Micronaut Only Thread

Unfathomable · Post by **Unfathomable** » Thu Feb 21, 2013 1:31 pm

"A few hours per model"?

Now you're killing me, WWIIC/Tanner. I wasn't kidding when I said that mine can take upwards of a month - and the results aren't half as good.

There has to be something very major I'm missing here. Something that relates to method. My "paint-really-neatly, really carefully" approach is one of diminishing returns.

I fully understand time constraints regarding tutorials and whatnot, so what if we take things very simply and slowly, one baby step at a time?

Kind of like this: You've bought the model and opened the pack. I assume you've primed it with something. The very next thing you do is ... (complete the sentence).

Maybe with a bit of help I can also improve ... and finally get "Private Dancer" by Tina Turner out of my head, You Crazy Diamond.

Cheers.

PS: I have no words to describe the images in your last post.

TAMMY · Post by **TAMMY** » Thu Feb 21, 2013 5:56 pm

Tanner

Excellent Italian battleships.
I am puzzled by the last one with uncomplete red-white stripes. Littorio or Vittorio Veneto?

WWIICentral · Post by **WWIICentral** » Thu Feb 21, 2013 8:17 pm

Unfathomable - "a few hours per model" would be the actual working time added up; I don't think I've ever finished any model in a few hours time from start to finish. If you count the time spent waiting for paint to dry, planning the next step, photographs, etc. then the time is much much longer. I think I spend more time staring at the model wondering what is next than I do with any other step of the process. It probably took me a month before I finished these Italian BB's.

After I've opened the pack, I clean flash and mould lines. I then primer the model using an airbrush and Vallejo Polyurethane Primer. This gives it a silky smooth and consistent finish, and doesn't clog up any of the details with accidental overspraying.

TAMMY - The last BB is Vittorio Veneto. These ships were painted per request for a friend and were based off of his research and photos.

Thanks for the feedback guys,
Tanner

Edopilot · Post by **Edopilot** » Fri Feb 22, 2013 1:30 pm

Tanner I really like your works, you are a real artist!
The Italian BB are just excellent, but with a little error: the Ro 43 models should be positioned on the catapult pointing forward and not backward like you did.
Cheers,

Edo

Mikee · Post by **Mikee** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 7:56 am

I am looking for some information on U.S. destroyer camouflage patterns, specifically two patterns supposedly used by Mahan class destroyers in 1941. They are:

USS Mahan (DD-364): ms-12a (is this ms-12 using different colors?)
USS Lamson (DD-367): ms-2a (different colors than ms-2?)

Also, does anybody have a paint mix for the Sapphire Blue tried out on USS Drayton in 1941?

This information is in a "Wartime Paint" list I have. I've been unable to find out who made up this list, and don't know if any of the info. is a typo. Snyder & Short hasn't been able to help.

Brigade Commander · Post by **Brigade Commander** » Wed Feb 27, 2013 10:58 am

I am not at the point where I am going to order these ships but I am not far off now so wanted to get some feedback on what models would get the closest to the following ships. I am modeling Pearl Harbor to the end of the Solomon Islands campaign.

1. CV-2 Lexington (USN-18 ),
2. CV-3 Saratoga (USN-18 stand-in),
3. CV-4 Ranger (USN-80) (Not into the Atlantic but I will not leave it out.),
4. CV-5 Yorktown (USN-31 stand-in),
5. CV-6 Enterprise (USN-31 stand-in),
6. CV-7 Wasp (USN-63),
7. CV-8 Hornet (USN-31),
8. BB-55 North Carolina (USN-20 stand-in),
9. BB-56 Washington (USN-20) and
10. BB-57 South Dakota (USN-71).

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks!

pmskaar · Post by **pmskaar** » Thu Feb 28, 2013 1:35 am

Overall your ship selection to represent other ships is fine. One thing to consider is that GHQ does not necessarily make the exact version of the ship for a particular time period that you might be interested in.

Here are a couple of examples from your list in which the models may be the best choices for representation for the time period you are looking at but not necessarily totally accurate either.

1. Lexington and Saratoga - The current model as depicted, shows these as they were in their pre-war outfitting and very early war. I believe it was in April 1942 that the Lexington had her 8 inch turrets removed and replaced with an array of 1.1 inch AA mounts. The model shows her with the 8 inch turrets which is fine but not exactly correct for the Coral Sea.
The Saratoga had her 8 inch gun turrets replaced by 5 inch turrets sometime in 1942. If you are not into modifying or scratch building pieces of these models then you can just use whatever version that you have and call it good enough.

2. Yorktown and Enterprise 1942 - The Hornet is an okay model to represent these two other ships in the class but the Hornet was more of a half sister to the Yorktown and Enterprise than a true sister. There were some differences between the Hornet and the other two but until GHQ produces the 1942 Yorktown/Enterprise model, this will have to do.

3. North Carolina - I don't really know what difference there is between her and the Washington during the ** CENSORED ** time frame but the Washington is your best bet.

4. South Dakota - South Dakota was outfitted a bit differently from her 3 other sisters. I believe the GHQ version is more 1943 than 1942 from my conversation with a former GHQ employee but it will be close enough.

As a general rule, ships received new equipment and paint each time they went in for refit so that unless you want to take the time and effort to paint and modify several models of the same ship to represent a particular ship at a particular time, then you may just have to accept that the model that is available is the one you will use for all your battles in a given period of time.

These are my thoughts. I'm sure others on this forum will have some other ideas as well.

Have a great day!

Pete - Binpicker, Out!

Donald M. Scheef · Post by **Donald M. Scheef** » Thu Feb 28, 2013 5:59 am

Here are my recommendations for GHQ models representing ships between Pearl Harbor and the end of the Solomon Islands campaign. Any alterations are limited to replacing gun mounts that are separate pieces.

CV2, Lexington: Use USN18 as is until March â€™42. After this, use USN18 but remove the 8â€ mounts and replace with quad 1.1â€ mounts (three of these can be found on a sprue in USN61 (BB-39, Arizona) and, I think, in USN19 (BB-38, Pennsylvania). If you donâ€™t want to buy entire models for just the three gun mounts, the sprue can be ordered separately from GHQ. The sprue also has several cranes on it.

CV3, Saratoga: Despite the differences in the funnel, USN18 is the best match up until May â€™42. After this, I would use USN74, despite the additional 40mm gun mounts.

CV4, Ranger: Use USN80.

CV5, Yorktown: Use USN31. Despite the differences between CV5 and CV8, I think this is a better representation of the early-war appearance than the late-war USN74.

CV6, Enterprise: Use USN31. Despite the differences between CV6 and CV8, I think this is a better representation of the early-war appearance than the late-war USN74.

CV7, Wasp: Use USN63.

CV8, Hornet: Use USN31 (replacing the B-25s with F4Fs and SBDs from USN43).

BB55, North Carolina: USN20 is the best representation of the 1942 appearance.

BB56, Washington: Use USN20.

BB57, South Dakota: I would use USN3, BB60, USS Alabama, modified by replacing the center 5â€ mount on each side with a nest of boats. USN3 has quad 40mm mounts (and too many of them) compared to the five quad 1.1â€ mounts, but is the closest GHQ makes to the 1942 appearance of South Dakota.

Don S.

WWIICentral · Post by **WWIICentral** » Thu Feb 28, 2013 7:36 pm

Thanks for the info and suggestions guys!

Thanks,
Tanner

Unfathomable · Post by **Unfathomable** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 3:13 pm

Hey all.

I'll get back to wringing tips out of Tanner soon, but meanwhile I was wondering if anyone knew to answers to a couple of immediate questions:

Does anyone know that the small squares on the centreline of HMS Weymouth actually are? There are two panels, each made of small panels. I know it's something I should know ... but I don't.

And does anyone have colour advice on Gangut in her early career as modeled? I can find tons of stuff on later colour schemes, but for some reason not much pre-rebuild. I've done one already with a very dark hull and tan deck. Looks great but it was very early and a complete guess as to where it fell between eras.

Thanks.

Brigade Commander · Post by **Brigade Commander** » Sat Mar 02, 2013 11:16 am

Pete and Don,

Thanks for the advice. I am willing to do small modifications and will start planning a parts order. I know I have to accept some discrepancies I just want to minimize them. Each ship will only be represented once so I have accepted I will have to pick one camouflage scheme and one configuration. Afterall, I do not have the budget of the USN in WWII. Thankfully, I also do not have the demands either!

Update: I will be working toward the later versions of both Lexington and Saratoga. The 8" guns will definitely go. I'm sure the ship's Damage Control Officer was happy that happened as well! That many less tons that high up had to create some anxious thoughts now and then! I have some spare 5" DP turrets that I can use for the Saratoga and will order the sprue Don suggested for the 1.1" mounts for Lexington.

Continuing the Update: I feel safe assuming none of the carriers have any aircraft with them, correct?. Must remember to order USN-43 (x7!).

pmskaar · Post by **pmskaar** » Sun Mar 03, 2013 1:10 am

Hi Brigade Commander

You are welcome. I'm glad I could help out a bit. Don is very knowledgeable about these things and is a good reliable source of information.

Pete - Binpicker, Out!

Brigade Commander · Post by **Brigade Commander** » Mon Mar 04, 2013 8:55 am

Don and Pete,

One more item on this topic in the open forum then I will PM with any further questions but my question may have a wider audience. Did the Post-'42 conversions of Lexington and Saratoga still leave them similar enough, at least at 1/2400* scale, that GHQ could make a mold of both twin 5" / 38 cal turrets and 1.1" AA mounts so that they could sell the two ships with enough parts to build both carriers from commissioning through to the end for Lexington and mid'44 for Saratoga. I believe Saratoga had one more AA weapons upgrade around the spring of '44. It would make the models appealing to a wider group.

*Corrected from my gaff of 1/285 scale. Guess I gave away I took a break from ships and was painting a so-so NATO 3-tone camo on a Mech Platoon. Thanks Don. Keep me on track!

Donald M. Scheef · Post by **Donald M. Scheef** » Mon Mar 04, 2013 9:53 am

Personally, I don't think there is much to be gained by having a model of Saratoga shortly after installation of twin 5"/38 mounts. Although USN82, which represents Saratoga later in the war, has more 40mm mounts, the overall appearance is not that much different from what it was in late 1942.

Lexington never received 5"/38 guns (retaining 12 single 5"/25 up to the end) or 40mm guns. In my opinion, the most-needed version of these ships is one of Lexington at the time of her sinking. At this time, the four twin 8" gun mounts had been removed and five (or three?) [actually, seven] quad 1.1" mounts added.

At the same time, Saratoga had a similar armament, so that she could be represented adequately by the same model (ignoring the differences in the control station mounted at the forward edge of the funnel). Later in 1942, Saratoga had the four twin 5"/38 mounts added, replaced twelve single 5"/25 with eight single 5"38, and added a significant number of 40mm.

Don S.

dragon6 · Post by **dragon6** » Mon Mar 04, 2013 11:42 am

Donald M. Scheef wrote:Here are my recommendations for GHQ models representing ships between Pearl Harbor and the end of the Solomon Islands campaign. Any alterations are limited to replacing gun mounts that are separate pieces.

CV2, Lexington: Use USN18 as is until March â€™42. After this, use USN18 but remove the 8â€ mounts and replace with quad 1.1â€ mounts (three of these can be found on a sprue in USN61 (BB-39, Arizona) and, I think, in USN19 (BB-38, Pennsylvania). If you donâ€™t want to buy entire models for just the three gun mounts, the sprue can be ordered separately from GHQ. The sprue also has several cranes on it.

Are there enough quad 1.1 on that sprue? Or does the Lexington model have some? I think Lex needs 3 to replace the 2 forward 8 inch turrets, one on the superstructure between the bridge and stack, 2 to replace the aft 8 inch turrets and one on each forward corner with the 5 inch mounts.

That's 10 total if I haven't missed some. Does the Lexington model have any itself or would I need to order 4 sprues to get enough?