Micronaut Only Thread

PostHumanRepublican · Tue Dec 03, 2013 12:30 pm

I knew the Vals had folding wing tips so when I read that the package had Vals with folded wings I just assumed that GHQ knows what they are doing and folded only what was necessary. Adding tips just seems unnecessarily specific.

ExGGFG · Post by **ExGGFG** » Wed Dec 04, 2013 6:02 am

I've been motivated to paint some more ships lately (enjoying a break from 15mm).
Here's some of my latest work

I'm working towards all the carriers present at Midway for US and Japan, with their air wings. This is Akagi and Soryu (first of my decals to arrive!), with Akagi's air wing. Soryu's planes are on the work bench, but I ran out of Vals and need another pack. Aircraft bases also need dullcoats, then a gloss coat on the water, ships still need their wakes painted.

Akagi and Soryu by exggfg, on Flickr

Akagi and Soryu plus Akagi air wing by exggfg, on Flickr

Some wreck markers for my future planned convoy battles! Totally meaningless in game terms LOL, but I didn't feel like painting up another Neosho. (Colour is way off because of the flash - the blue is actually the same table as the Akagi photos!)

2013-02-20_19-21-05_840 by exggfg, on Flickr

2013-02-20_19-20-42_457 by exggfg, on Flickr

HMCS Haida chasing after U-99

2013-02-20_19-21-50_856 by exggfg, on Flickr

ExGGFG · Post by **ExGGFG** » Wed Dec 04, 2013 6:04 am

Haida overtakes U-99 and brackets with depth charges!

2013-02-13_18-23-51_867 by exggfg, on Flickr

U-Boats:

2013-02-13_18-22-46_785 by exggfg, on Flickr

ExGGFG · Post by **ExGGFG** » Wed Dec 04, 2013 6:09 am

Looks like my other photo account is all screwed up, so I'll repost these:

Hood vs. Bismark engagement:

2013-02-05_16-12-51_56 by exggfg, on Flickr

2013-02-05_16-13-03_888 low rez by exggfg, on Flickr

2013-02-05_16-13-10_180 low rez by exggfg, on Flickr

ExGGFG · Post by **ExGGFG** » Wed Dec 04, 2013 6:24 am

Here is Enterprise and her full air wing. First carrier I did, before I knew about 'The Decals'. Decals for Yorktown and Hornet just arrived today! Now I gotta buy the ships.

Enterprise and air wing by exggfg, on Flickr

PostHumanRepublican · Post by **PostHumanRepublican** » Wed Dec 04, 2013 8:14 am

Stunning work Ex. Did you paint the Jap carrier markings or are those decals? Also I love your basing for the aircraft. I got frustrated with GHQ's lack of some specific Italian aircraft and broke down and bought a ton of Cap Aero 1/1200 aircraft but your GHQ aircraft look so awesome next to their carriers that I'm thinking now I will just have to deal with it and sell off the other brand's stuff. Phenominal work man.

ExGGFG · Post by **ExGGFG** » Wed Dec 04, 2013 8:47 am

Thanks very much. In answer to your question, those are *definitely* decals on the Japanese carriers!

Originally Tanner created them (can't think of his tag on here - WWIICentral maybe..?) but now they are being sold on Ebay by 33yearsGHQ (whom I will happily vouch for) - he's taken over and got all Tanner's product now and is selling them again, which is great news.

The planes are based using Cbovill's (I think that's who did it) idea, also from this forum. Go back a couple pages and you'll see his planes on little acrylic squares. He suggested using little lengths of fishing line to hold the planes.

I found 1x1" sheet metal squares at my LGS, so I just went with those instead. Love the fishing line idea, because once the crazy glue sets, they can be bent all over the place and hold up pretty well. It gives them a little 'give' for those inevitable bumps on the table top, and I just love the three-dimensional look of them flying over the water. So much better than paper or just table top counters.

Lots of good ideas on this forum. Credit to those guys, and thanks for helping us all out!

PostHumanRepublican wrote:Stunning work Ex. Did you paint the Jap carrier markings or are those decals? Also I love your basing for the aircraft. I got frustrated with GHQ's lack of some specific Italian aircraft and broke down and bought a ton of Cap Aero 1/1200 aircraft but your GHQ aircraft look so awesome next to their carriers that I'm thinking now I will just have to deal with it and sell off the other brand's stuff. Phenominal work man.

PostHumanRepublican · Wed Dec 04, 2013 10:22 am

I've bought a few of the decals from 33years but I'm nervous about using them. Just worried that I won't glue the aircraft onto the deck right or they'll rip the decal right off.

ExGGFG · Post by **ExGGFG** » Wed Dec 04, 2013 11:30 am

I put a coat of gloss varnish down before the decal, and then after it's dried for a day I over coat it with gloss varnish as well. That basically gives it a nice smooth surface to adhere to and then seals it afterward.

Once you dullcoat it, it looks great, and I've so far had no issues. Just be sparing with the glue and be sure when you put the plane down. Get it where you want it and then don't fiddle with it.

Edit: Also, try Micro Sol and Micro Set solutions. They soften and adhere the decal, helpful for when the deck has little details and you want the decal to settle right into them.

PostHumanRepublican · Wed Dec 04, 2013 11:51 am

I spent $200 on all of those Cap Aero aircraft....I think it was because GHQ didn't make a specific Italian plane that CA did. Think of all the GHQ aircraft I could have gotten for that money. This is why I should adhere to my brand loyalty policies. The 1/1200 are easier to differentiate from eachother and would have more detailed paint jobs sure but seeing that carrier airwing in scale next to the ship just gets me all hot and bothered. I hope you have pics of more ships coming.

ExGGFG · Post by **ExGGFG** » Wed Dec 04, 2013 12:35 pm

LOL, yeah I 'm the same. Seeing the great work on here really motivates me, and I got a great game in last week. Brits vs. Germans, all destroyers and cruisers basically. Was a great battle.

I have the following on deck right now because my order of decals arrived today!

Hiryu (ready for decal)

Being painted:
Yamato
Aoba cruiser
3 x Akitsuki destroyers

Primed and base coated:
Ark Royal
Leander class (Achilles)
US Northampton heavy cruiser
3 x Fletcher destroyers
Iowa class BB

Going shopping this week to pick up the rest of the ships that I bought decals for:

** CENSORED ** class (lol - make that E.S.S.E.X)
Sangamon class CVL
Yorktown
lots more planes for the carriers

Graf Zeppelin
plus
Fubuki destroyers
Kitikami cruiser (check out those torp stats in V@S!)
More Japanese carrier planes

So yes, there should be more pics ahead.

I will get some shots of other stuff already finished too. Leander, Dorsetshire, Rodney, Exeter, J-class destroyers, Tribal class destroyers, Flower class corvettes, Graf Spee & Scharnhorst.

tstockton · Post by **tstockton** » Thu Dec 05, 2013 12:31 am

ExGGFG,

I know it's necessary, and I know it can be a pain the keester... but the "censoring program" has caught be before as well...

So, tongue-in-cheek; did any of the E.S.S.E. X. class carriers participate at Guadal - can -al?

Regards,
Tom Stockton

Donald M. Scheef · Post by **Donald M. Scheef** » Thu Dec 05, 2013 1:56 am

No; Guadalcan*l campaign officially ended 1943-02-09. Ess*x did not finish training and shakedown until May of 1943. No other Ess*x class carrier was commissioned before this. btw, the British cruiser Suss*x was not there either.

Thanks for the correction, Tammy.

Don S.

TAMMY · Post by **TAMMY** » Thu Dec 05, 2013 3:09 am

Deleted

ExGGFG · Post by **ExGGFG** » Thu Dec 05, 2013 5:58 am

tstockton wrote:ExGGFG,

I know it's necessary, and I know it can be a pain the keester... but the "censoring program" has caught be before as well...

So, tongue-in-cheek; did any of the E.S.S.E. X. class carriers participate at Guadal - can -al?

Regards,
Tom Stockton

I LOL'd.