Yesterday I was saying to someone that in my build log or comments, people only comment on the work and not my poor attempts at humor.
Turns out that PERHAPS I need to work on my material!
Great work and welcome back. Like you, I have just returned to building after decades. Good to know I’m not the only.
TOO funny! I will definitely try to be more “historically” accurate in my own builds going forward!
Ken
Ken: Over at Titanic-Model.com, they take their historical accuracy to the nth degree, and I’ve been there so much during the build that my first reaction was to take Steve’s comment seriously…
LOL!
I get it and appreciate the attention to detail.
Makes me want to build a ship. Haven’t done one since I was about 10!
You did a fantastic job Brian,and keep going. I was considering the Revell kit for my birthday, and after looking at what you have done, i think i have vastly underestimated the amount of research and detail work necessary. Its a good thing im a glutton for punishment :). Once again, you did a formidable job; thankyou for sharing it with us. Shaun
Thanks, Shuan! A better starting point - though much more expensive - is the 1:400 Academy kit. The Revell has all the railings simulated in solid plastic and no windows; really a rather poor kit. Only $20, though, so at least it’s cheap.
As far as continuing the work, the rat lines are now in, as are the Finlay vents. Pretty much just the decals left to go, and the Marconi arial - if I don’t skip it.
Brian, thanks for posting back. My dad got the kit for me on my birthday(big 38 ;). The Revell kit definitely needs alot of work, but one question i have is where should i look for Photo Etched detail parts, like rails and such. Guess i’ll do a search on google. The Titanic modeling site is incredible to the point of being almost overwhelming; thanks for mentioning it. Anyway, keep going! You have inspired us all.
Hi Shaun,
For Titanic PE stuff I recommend going to either Gold Medal Models or Tom’s Modelworks. Look each one of them over very carefully. Each company offers a slightly different set. Sure, they all have the basics but then one set might contain items not offered in the other. I just gave up and bought both. I’m doing the 1:350 version but the 1:570 PE sets should contain pretty much the same items as their larger counterparts.
I had to pause when I read Steve’s comments about the open porthole, and then realized that I too have spent too much time over on the other site. The hardcore rivet counters over there have a way of sucking you in, until you realize you have been assimilated and are one of them. I don’t mind though, I am a detail weenie at heart. I only wish I could have come up with something witty and funny and chime in.
Keep at it… Matt
LOL! Thanks Matt. I checked out Tom’s Model works, an they definitely have some sets there made for the Rev. 1/570. So as soon as I can save up for it, I’ll check out both places and see whats available. I hadn’t thought of Gold Medal. And as for being a rivet counter, I am a card carrying member and recovering ‘Advanced Modeler Syndrome’ patient. 
If i can get this boat going, at least with the preliminary wash up and painting, i’ll be thrilled. My sister’s cure: just dive right in! Thanks again, Matt. Shaun
If you’re looking to go full on “detail master” on yours, I highly recommend hanging out over at the other site and lurk around for a while. There’s an advanced search feature on the site where you can search JUST the model section. There’s TONS of model info there. It might take a while to go through the info but, if you have no life (like me) then you’ll be in great shape.
Matt
Shaun - I used the river counter site for most of the things I did here. The intention was to get some of my skills back before having a go at the Minicraft 1:350 Titanic. When I started the build, there were no 1:570 PE sets, but Tom’s came out with one a few months in - that’s the one I used. No progress to report, though I’ve only got decals and the Marconi wires left to go. Will get back to it and post the final pics soon; I’ve been distracted be the Flakpanzer and a 1:350 Trumpeter Dreadnought over the last month. The Minicraft is on my list to Santa, though, so more Titanic modeling may be on the docket for 2014…
Thanks Matt. I’ve been to the titanic site and its really out there. the section on cargo rigging alone was more than i think i could stand to do on any sailing kit! I’ve only just begun. One thing im not really experienced at is scratch building. But Im hoping i won’t have to do much of that. Its all about how one sets one’s personal parameters. If you go for accuracy on a kit, then you want to be exact with your detail. If, on the other hand your going for imagination(like in a sci-fi kit) then you can play it almost however you want. I think for Titanic, im just going to go for a nicely done kit, but not an educational model. The PE will help with that. Hope you guys aren’t eye sore from my philosophizing. Thanks Matt,
Shaun
Hi, Brian. Its a tremendous site over there. But like I told Matt, the PE, at least on this kit, is going to do most of the detail work for me , since I don’t have alot of experience with scratch building. Not that I won’t try though ;). Again, your work has been really fun and educational to look at and an inspiration. Take your time, and we will all be looking forward to the finished product.
Shaun
Thanks, Shaun. The scratchbuilding that I did was minor and pretty easy - like you, I had no experience with it when I began. I agree that accuracy should play second fiddle to enjoying this work; do what you enjoy and at the level you enjoy it.
I’ve decided to do the Marconi rigging after all, and I’m going to try to do that and the decals soon to finish her up. I’ve already begun work on an Academy 1:400 version with all of the photo-etch I could find and the wooden decks, and I’m also going to try to take the scratchbuilding to the next level. If I don’t finish the 1:570 before I get too deep in, it will be waiting another 2 years…
For the detail people, I was told once that the forward most funnel was actually for show. Does anyone know if that is true or not or just another sea story?
seasick: Partially true - I was actual the aftmost funnel (#4) that was fake. Located roughly above the engines rather than the boilers, it vented only a small fireplace in one of the public rooms. It was intended to emphasize the size of the Olympic-class liners and make them competitive with the likes of the Lusitania and Mauratania, which also had 4 funnels.
Today was rather discouraging. I had intended to finish the model by adding the decals and the Marconi wires, but both were sort of a bust. I spent a few hours on the Marconi, but just could not get it looking right, and eventually cut it off and decided not to attempt it at this scale. Much harder than the other rigging. The decals were relatively easy, but I ended up being able to see the surrounding decal sheet, which was disappointing…
What did I do wrong here? Or is this the best I can hope for? (I used Testors decal set, but otherwise just applied them as I remembered doing ‘back in the day’.)
Hi Brian. I’ve read in Finescale about using Pledge Future and then spraying it with a flat clear. Try it.
Shaun
A light coat of any type of overcoat like dull coat or gloss coat covers it up nice.
I concur that you should put down a clear gloss first, then the decal followed by a dull coat. I use a clear gloss enamel, but I suppose future would work equally as well if not better.
Arnie60:
I agree with your method but he already put the decal on and I never liked removing decals.