Trumpeter 1/350 Liberty Ship O'Brien

Modeling Subjects Ships
1

Started this build last September. It is my first build since Carter was president. I also have a P.E upgrade from G.M.M… My goal with this model is to learn from my mistakes a rookie will make and I have made more than a few so far. This is my first with a P.E. kit and it has been a very interesting experience. So here is what I have gotten done in two months.

I remove the bilge keel that was molded on the hull and replaced it hardware from the P.E. kit. It was easier than I thought it would be.

Winches all primed and ready to go.

The hatches are not anything like the ones in the pictures I seen of liberty ships. Seems most everyone just sands the wood beams down so they will look like straps and paint the flat areas to look like a tarps. I will most likely to the same.

The 20mm guns are really giving me a problem adding the P.E. to them. I lost one gun after it launched its self from my tweezers into the void of my garage workshop. I should have not started on these until after I had more practice with the larger pieces. I was not able to get the camera to focus any better.

In pictures I viewed, it seems that the ventilators were painted black on the inside and covered with a screen. Using Tamiya flat black on the inside I punched out screens using a die set, but the fine mesh screen I purchased at the hobby shop stretch when I punched them out with the die. I used them anyway.

Added some stairs

Rear deck gun.

Cable reels, stoker baskets, life raft supports, and potato bin.

Derrick housing with some P.E. attached.

The hull and deck have been primed and the upper hull has its base coat. For the base I used Tamiya Ocean Gray #2 acrylic paint diluted with 19% Tamiya flat white acrylic paint.

I plan on painting the lower hull later this week and then put a clear coat over it for protection. Then on to final assembly.

2

Frankly this kit, which I am about where you are with it, is really really hard because there’s a million details and the whole thing is very small.

Great job.

3

That was also my first effort with PE. I recall that complex shape around the after gun mount being very tricky. As for the hatches, the crossways raised strips ARE straps. They are steel straps over canvas tarps. The wooden hatch boards are covered by the tarps and so are not visible.

Fred

4

Looking good Marcus. Keep up the great work.

Jim [cptn]

5

Well Now :

At least you had more sense than me . I started with P.E. by using a friend’s scraps for the S.M.S EMDEN by REVELL .Still turned out alright and gave me enough confidence , my second ship with P.E. was The U.S.S. NORTH CAROLINA by TRUMPETER . I just recently did the S.S. HAWIIAN PILOT by REVELL as well . I just wish someone would do a VICTORY ship in 1/350 .You are doing a great job there , so , keep it up .

6

Thank you for your reply. I just have a few more P.E. to build before I start the final assembly.

7

Tankerbuilder’s mention of the Revell Emden kit was something I had to comment on. That is one really great kit, and very reasonably priced. It has collected several trophies for me. I believe it was a GMM PE kit I used on it. Only real hangup was the main guns did not fit well in their enclosures- be sure to trial fit and correct any misfit. I did it in the pre-war white and buff and it looks great! There is also a fantastic book on the “Cruise of the Emden.”