The Ship Model Forum

Thx for the final update.

So I have come here with a last update because the build is finished for me. Due to shortages in time I did often take pictures but forgot to upload them to the forum. however, we are done which means it is time for the post build reflection and some final pictures.

reflection.

Tamiya kits have been recommended to me as being great fits, immaculate engineering and also very friendly builds. I generally did find this all to be true but after building fujimi and trumpeter kits I had become used to have some wiggle room. This kit didn't which means I had to adapt. The quality of the plastic was great, it was clean, not much waste from the molding itself on the plastic was present, if any and the parts were decently detailed. However Tamiya's style of detailing has struck me as a little cartoonish/simplified at times. I think in general i prefer Hasegawa, Fujimi or trumpeters style. It is executed with less finesse but the overal atmosphere/style of the model appeals a little more to me. Not to say the Mikuma isn't a great kit, it is just not fully how I would like to see it, Aoshima's Atago is an example of something I would prefer instead with hindsight.

The painting of this kit has been part new method, part old stuff. The base colors were Tamiya paint. For all their inaccuracies in color, their handling is unsurpassed for me and with some good old mixing I find i can get colors that appeal to me which in the is what i build for. The new part is the use of both washes and rust effects. This went wrong since I did not see that my new stuff was also enamel which smudged my whole weathering. This is something that I need to consider for my next build. Especially if I want to use the ColorCoats enamels I would need to use two clearcoats which in itself may give rise to other problems. All in all the end product isn't perfect. But sometimes I find it easier to except that flaws and make sure not to repeat them next time. I have applied post shading for the first time as which has given such a nice touch that with some more refinement this will definitely remain in work process.
ven me enough lessons for my next build especially on the painting process but also the building process. Instead of using a build all and then paint all workflow I will adopt the modular way of working. Which may also help keep stuff a little bit more paced.

With IJN builds the last step is painting the Chrysanthemum on the bow, (special picture included). As for the final results here are the usual pictures, I have tried using a better camera + tripod and a healthy dose of light to capture the ship. Note that on one of the turrets I had a very sad reaction between some rust powder on enamel wash that I had applied an hour before, It just stained out overnight and I have polished off a little bit of the stuff but was afraid I would damage the PE on the turret so I let it be as is. Now when reviewing the pictures I see more paintwork stuff, but I will let it be too. In general when working in modules I can focus on smaller sized pieces which hopefully will allow me to work with more refined detail and less errors.

Since I have not updated for so long I will also put in the relevant pictures for the steps in between.

The floatplanes when drying

[img]https://i.imgur.com/JTh303ih.jpg[/img]

The Ship before the weathering and post shading

[img]https://i.imgur.com/ieqMNR7h.jpg[/img]

When the weathering with new materials reacted with the washes underneath it

[img]https://i.imgur.com/h84KHxLh.jpg[/img]

After a thorough cleaning

[img]https://i.imgur.com/ctYHwxBh.jpg[/img]

With one turret so smudged I needed to sand it and still it wouldn't completely come off.

[img]https://i.imgur.com/8gG10M7h.jpg[/img]

End results

[img]https://i.imgur.com/xzYKhCfh.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/2nPq9b3h.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/ODvpVTrh.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/IL6Nf0qh.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/LjW6dpTh.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/z5yjPTOh.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/czHYZQHh.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/Oe8bAU7h.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/fLPiPsch.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/4DImliEh.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/MY8SKP3h.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/KrljHdYh.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/99aDe6hh.jpg[/img]

Stay safe, and till next time.

So At long last I am etching towards something that can be interpreted as a full ship.

Ive done the rough paintwork, installed all parts, the anchorchain and now need to only do the floatplanes’ paintjob. Before the varnish and then the rigging can be done.

Not sure on weathering. I decided on some artistic liberty and went with Mazuru arsenal gray from tamiya. Already have a few kure grey ships and didn’t want another grey mouse.

I ran into issues because i build everything and then go paint.i also forgot a lot of stuff from when i last build on the ship so i have made some errors which I can’t repair, including a few lost pieces and a linoleum deck I painted grey and then covered with other parts.

Ill stop building all stuff first and then paint in one go. Next build ill do a part of the building, say the bridge or turrets, and paint m mount m and then move on to the next. I have a mee airbrush so that cleaning issue is gone anyway that kept me from doing that in the first place.

Here is the pics

[img]https://i.imgur.com/smjf7SV.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/xfRxyo1.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/eXBUBpq.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/SDAz3tC.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/dq5c1yx.jpg[/img]

D'oh! Don't know why I had Tone on the mind...

Timmy has accidentally posted the wrong link. Mikuma's is here: http://www.combinedfleet.com/mikuma_t.htm

Mikuma entered a yard for upkeep many times after her commissioning, so what's relevant is the period over the last few months of her service life. As it happens, she saw yard time at Kure both immediately prior to the start of hostilities, and again in May, 1942. So, Kure Gray it is.

Once someone (Dan K probably) tells you what specific time period the kit depicts her, you can go check out her tabular record of movement on Combined Fleet to see which shipyard she last visited for that time frame, and that's the grey you would use: http://www.combinedfleet.com/tone_t.htm

And here I am with another update. I work on this every month but take it a bit slow to keep it fun. Also, my airbrush broke down last month. I couldn’t do a thing. I got my new I finty from H&S last week. The red and deck have been done with the old clone. The grey will be done with the HS. I was thinking Tamiya Kure grey but found that the Mikuma was build in mitsubishi shipyards. Which color from the Tamiya series would be most appropriate?

Here are the pictures, hull painted and deck painted+masked.

[img]https://i.imgur.com/8LBJck0h.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/rSFo2D8h.jpg[/img]

You bet. The other thing I should mention is that if you're unhappy with an attempt, you can wipe off most of the wash with a piece of paper towel wetted with turpentine, and start again.

Thanks for the explanation of the methodology I’ll keep it in mind. Huge thanks!

[quote]got any paint tips in case I would do it?[/quote]

A wash is incredibly easy to apply. I use Tamiya paints as well.

The deck gets sprayed with your choice of "wood" colored paint. Tamiya Wooden Deck Tan XF-78 is a good choice.

Once dry, seal it with a spray coat of clear acrylic gloss. I use Future, or whatever they call it these days, thinned with about 25% alcohol, and sprayed on.

You'll need to purchase a tin or tube of an oil based wash, preferably burnt umber in color. But, you could experiment with different colors. Some examples: https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=burnt+umber+oil+wash

I take a small piece of paper towel, dip it into some turpentine, then dab it with the burnt umber from the tin/tube. Rub it over the deck, covering all the spaces and try to fill the plank seams. I don't try to put it on too heavily, but it almost doesn't matter.

I use to continue spreading the burnt umber around with the paper towel, before the turpentine dried, in order to thin the paint layer and control it's appearance. Sometimes, that meant taking a new, clean piece of paper towel, also wetted with turpentine, to continue the process. Essentially you are finger painting with the paper towel, though I would use the entire tip of my finger up to the first joint, to spread the wash.

Through experimentation on my cage mast BB decks, I discovered that it was almost better to let the thickly applied burnt umber fully dry, then come back the next day with a clean, turpentine wetted paper towel to take down the wash.

You can experiment on the deck, or on some V groove Evergreen sheet. There will be variations in the application of the wash. It won't be a monotone coat. An IJN flight deck needs a moderate amount of wash, IMHO. Definitely not light.

I hope my explanation is reasonably clear. I really don't understand why more folks don't do this.

I suppose it's also possibly to apply the paint and the gloss coat with a brush, but I think the spray will work much better.

[quote="Dan K"]Good to see progress here. Great catapult.

For Hiryu, I would recommend painting and washing the deck (example below) as being more satisfying then a wood sticker. But, if you insist on the sticker, then the Shipyard set would work for you:

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2334524.m570.l1313&_nkw=1%2F350+Hiryu+350019&_sacat=0&LH_TitleDesc=0&_odkw=1%2F350+Hiryu&_osacat=0&_sop=15[/quote]

Thanks Dan, issue is that the EBAY one would take some time while I'd need it supposedly in July. I use Tamiya + taiya lines plus oils from AK. Ive onl once done a nonwood deck however i didnt like it cause more trule with painwork + it lacks a bit of texture or looks so sterile, got any painttips in case I would do it?

(example of my nonwood)

[url=https://imgur.com/aAcYlIs][img]http://i.imgur.com/aAcYlIsh.jpg[/img][/url]

Good to see progress here. Great catapult.

For Hiryu, I would recommend painting and washing the deck (example below) as being more satisfying then a wood sticker. But, if you insist on the sticker, then the Shipyard set would work for you:

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2334524.m570.l1313&_nkw=1%2F350+Hiryu+350019&_sacat=0&LH_TitleDesc=0&_odkw=1%2F350+Hiryu&_osacat=0&_sop=15

It has been a bit, it is still busy and I have not yet had the time to make pictures of everything but here is another small update. As always ME PE frets have a ton of unused stuff so I have been trying to figure out what has to go where. That process is slowly progressing. At the same time I have decided she will be depicted with the guns trained as if she were on the sea trials, this also means the paintwork is not gonna be too spoiled with weathering and some stairs along the sides will not be mounted. I will also place the lifeboats on te suppots on the deck and not mount them to the davits.

I have made the wo catapults, worked on the planes, worked on the lifeboats, adding bits and pieces of pe, and reworking the one from my last post to remove redundant plastic, I added pe to the hull, added the davits to the hull, pre-bend a few stairs and made a plan for the paintwork. More pictures will follow tomorrow or friday.

[url=https://imgur.com/uDSCtXP][img]http://i.imgur.com/uDSCtXPh.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=https://imgur.com/0bGLPxz][img]http://i.imgur.com/0bGLPxzh.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=https://imgur.com/I5Sc8GS][img]http://i.imgur.com/I5Sc8GSh.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=https://imgur.com/OpDwz7D][img]http://i.imgur.com/OpDwz7Dh.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=https://imgur.com/l5QjMzH][img]http://i.imgur.com/l5QjMzHh.jpg[/img][/url]

im also on the lookout for a next model, I have 2 pontos models, bismarck and nagato, but ain't sure if I am already up to the job of doing that. originally I wanted to build Hiryu, but I can't find a wooden decksticker#sadness. i might as well decide to redo the paintjob on my Hamakaze

IJNfan

great work :thumbs_up_1:

Very nice work.

Excellent, detailed work!

Marco

Very nice! :thumbs_up_1: :thumbs_up_1: :thumbs_up_1:

And good luck with the thesis! ;)

Beautiful. My favorite IJN cruisers both the light and heavy versions. I've always wanted to build the 6" gun version and a pre-war Brooklyn class for display together.

It has been a long long while since I posted any update, university, thesis and all that came in the way. Apologies for the long time I didn't update. Now I am back in a position to do some small stuff with it. So here is a tiny update. In hindsight I should have painted the deck parts separate, thats a lesson noted for next time. Also I found some parts damaged or not the way i'd want to work rn so I took of some parts, hence the glue rests.

I made the Secondary guns, not much pe there but anything counts.

[img]https://i.imgur.com/EK82SyJh.jpg[/img]

I made a first lifeboat

[img]https://i.imgur.com/jpHRssSh.jpg[/img]

I made turrets

[img]https://i.imgur.com/l0KWXeGh.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/CqK5DKzh.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/Nv8FhN3h.jpg[/img]

Hopefully the next update doesnt take me 4 months but 1 week or something.

Thanks and stay safe

IJNfan

edit: I forgot to make the images thumbnails so edited that down.

Following with interest.