Hi everyone. I’m a new modeler and I’m thankful to have found you helpful folks! I’m finishing up my first model, an AMT 57 Bel Air. I’d like to get some advice on my first ship build, the 1:500 USS North Carolina from Atlantis.
Tackling this model wasn’t planned, it was purchased while visiting the BB-55 itself at the suggestion of my girlfriend. If it turns out well, I plan on gifting it to her dad, a career Navy man, Seabee, and very knowledgeable history buff. I want to go all out on this thing.
I’m researching, and yes I was on the actual ship but I’m a complete warship novice. Any and all suggestions, tips, stories, historical info, tomfoolery, or ideas are greatly appreciated. I’ll post my progress if anyone’s interested.
I’ll be using Tamiya Lacquer rattle cans and their lacquers for brush painting. Measure 12 Modified.
I found 1:500 PE catapults and resin Kingfishers, which I was pretty excited about.
Tom’s Modelworks also has PE radar stuff but I’m not sure if this stuff is compatible or how to research this as the exact PE radars aren’t specified by Tom’s.
They also have PE 3 bar rails. I hear PE rails are tough.
Any other detail ideas? Any suggestions on sections to build up before painting? Suggestions for getting the measure 12 patterns done? Anyone know of a spray lacquer for the antifouling? I have a can of hull red but I want to be closer to the exact color. No airbrush yet I’d like to pre shade or something but I dunno if I can pull it off. Not dead set on pre shading but I’d love to do something to give it an extra bit of realism and interest. I’m totally new at this so newbie tips are appreciated as well! Thanks guys!
Welcome to the forums PoisonousFrog. Great choice of model. The 1/500 scale is a challenge to dress up, as there are not a lot of parts available. Distafan 3D and model monkey offer some 3D printed turrets, guns, props anchors, etc. The are photo etch railings and radars from tom’s model works. Use fine ez line for your rigging. There are easier to brush acrylic paints and sets from AK Interactive, Mission Models, Squadron, etc that outperform Tamiya when brushed, and have the exact colors you will need for measure 22. Check out shipscamouflage.com for your measure 22 specs. Most of all, have fun and build a great model.
Thank you mrb this is excellent advice! So glad you mentioned brush painting with acrylics… I was thinking I needed to use lacquers for brushed details because I’m planning on using Tamiya dullcote at the end. I read up a bit and found that this isn’t the case! Saved me a lot of headache, I appreciate it! I’ll check out these 3D printers and ez line too
Edit: Yep, Distefan is where I was lucky enough to find the 1:500 planes!
One thing to be aware of that is true of almost all the Renwal (Atlantis is a reissue of the Renwal kit) ship kits, including the North Carolina, is that the lower hulls are not nearly deep enough. It makes the ship look silly once you’ve compared it to some actual plans; the distance from the waterline to the bottom of the lower hull is frequently only maybe half as much as it should be. Their Essex class carrier suffers from this as well, for example. It is difficult to fix this without a major rebuild. My advice is to build the kit for fun, and it is not one I would sink a lot of $$$s and aftermarket into.
With careful planning, taping, and painting you can hide this particular problem fairly well. For instance, I’m currently building Renwal’s USS Seminole ( Build log: Renwal 1/500 USS Seminole Attack Cargo Ship Chap. 4 08/27/25 - Modeling Subjects / Ships - Finescale Modeler Forum. Comparing the box art to the plans to the historical photos to the mk.1 eyeball, I was able to find a reasonable height for the hull red, and reduced the width of the black boot stripe, which created a forced perspective effect and pleasing to the eye finished hull. There are only a couple pics of the hull so far, as I need to shoot the gray and the boot yet, but based on what I’m seeing so far, it’s going to look fine. Please follow along as I build this tribute to my grandpa.
I’d like to pre shade or something but I dunno if I can pull it off. Not dead set on pre shading but I’d love to do something to give it an extra bit of realism and interest. I’m totally new at this so newbie tips are appreciated as well! Thanks guys!