Thanks Steve. Yes the flood holes were a pain to clean out cause they are small. I had to buy a mini jewler’s file set to clean out the small holes. The area above the tanks (central drainage area) was very difficult to clean out and then had to build up the ribs with thin plastic card cut in strips.
The weathering is a combination of oil DOT streaking, washes and dry brushing. You can use the thick oil paint to crust the rust like chips here and there. Just let the oil paint dry for a few days. Bob Ross used a similar technique to texture some of his wet on wet paintings.
I use to paint Bob Ross style and and am familiar with the technique. I have a few of my “masterpieces” hanging on the walls. I use the left over tubes for weathering.
The wife and I went to his gallery in New Smyrna Beach that is about an hour away from our house. His paintings look great on TV but up close, they are fabulous. Amazing what he was able to to do with a 2 " brush.
Great discussion guys, some really useful info there. One of the main reasons i am doing the 125th kit in the GB is to practice painting and weathering before i tackle one of the big ones.
I have been contemplating geting the AK ships weathering sets, but i hope i can pick up enough tips here that i won’t need to.
I’m almost done with the first half of the hull. After I completed the oil canning, I went back and added some Mr. Dissolved Putty. After it was dry I went over that with some denatured alcohol to knock down some of the high areas. I painted the hull with a primer to see how it came out. I need to work a little more on a few areas but all in all I’m pleased with it.
Then on to the second half.
page 1 shows how he did the oil canning, and he did the same as you Steve. I was really interested he how he fitted al the PE, i had not realised how much work that would be.
The work that Foxbat has done is amazing. Too bad that all that detailed work under the deck will not be seen at all. There is another member on that forum with a screen name or Siara who did an incredible job on the Dancing Devil boat (U-552) 3-4 years ago. Quite a talented bunch.
Completely loving the stressed metal effect! Ive long wanted to replicate this, but since I build 1/700 I dont think I ever will. Looking forward to more pics!
Here’s an update on the U-boat. I completed the oil canning, torpedo tubes, closing the hull halves and adding PE to the deck. I installed some cardboard tubing inside the hull to simulate the pressure hull. I need to do some filling and priming then on to the conning tower.
Gosh that looks awesome Steve. I wanted to start on my Gato today but looks like I will be a grandpa for a second time as my daughter in law went to the hospital in labor about an hour ago. Lucky that my son took a day off!
So back to baby sitting my 10 month old granddaughter and less time for modeling for a few days.
OK boys and girls, I sprayed a black primer to bring out any flaws before I moved on. I have to say I am pleased with the oil canning and will be continuing that process on other select builds, just not as much. I will be spraying a mix of Testers enamel rust, mixed with flat black to make a burnt umber color, onto areas where the paint should chip. I will go over these areas with a brushed on AK Interactives Worn Effects. This should make it easy to chip the acrylic paint off later.
Next the conning tower build-up which seems to take up the majority of the instructions.
