LCAC Model

This LCAC (Landing Craft Air Cushioned) model is also part of the lobby display. It is a 1/72 scale kit.

Submarine Torpedo Room

This model will show the port torpedo tube bank from a Los Angeles class SSN. I am gluing the hull to the frames here.

Decorative models for work

I have not posted in awhile I have been working on some models for the lobby of my work. We moved into a anew facility and I came up with a decorating scheme that includes some models. This is a cutaway of a submarine sail which when complete will have a HDR (High Data Rate) antenna bay with the mast.

U-575 Mock up with aircraft

 Using Styrofoam boards to mock up the plane location,

 I had planned on having a back ground on the lexan case with this diorama. However the lighting would cause a shadow in many situations so I am going to go with just the clear case as I originally envisioned.

FFG-36 Final details

Adding the PE rigging to the main mast, The signal flag lines to the main mast will be next.

FFG-36 Railings Complete!

 Today I completed all of the railings and safety lines. I did not drop a single one on the floor. Usually I spend about half my time looking for tiny pieces with a magnifying glass on the floor.

Next step is to touch up paint the numerous photo etch details were paint did not stick or was missed due to holding with tweezers. Add the rigging and the ship model will be done. I will then mount in the base and add the ships wake and finish the sea detail.

FFG-36 Rework

I reworked the davit assemblies on the roof end of the hangers. The kit parts were way to high. See the top image. After looking at actual photos I corrected the height and re-installed them. See bottom photo.

USS Underwood progress

 Final structural details added, starting to add railings.

 Hull numbers have been applied.

U-575 progress

 The diorama base is complete, wakes and small caliber ammo splashes added.

U-575 Progress

 AA Guns installed and the crew is being added that are abandoning the ship.

 Crew members are into the water on the starboard side of the ship. Three ships from the hunter killer group were shelling the sub from its port side while several TBM Avenger aircraft were dropping depth bombs and strafing the sub.

 Applying decals on the Avenger.

There is still much work to blend the sub into the sea base. 

USS Underwood progress

Overall painting of the ship is complete, I am slowly applying all of the additional details after pre-painting.

FFG-36 Masts

 Mnay parts of the ship must be painted by hand before I add on additional detail pieces.

 The main mast is nearing completion, There are still numerous parts to install but I needed to paint it before adding any more which would make the painting even more difficult. 

 The 76 mm gun director is completed, to the right is the signal flag boxes.

The main search radar, This is where the PE kit pays of in fine detail. 

U-575 TBM and figure work

 Painting is just about complete on the crew of the U-575. They will be in the process of abandoning ship when added to the diorama. Some will just be the head and shoulders as they will be in the water.

The support rod was added to the wing and the white and dark gull gray have been applied. I will dry brush the gray to lighten it up some and add wear on the surfaces. I still need to paint the canopry frame.

U-575 Progress

 The avenger is ready for painting. I will need to use my airbrush to do it. But the winter temperatures may delay this since it will have to be painted in the garage.

 I have slowly been building up the mod podge around the subs hull, this takes much time as each application takes several days to thoroughly dry before I can add another coat.

This is the paint schemed that will be applied to the avenger, white overall with a dark gull gray paint on the top surfaces of the plane. This scheme was applied to planes on the small escort carriers that made up the hunter killer groups working the battle of the Atlantic. I will probably build a larger scale (1/48 or 1/32 scale) of this plane in the future.

FFG-36 work

Work is progressing slowly, the photo etch kit assembly is very tedious and I can only do a few things at a time due to the small size and delicate nature of the parts. This will be my first and last model in this scale (1/350) with PE parts. It is not relaxing or "fun" to build at this small scale.

FFG-36 Bridge

Today's progress