Here is my 2nd model build. After building this, I came to the conclusion that my eyes need a larger scale to work with. I had some trouble trying to get hull to match up with deck but it worked out. This was my first attempt at using PE parts without a proper bender. I tried to weather this ship to make her looked like she was in use.
Very nice work. The pictures I seen of some of those ships in the south pacific you couldn’t weather it enough and still match those pictures.
You did a really good job with this kit. I agree with Marcus that most of the Liberty Ships were quite weathered after a couple of trips.
I did the same kit as the SS Stephen Hopkins for a friend of mine whose dad served aboard her and was one of the 15 survivors of her sinking. It’s quite a story. Anyway, I didn’t weather my model as much since she was sunk on her maiden voyage.
So;
Here we have another very well done Liberty . Moderately weathered and all there . Now this is nice and could be messier , But , she’s probably representing herself after two voyages .
You could have a solid hull of rust and it would’ve been good .These ships got nasty ! T.B.
Holy guacamole! I was worried I would do too much on her but after reading everyone’s comments, these ships must have really gotten some wear and tear! I imagine with slow travel plus loading and unloading cargo was grimmy business. I dirtied her up by useing some pastels but also used for the first time some Testors CreateFX Rust enamel stain to help add corrosion. I used a little dirty wash along with dry brushing on some graphite for the main deck deck. I did my first ‘cutting’ of a model and, was a little nervous, when I added the starboard PE ramp. My hats off to all of the modelers who can bend and glue these fine metal parts without damaging them. I certainly ruined a few. Maybe at a later time, I might go back and try to add more ‘grunge’ to her but I want to thank you guys for your comments on this kit. [:)]
Mike - I like the picture of your diorama you added. I then took a look at your U-boat and Cutty Sark builds and they are really nice! Thanks for sharing.
A US Navy “WELL DONE” EJ
EJ - thanks and Good Holidays!!!
Great job Robert! [t$t]
When and if you get a chance, check her out on the internet. She’s in Baltimore harbor and she goes out twice a year WITH PASSENGERS. Crew is dressed in period gear and after she is out for a while, she is attacked and the crew wards off the attackers. You get the feel of what it was like to be on her during the war and under fire. You have to get your tickets way ahead of time. Chance to get really close up pics.
Jim [cptn]
Jim - thanks for this info. I’m originally from So. Calif. and we have the SS Lane Victory docked in Long Beach harbor. She’s a victory ship but she use to have summer cruises that re-created an attack as well. I believe they stopped events in 2014. Unfortunely, I never took advantage of touring her. We use to motor right past her whenever leaving the channel in our 33’ Yorktown sailboat. She was right next to the Vincent Thomas Bridge and not to far from the Queen Mary.
That is a swell model, Robert. I started my own JOB but it sort of stalled. That kit packs a lot of detail into a small area.
I’d offer a suggestion. The flag looks kind of funny wrapped around the mast. You’re a sailor, you know that in the real world it would be hoisted on a halyard.
I would do that, with a thin piece of wire, or rigging line.
One other thing I see is the rudder’s gone missing.
Cool model though.
Bill
Bill - Holy Cow! I think one of my cats may have gotten to this. Hopefully, it fell down behind my bookcase that it was sitting on. She’s also missing the prop as well. Looks like it will be back to the drydock for her! I took a break today from working on my Connie and tried to add a little more wear and tear to this one. Thanks for taking a look with your keen eyes and your advice. Here’s a pick of what I did.
Very good looking weathering! I would just add that if you look at a lot of photos of liberty ships, much of the streaking on the hull is not rust coming from the freeing ports, but soot running off the decks from the scuppers. The location of the scuppers has to be mapped from photos, as they aren’t indicated on the model.
Fred
Thank you Fred for this information. I’ll have to read up and do more research on this, seeing how I still have not found my rudder that one of cats have stolen! I did find the propeller that they knocked behind the bookcase. It looks like I’ll have to redo the rudder with some styrene. The model had a solid rudder but the photos I’ve looked at show them as a two-piece rudder. [Y]
Very nice!
Ben - thanks and Good Holidays to you!
Robert, that is really nice & the weathering looks great. In WW2 my brother went over on the Grant, a WW1 german ship, to the South Pacific. He said he was sick for 30 days & never got sick again once on the Battleship Indiana.
Your other pictures you sent me didn’t come thru for me.
One of our cat(s) broke off the rudder and prop. Thanks to GMorrison for bringing it to my attention. Found prop but no rudder. Had to fabricate the rudder from a piece of sheet styrene and rod. This time I drilled a hole into the hull for pins to hold prop and rudder to ship. Added a thin wire to my flagpole for rope. Also tried to do some rigging for winch cables and line running from tops of mast. Also took Onyxman’s advice and ‘dirtied up’ some of the drain holes ? along the deck line. Putting this away - I want to get back to my Constitution build. Thanks for all of the advice! GooD HoLiDaY’s to ALL !
Looks great!
I am finding cheap but high power reading glasses help my vision, but finger agility is starting to go. But, I keep hearing the term “use it or loose it.” I am trying that tack for awhile, so have stopped building 1:350 and turning to 1:700. Hoping it helps the display space too. I have too many ship models around the house to display them all!
Don - I hear you about the glasses! LOL I use 2.75 glasses and a magnifier with light and I still am in ‘the dark’. I bought an inexpensive set of headset magnifiers from Harbor Frieght, but it seems to make things blurry. I realized on this kit that 1:350 scale is not for me. I am at awe on people that can get so much detail on 1:700 scale models! So much for not eating my carrots and spinach in my younger days. Thanks for your feedback and have yourself a HaPpY HoLiDaY !!![D]