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Ratch · Posted: Wed 19 Dec 2007 10:19 am Post subject: Chippy's build

Geoff's progress will be reported here

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and was Jerusalem, builded here
The new No. 2
Airfix Club 500287
IPMS 10983

chippy · Posted: Fri 28 Dec 2007 07:59 am Post subject:

Well Good morning all its just after 7.50 on day one and in a few hours I will be off to the Lake District with a few mates for New Year, going up in my mini so should have some fun.
Ive opened the box and a flood of happy memories came back, I made Belfast when I was about 15, sadly the model no longer exists and Im looking forward to this build, Ive not wasted the last few days, been rummaging through my old room and found my old warship Profile on Belfast it has a brilliant centre colour image of the ship in Admiralty Disruptive Camouflage 25.

I also got my WEM PE from Carolyn at WEM, they never cease to amaze me I ordered it just before christmas and it arrived in a couple of days, brilliant service.

Also obtained a copy of Ross Watton's excellent "Anatomy of the ship" The Cruiser Belfast - which is an interesting read, I also raised a glass on 26th the 64th anniversary of The Battle of North Cape to those who perished in that Gallant action.

Enjoy New Year and I will catch up on my return in the mean time heres a couple of start shots

ttfn Geoff

chippy · Posted: Tue 01 Jan 2008 20:30 pm Post subject:

Well made it back from the Lakes and spent some time reading up on Belfast, mainly Warship profile and the instruction sheet, have decided to build her as she looked at The Battle of North Cape, so December 1943 it is.

I like the look of the ADP 25 and having checked my paint stock I have everything I need, so all in all ready to slip and procede.

Have managed to find a few good photos B&W that confirm that the paint scheme in the instructions seems spot on, have posted a link to a nice port quarter view that shows a diagonal band of colour on the hangar door, will think over it and decide which colour it is, unless anyone knows that is?

chippy · Posted: Thu 03 Jan 2008 17:51 pm Post subject:

Well have glued the hull together, match was good, I started by gluing the stern, then following with the bow about 10 minutes later then the rest of the hull using liquid poly, am pleased with the overall finish.

Was going to fit the rear deck, part no 30, then realised that as Im using PE, I will need to fill in the gap where the aft liferaft stowage fits, likewise the large slots for the torpedo tube doors. Has anyone done this before, I just dont want to be able to see a big gap behind the PE, any advise welcome.

Also looked at making the aft superstructure parts 53-55, the sides are very badly warped and will need warming and straightening.

Will also be removing the moulded catapult track as per the WEM instructions. Pictures to follow, but its been so dark here that some are a bit dark so will need to find more light.

chippy · Posted: Thu 03 Jan 2008 21:36 pm Post subject:

Here are a few pics of progress to date, hull is glued and quarter deck fitted loosly, the slots that I think i will fill can be seen. The rear superstructure ended up going together quite well, but will need some filler around the barbet of Y turret, the central join is not too clever (where the part is attached to the sprue, I think I will have similar problems on all of these pieces.

Ratch · Posted: Tue 08 Jan 2008 12:28 pm Post subject:

Nice progress Geoff

_________________
and was Jerusalem, builded here
The new No. 2
Airfix Club 500287
IPMS 10983

chippy · Posted: Thu 10 Jan 2008 16:07 pm Post subject:

Cheers Ratch, just posted on the chat, not too happy with the quality of the superstructure halves they are terrible, I have an early 80's version in a much darker grey, the quality of the moulding is much crisper, beginning to wish I had built that kit.

Still she will look ok when done, will update later

chippy · Posted: Thu 10 Jan 2008 21:38 pm Post subject:

Here are two views of the partially completed superstructure that show the poor fit at the join where the parts are attached to the sprue

much sanding and filling needed

chippy · Posted: Thu 10 Jan 2008 21:43 pm Post subject:

Here are two views of the main deck with the moulded catapult track removed (this will be replaced by the WEM PE catapult) I have included a photo of the non modified deck to show the bit removed. This will also make attachment of the two deck areas much easier.

You can also see the contrast between the moulding quality, the darker plastic is from the 80's and is much sharper and crisper

Ratch · Posted: Thu 10 Jan 2008 22:20 pm Post subject:

Looking good

_________________
and was Jerusalem, builded here
The new No. 2
Airfix Club 500287
IPMS 10983

chippy · Posted: Sat 12 Jan 2008 00:17 am Post subject:

Have picked up some Humbrol filler today so hopefully can get a bit more done to the superstructure over the weekend

chippy · Posted: Wed 16 Jan 2008 10:51 am Post subject:

Used the filler in anger yesterday, to fill in the mounting slots for the liferaft mounts that will be replaced by PE.

Also filled in the holes on the hull for the accomodation ladders and the base recesses for the plastic aircraft launch track, will post pics tonight of the before and after sanding, may need to add more.

Also started to build up the bridge area.

chippy · Posted: Thu 17 Jan 2008 08:31 am Post subject:

Well mistake one- filled in a bit I shouldnt have so cleaned that out last night all is now ok, had to put a bit more filler down to fill in the last few dips after sanding, must admit its easy to use and work, cant think why I never used it before.

Have added a few more bits to the Bridge area and will be adding the prop shafts tonight in prep for painting the lower hull. Once thats done will probably paint the entire hull in admiralty light grey AP 507C, before building up the rest of the colours, hope to have some painted shots for the weekend. Will also start to build up and stick on the PE doors etc.

Ratch · Posted: Thu 17 Jan 2008 10:23 am Post subject:

chippy · Posted: Thu 17 Jan 2008 15:35 pm Post subject:

Too right !! and with this moulding it will be getting plenty of use, glad to see Im not the only one with poor quality mouldings, but never mind a coat of paint will save the day.

chippy · Posted: Fri 18 Jan 2008 09:04 am Post subject:

A bit more sanding last night and prop shafts added before going to the pub. On return masked off the hull and applied first coat of the WEM anti fouling red, I had forgotten how thin it was, will need at least two coats. Pic's to follow.

chippy · Posted: Fri 18 Jan 2008 16:13 pm Post subject:

Here are a few pics showing the hull with its second coat of anti-fouling red and the start of assembly of the fwd & aft superstructures. Have also picked up a new superglue to start on the etch.

Ratch · Posted: Fri 18 Jan 2008 16:44 pm Post subject:

Wow

that anti-fouling red's bright isn't it

_________________
and was Jerusalem, builded here
The new No. 2
Airfix Club 500287
IPMS 10983

chippy · Posted: Sun 20 Jan 2008 17:54 pm Post subject:

Yes threw me a bit when I first used it but after a few days it fades a bit and looks great with the rest of the WEM colours.

chippy · Posted: Sun 20 Jan 2008 18:05 pm Post subject:

Well its been very dull here so the pics aren't brilliant, put a base coat of AP507C over the hull and was really pleased with the coverage. Tried to make some sense out of the Airfix plan colour scheme and compared it to the colour spread in Warship profile. The Airfix scheme does not take account of the two "Blues" B5 & B6 (RN colour codes). The shades are subtle but looking at the Profile pic, they are distinct at least I think they are!! Slightly darker B5 on the stbd bow and stbd fwd funnel with the lighter B6 on the remainder of the hull and superstructure, whilst on the port side the bow is coloured with both B5 & B6 with the port aft funnel and part of the portside of the bridge in the darker B5 with light B6 on the remainder of the hull and aft superstructure. So ive ordered B5 & B6 from Carolyn at WEM. So have applied the first coat of AP507A to the hull a second will be needed to get the colour right.