Phil Reeder Posted March 8, 2009 Posted March 8, 2009 After two OOB builds,I thought it was high time I attempted another scratch-build.This time it would be one of my favourite class of cruiser,the Dido AA class.Althought there is a kit of th Sirius from ISW,it would cost a packet,with the pound being so low,and I was unwilling to pay though the nose for something of dubious quality. After much thought,I fixed on the Cleopatra,as in Dec 41,she carried an interesting four colour camo scheme.She carried a full set of five 5.25" turrets,many of her sisters had a reduced number of turrets due to shortages,two ,in fact were armed with 4.5"guns. Well the Reeder shipyard creaks into action again.Bye for now Phil I`ve only got a bit of referance material! The basic hull outline is made from 80thou PK
Mike Posted March 8, 2009 Posted March 8, 2009 Well... no-one can accuse you of being chicken! I shall be watching this one with my eyes, interest & popcorn
Pete 'o' probe Posted March 8, 2009 Posted March 8, 2009 Phil each one of your builds is like watching a gripping drama, I can't wait for the next episode.
Obi-Jiff Kenobi Posted March 8, 2009 Posted March 8, 2009 Phil, judging by your previous builds, you'll have finished a masterpiece before I've had time to pick my next kit!
Iain Ogilvie Posted March 8, 2009 Posted March 8, 2009 Hi Phil, Inspirational - will be following this one as I have a few RN ships (with family connections) that I'd like to model in 1:350 and suspect scratch is the way to go. I already have the Profile Morskie on the Ceres Class cruisers and would love to build my grandfathers ship - HMS Curlew... Just need the inspiration to start - and I think you're doing a good job of that! Iain
keefr22 Posted March 8, 2009 Posted March 8, 2009 Hi Phil, This looks an interesting project, shall be watching this with interest! Can I ask whether you've ever experienced any warping in your scratchbuilds when using plasticard in single layers like that ? Good luck with the project! Keef
Phil Reeder Posted March 9, 2009 Author Posted March 9, 2009 I`ve started to skin the hull,with 20thou PK.The pronounce "knuckle",towards the bow,was reproduced by two pieces of 20thou at slightly different angles,and then fairing in with Green stuff filler.This didn`t prove very succesful,so when the filler had dried,I added some Milliput epoxy filler,which turned out more suitable. After much sanding the curved shape was reproduced. Bye Phil
Phil Reeder Posted March 9, 2009 Author Posted March 9, 2009 Hi Phil,This looks an interesting project, shall be watching this with interest! Can I ask whether you've ever experienced any warping in your scratchbuilds when using plasticard in single layers like that ? Good luck with the project! Keef Hi Keef,Up to press,I`ve never experienced "warping"with any single thickness PK,no doubt it will happen at some stage,it`s called "Sods Law"!!Thanks Phil
Phil Reeder Posted March 10, 2009 Author Posted March 10, 2009 Now that the hull is finished,I`ve turned my attention to the maindeck.For the first time I`ve used some "Evergreen"scribed plastic to simulate the wooden planking.(Thanks Roger!).I`m very impressed with it,and plan to use it in future projects. I`ve started to mix the colours.According to the W.P. book on RN camouflage,Vol 1, in 1941 Cleopatra had a colour scheme as follows: MS1,very dark gray, B5,dark blue gray B6,Lt blue gray MS 4a,Lt greeny gray(almost like Sky) No information is availble regarding the deck colours,so I`m going to leave the main wooden decks a natural wood colour,and the steel decks dark gray.and hope for the best! Bye Phil
perry Posted March 10, 2009 Posted March 10, 2009 Great work as usual Phil, that decking looks terrific!
Martian Posted March 10, 2009 Posted March 10, 2009 Well there's certainly some great stuff on Britmodeller tonight! Looks great! Martin Well there's certainly some great stuff on Britmodeller tonight! Looks great! Martin
Phil Reeder Posted March 11, 2009 Author Posted March 11, 2009 After debating whether or not to display the model going at 30 knots,I chickened out,and decided to show the Cleo at anchor.I`ve cut the outline of the hull in a sheet of Obechi,which I then glued to a wooden base,the water effect was achieved by a thick coat of Evostik PVA glue,when dry it was painted ,remembering to paint the area around the ship a slightly lighter colour,and a small wake was painted at the stern ,bow,and where the anchor chain goes into the water. The camo pattern has been painted,along with the teak deck,after a coat of Kleer,the decals for the draught markings were put on.I tried a new technique for simulating wooden deck,I read about this in FSM.This is to make a connoction of water,acrylic paint( Humbrol no62 service brown),and a couple of drops of washing-up liquid,making a `sludge`,This I applied with a cotton bud,and used a clean bud to remove any excess.Worked out pretty well. Bye for now Phil
Iain Ogilvie Posted March 11, 2009 Posted March 11, 2009 (edited) Crumbs - fast work! I dug the drawings out for HMS Curlew last night - I may well make a start. If I do it will be at snails pace. Are you scratch-building everything - or borrowing parts for guns/boats etc from other kits? Iain Edited March 11, 2009 by 32SIG
Phil Reeder Posted March 11, 2009 Author Posted March 11, 2009 (edited) Crumbs - fast work!I dug the drawings out for HMS Curlew last night - I may well make a start. If I do it will be at snails pace. Are you scratch-building everything - or bowwing parts for guns/boats etc from other kits? Iain Hi Iain,I using the 5.25" turrets from the Tamiya KGV,and I have many spares that I can use for the boats etc,but all the main structures will be scratch-built cheers Phil Edited March 12, 2009 by Phil Reeder
Iain Ogilvie Posted March 12, 2009 Posted March 12, 2009 Thanks for the info Phil - my spares box is pretty huge - but no ship items (last ship model I built when I was about 7!) - so I'll be scanning the WEM catalogue Need to finish my U-Boat first - then I might have a go at Hood - as a buddy of mine, Bill Stone - WWI vet that died last month - served on her in the twenties and at least that's a full kit and gives me something to cut my teeth on before scratchbuilding. Iain
Obi-Jiff Kenobi Posted March 12, 2009 Posted March 12, 2009 Nice work, Phil. The deck paintwork looks great.
Phil Reeder Posted March 14, 2009 Author Posted March 14, 2009 The hull is now finished ,and fixed to the base .As I`m displaying the model at anchor,I drilled a small hole in the seascape,and with CA attached the chain,then I threaded the chain though a the hawser hole in the hull,and lead this to the capstan.A start has been made detailing the deck ,as usual I`ve started at the bow,the two ropes,over the bow are for a pair of Paravanes.These are used for sweeping moored mines.Bye for now Phil
Phil Reeder Posted March 16, 2009 Author Posted March 16, 2009 Now that the hull is finished,I`ve made a start on the superstructure,beginning with the forward deck house.Because of it`s complex shape, it has taken me most of the weekend to do.In the Profile morskie colour profile,it depicts these decks as painted steel,however,after closely looking at several photos of various ships of this class,it looked to be the decks were covered with wood ,as per the main deck.I`ve added the signal deck on the rear of the structure ,and I`ll start to detail it with doors scuttles,etc.Bye Phil
Phil Reeder Posted March 18, 2009 Author Posted March 18, 2009 The forward deckhouse has now been detailed,with spare PE ,and odds and ends from my spares-box.A 5.25" turret has been placed on it,to make sure everything fits.Next up is coat of primer.than painting.Note the Fall-out from my filing efforts!Cheerio Phil
keefr22 Posted March 18, 2009 Posted March 18, 2009 She's coming along really nicely - & very quickly too!! Keef
Phil Reeder Posted March 19, 2009 Author Posted March 19, 2009 I`ve finished painting the forward deckhouse,and have now started adding the deck detail.The wooden decks have been given the "Sludge"treatment,and once again ,I`m pleased with the result,wished I known of this technique before,it really is effective,wonder if it would work on the wooden parts on WW1 aircraft?Just a thought.Cheerio Phil
Phil Reeder Posted March 21, 2009 Author Posted March 21, 2009 Most of the detailing around the forward deckhouse has been finished.I`ve made two AA platforms to go alongside the deckhouse.Cleopatra was unique among the Didos,when completed ,she was fitted with two single 2pdr pom-poms on these platforms,instead of the usual 0.5" MGs.I`ve made a start on the midships deckhouses ,in the forward funnel area.Cheers Phil
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