have only got Achillies, Exeter, and Cumberland to do now, before my latest batch of modern ships arrive one of which will be the French Carrier Clemenceau, which will need me to make some Super Etendard, and Skyhawks to put on her deck.

Anyway, here she is:

Image

Image

Hope you like her, and keep up the great work,

Mark. (SeaHarrier2006)
England expects every man will do his duty.

Admiral Horatio Nelson, at the Battle of Trafalger October 21st 1805.

cbovill
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Post by cbovill »

Mark,

The Graf Spee looks beautiful, fantastic work on the rigging! I am still not prepared to start rigging 1/2400th scale ships. You do a great job at it!

Chris

av8rmongo
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Post by av8rmongo »

Mark,

What did you use for the rigging?

Paul
“It's a beautiful thing, the destruction of words.â€￾
― George Orwell, 1984

People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.
- George Orwell

http://av8rmongo.wordpress.com

SeaHarrier2006
Posts: 82
Joined: Wed Sep 20, 2006 5:38 am
Location: Droitwich Spa, United Kingdom

Post by SeaHarrier2006 »

Hi Paul,

I used 0.5, 0.4 and 0.3 Plastruct Round Rod for the Masts and Spars, cutting a little groove in the smaller rods before I put them together, and 0.10 Fishing line for the rigging, and then painted the line to make it look better.

Having some rigging makes them look a little more convincing, but if you have quite a few ships to rig then it can be very time consuming.

hope this helps,

Mark. (SeaHarrier2006)
England expects every man will do his duty.

Admiral Horatio Nelson, at the Battle of Trafalger October 21st 1805.

av8rmongo
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Post by av8rmongo »

Mark,

Thanks, with over 300 ships I wasn't going to rig my 1/2400 scale ships but I have been struggling with 1/1200 scale sailing ships and your "thread" seems to yield a cleaner end result that the Fly fishing line I used on the one ship I've done so far. Always looking for a better mousetrap.

Paul
“It's a beautiful thing, the destruction of words.â€￾
― George Orwell, 1984

People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.
- George Orwell

http://av8rmongo.wordpress.com

av8rmongo
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Post by av8rmongo »

The new 1/2400 scale Leanders and County class ships that I previously mentioned have arrived! Real life pressures (infants and toddlers) being what they are my plan last night to take pictures and prepare a product review did not happen. I will re-engage tonight after everyone has gone to bed and I can get some quiet time.

Initial impressions are good. The quality is on a par with Sea Battle. But I'll allow the pictures to speak for themselves - stay tuned. LAX_Kev has loaned me a Superior County class for a side by side comparison as well.

Paul
“It's a beautiful thing, the destruction of words.â€￾
― George Orwell, 1984

People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.
- George Orwell

http://av8rmongo.wordpress.com

SeaHarrier2006
Posts: 82
Joined: Wed Sep 20, 2006 5:38 am
Location: Droitwich Spa, United Kingdom

Post by SeaHarrier2006 »

Hi Paul,

I have a couple of Superior County Class already in my fleet, so I will be interested to see and hear what you have to say about their quality compaired to others.

Have fun,

Mark. (SeaHarrier2006)
England expects every man will do his duty.

Admiral Horatio Nelson, at the Battle of Trafalger October 21st 1805.

av8rmongo
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Post by av8rmongo »

Mark,

Initial feedback on the comparison between the two is that the Superior brand ship is slightly larger in length and beam than true 1/2400 scale would predict. Exact numbers are in my car but I'll post them, hopefully tonight. These new ships - and I'm not sure if there's a company name or if its just a guy doing private venture work - are about 96% of scale length and within my tolerances for beam. They are also not as pronounced in the vertical dimension as the Superior models. But the differences will show up well in the photos I think. I'll be taking as many measurements as I can to judge the overall scale fit of both models.

I'm thinking of moving this off forum so I don't step on GHQ toes discussing details about their competitor's products. GHQ doesn't make either ship but as this new supplier expands his line there could eventually be overlap. I'm comfortable mentioning other products - even providing pictures here. But when it gets into strengths, weaknesses, cost, shipping info etc. I think it might be better served in another way.

Paul
“It's a beautiful thing, the destruction of words.â€￾
― George Orwell, 1984

People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.
- George Orwell

http://av8rmongo.wordpress.com

dragon6
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Location: Oklahoma

Post by dragon6 »

Mark,

I'm thinking of moving this off forum so I don't step on GHQ toes discussing details about their competitor's products. GHQ doesn't make either ship but as this new supplier expands his line there could eventually be overlap. I'm comfortable mentioning other products - even providing pictures here. But when it gets into strengths, weaknesses, cost, shipping info etc. I think it might be better served in another way.

Paul
Thanks for the info so far and I agree, this should be moved. This is GHQ's place and beyond a certain point it's bad manners.
Ray

Jmrino
Posts: 27
Joined: Wed Oct 12, 2005 12:04 am

Post by Jmrino »

Thanks all!

As they were my first batch of Micronauts, I had to go with the 'standards'.

Not sure if I'll go with the masts and aerials, but I definitely need to work on the upper decks and of course the background on my work table. :)

I sailed these out for a couple games of Seekrieg this weekend, and a good time was had by all.

I have some Italians to work on next, for the Cape Spartivento action, and hope to post some soon.

Joe

David F
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Location: North Carolina

Post by David F »

I posted this on TMP and Yahoo Group 'NavWarGames'. I hope this is useful! :)

There have been requests in the past (at least one from myself!) for a reference of Vallejo to WWII Royal Navy colours. Well, I think I have assembled a decent one. It is not 100% complete but the gaps should not hinder most gamers. The gaps are due to either there not being a out-of-the-bottle colour that was acceptable to my eyes or my having not yet attempted to compare a match.

I have 110 Vallejo paint colours on my bench to work from but some of the RN colours are of either little historical interest to me or little use in painting 1/2400 and smaller models. I will eventually attempt the unresearched ones but I am not in any hurry. The paints that I could not find a satisfactory match for are still attainable with a little mixing. I have not offered a base colour to work from for those but if anyone is interested in a guess, let me know.

I based my matches on Snyder and Short Enterprises' paint chip sets #'s 1 and 2. I judged them in natural light and I am quite pleased with their colour values matching up. The average painter will want to lighten them at time of painting so as to adjust for model scale.
It reads as follows;
colour name – (Vallejo reference number)Vallejo position code

507A – (816)105
507B – (900)59
507C – (990)155
B5 – (903)60
B6 – no satisfactory match
PB10 – (965)51
Western Approaches Blue – (973)108
Western Approaches Green – (974)76
Pink – not yet researched
Mountbatten Pink, Light – not yet researched
Mountbatten Pink, Dark – not yet researched
MS1 – (898)48
MS2 – (992)160
MS3 – no satisfactory match
MS4 – (987)111
MS4a – (885)109
Dark Brown – not yet researched
Light Green – not yet researched
Berwick Blue – (966)69
Dark Blue – (840)68
Semtex(early war) – not yet researched
Corticene – not yet researched
G5 – (995)167
G10 – (994)166
G20 – (886)101
G45 – (884)104
B15 – (964)58
B20 – (904)157
B30 – no satisfactory match
B55 – no satisfactory match
White – (918)5
Black – (950)169
Stone – not yet researched
Buff – not yet researched
Semtex(late war) – not yet researched

If you have any comments/questions, I am all ears.

av8rmongo
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Post by av8rmongo »

I know you already know and trust Valejo but instead of mixing and matching my own colors I bought the paints direct from Snyder & Short. They come in little Humbrol-like tins, go on like Humbrol and last like Humbrol. I guess if you know and trust Humbrol then I would recommend giving them a try.

Paul
“It's a beautiful thing, the destruction of words.â€￾
― George Orwell, 1984

People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.
- George Orwell

http://av8rmongo.wordpress.com

David F
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Location: North Carolina

Post by David F »

I was tempted to go with the WEM paints but being a fan of acrylics, my path was set. Vallejo offered the greatest range of colour values and it sure helped that I had some already on my bench. :lol:

av8rmongo
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Post by av8rmongo »

David,

Totally understand. I'm sort of an agnostic when it comes to a specific type of paint. I have favorites for specific colors or specific applications but I got tired of mixing up things like Mountbaten Pink without reliable photos. When I found the S7S paint chips I bought them but soon discovered that they had the paints also so I just bought that to make life easier. Now I'm more confident that the corticene is actually the right color than if I tried to do it myself.

Paul
“It's a beautiful thing, the destruction of words.â€￾
― George Orwell, 1984

People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.
- George Orwell

http://av8rmongo.wordpress.com

dragon6
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Posts: 309
Joined: Wed Jan 31, 2007 12:40 pm
Location: Oklahoma

Post by dragon6 »

David,

Now I'm more confident that the corticene is actually the right color than if I tried to do it myself.

Paul
So what colour is corticene? reddish brown yes but...

:)
Ray

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