I’m waiting a couple of weeks to see if the wood decks come through. Without having them there’s not much I can do. Just a little painting and mounting the model to the stand.
Since I know I stink at painting with a brush I am masking and spraying every door on this ship. I am about half of the way there. It’s quite tedious masking these tiny doors! Even if I were good at it I do prefer the way sprayed paint looks over brushed. For the windows I ordered a bunch of 1/350 Titanic window PE sets and am going to use what is closest to the shape of the windows on the Lusitania. I know it won’t be accurate but I think it will definitely look neater than my painting them. Since I am waiting to see if the wood decks are produced I have the time to do all this masking.
How have I not known of the existence of this kit before? I love this ship and have pined for a 1/350 scale.
Yours is looking great, not sure I have the patience/talent to make my own wood decks, bravo!
Very nice work. Yep, ships do get tedious at times.
Another way to do this kind of thing is to cut out decals, if you can find the right color. Or print your own.
Fun to watch!
Bill
Thanks Silly_me. Yes it’s a hard to find kit but they do pop up on ebay now and then. There is actually one on there now from The UK. It’s a pretty nice kit so far. The parts are a lot cleaner than my last model. I have the wood decks on hold since there is a rumor that Scaledecks may come out with a precut kit in the near future. I’ll do what I can until and if that becomes available, if not I’ll continue with cutting my own.
Thanks Bill. I actually bought a color laser printer to make decals with. I have a file for Lusitania windows and I printed it up…came out pretty good. I think I am going to use photo etch windows from the Titanic kit for the Lusitania windows though, but having the ability to make decals is kind of cool. I’m sure I will use it in the future.
I bought the same model printer Micromark sells with their decal kit so I figure at least if they are using it for decals it should work well. I printed the first few on clear decal paper from Amazon but since have bought some of Micromarks decal paper. My thinking is if I buy what Micromark has proven to work I should get decent results.
Am really enjoying the work you have done so far. Coming along very nicely indeed…Cheers mark
Chris,
One minute ago (8:39 am, Wednesday, May 20, 2020) I spoke to John, the owner of Scaledecks. He said the wood decks for the Lusitania will be coming out in June. He just bought the model a few weeks ago and, as soon as he wraps up working on the Titanic, he’ll be producing it.
I’ll be buying the decks as soon as they’re available.
That’s impressive considering the kit is OOP. Maybe he knows something…
Bill
Hard to say about their printer, but give a report. I use that paper, both clear and white for inkjet. Having tried a number, including Testor’s; I like the MM stuff best.
Another thing to think about for small one-offs; I’ll dig through the decal graveyard and find something like red Bomber Command numerals and cut those up.
Thanks Mark, I’m getting there little by little.
Yup 1943Mike, that’s what I’m waiting on. I am trying to do other things until the decks come out. I cut some of my own but it’s tedious work and will never look as good as laser cut decks from Scaledecks. I can’t wait to get them.
The only thing I am debating about is whether to cut them around as opposed to leaving the decks under walls on the lower decks. I checked the dryfit of the side slot where the decks would fit and it’s really tight. I ran into the same issue on my Titanic. Even though the wood decks are thin it’s like a tolerance stacking issue as you add decks. The top decks won’t be an issue but the decks on the bottom I may have to sit plastic on plastic to avoid fitment trouble as I add decks.
Bill I tested out the printer with clear decal paper from Amazon and it worked well. I have yet to try the Micromark paper. The printer is an HP model that really doesn’t have anything to do with MM, but it’s one they sell with their decal making kit.
I would really like to do some custom photo etch. They sell a kit but the whole process looks kinf of complicated.
I’ve never tried PE but I have mostly heard negatives from folks who try.
Bill
Bill, these are the decals I printed on the paper from Amazon. Hard to tell from a photo but they don’t look too bad. I will have to try the better paper and do some adjustments.
I have the micromark photoetch kit, and it actually works very well. You have to be very exact and follow the directions, but for 2-dimensional objects, like railings and doors, it works very well. I use it to make hooks and the hammock rails for the Constitution. Only drawback is the size of the dip tank. That is your limitation.
Bob
Thanks Bob. I need to make square window frames and a bunch of grating, I would be interested in it but on their site the download instructions link doesn’t work. I have no idea if I have to learn to develope film like a photographer to use it, or how to input the drawings. Maybe I’ll email them and see if they can provide insructions prior to purchase. I would also need to buy another printer, inkjet. I just bought a laser for decals…getting expensive.
I’m modifying some PE Titanic window frames for my Lusitania. Not correct but a lot neater than I could brush paint the plastic frames.
I had the same problem with the instructions. I have a PDF of the them. PM me and I can send them to you. Reads like a cook book. Hardest part is getting the two sides aligned. Works with inkjet printers only, I believe.
Bob
Thanks Bob. They sent me the instructions but thank you for the offer. I think I have abandoned the idea for now.