The Ship Model Forum

Well guys, looks like my Montana is on hold yet again. I ordered the big 12x24 Evergreen V-Groove sheets for the decks on 12/10, but my hobby shop is having trouble getting it in.

I had planned on having all the 'rough' work done on the hull, main deck and 01 deck level over the Christmas Break, but unless the v-groove comes in in the next few days, I'm stuck. There's no point in starting on cutting down the hulls if I don't have a deck to attach, and due to the length of this monster, I really need the big sheets so I don't have multiple seams in my deck(s).

Oh well. Since I'm not counting on the v-groove getting here in time, I eBayed a new model project last night, and if PayPal clears fast enough, I can start this one during the break. So, I switch from Montana to this:
Pretty major switch, huh? But, when you come right down to it, Montana will actually be the easier project! That crane, as shown in the pic, is 43 1/3" high, has over 650 parts and is in 1/87 (HO) scale! And, when was the last time you used over 80 FEET of mono-filiment line for your rigging? It's also fully functional, BTW.

I'll continue to work on my final design plans for Montana. The profile view is nearly done. I just need to update my main top view. draw up the top views for the new 01 and 02 deck levels and then do the front view. Once those are drawn, another couple of days to do the colorized versions, and I'm done. So, you should see my plans posted here sometime in January/February.

That's about it for now. 3 1/2 work days left 'till Christmas Break!!! The 11 straight days off from work is the big thing. Christmas itself is just a nice bonus!

Bill

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The kids never ask me, "Are we there yet?"

Bill, after looking at the pic of that crane, all I can truly say is Good Luck! You're going to need it. 80 feet of line for rigging??????!!!!!!!! I can't even begin to think of another modeler on this site that would want to tackle something like that.

But getting back to the Montana, I'll be doing a second priming today. Then putting the finishing touches on any puttying and sanding this week, and then next week I'll be laying down the new decking. I hope to have new pics around Jan. 1st.

Hey Eric,

Sounds like your Montana is just about ready for building rather than prep-work. Being totally honest with you, after seeing the early pics of that hull, I sure as H wouldn't have stuck with it like you have! I'd have sold the thing, and built my own hull. But, it must feel good to finally be at this point! I'm looking forward to seeing the progress pics, but I'm also a bit bummed out that you'll be working on yours while I'm still waiting for my decking to come in.

As for the crane, the rigging looks more difficult to do than it actually is. Compared to doing a BB, the crane is a breeze! Tedious and time-consuming, but fairly easy. It's mostly just a matter of threading the right line thru the right pulleys and avoiding tangles while doing it. And, since I can easily rig my left & right winch drums to turn independantly of each other, I don't have to put all that much effort into making the L&R cables even while rigging them. I can even them out when I'm done. AND, unlike those all too delicate masts & spars on a BB, this thing is built to take a couple of pounds of pressure on the rigging. The hard part is keeping the main boom, flyjib and 3 A-brackets supported and in place while doing the rigging. And even tho it's HO scale (same as Matchbox & Hotwheels cars) with the boom & flyjib layed out, she's over 4 feet long!



But, you know the GREAT thing about building cranes? It's a box-stock project. No resin. No PE. No making or modifying your own parts. Just a nice, easy, glue-part-A-to-part-B project that looks incredible when done!

Of course, having cathederal ceilings in my house helps when putting a 43" high crane on display.

Well, keep me posted on your Montana!

Bill

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The kids never ask me, "Are we there yet?"

My final post.

Well, this'll be my final post for this year in this thread. I won't have anything new to share, discuss, and show until after the 1st of January sometime. I've got all the Evergreen V-Groove (.050 spacing, .020 thick) that I need (3 sheets) and I'll be laying down new decking in the next several days as well as building up some other stuff. So until then, Merry Christmas to GB and everyone else, and also a Happy New Year! See everyone next year.

To all my fellow Montana Crew:



Bill

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The kids never ask me, "Are we there yet?"

lol! And Merry Christmas to all also!

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De quoi s'agit-il?

Originally, I wasn't going to post anything here until after the first of the new year when I had made more progress and had more photos to share, but unfortuneately, things changed. I figured I'd better mention this now than later: I won't have any new photos to share of the progress on the Montana due to computer problems as well as maybe some problems with the photo software I have in order to download pics from my digital camera. Sorry, folks. I won't have my comp checked and fixed until maybe the middle of January. I'll still be able to post and browse the Net though.

But on the good side, the new decking I've been adding will be 100% complete by the end of tonight. During the next few days, I'll be adding more details to the deck such as anchor stuff, vents, etc. and I also need to fix some second and third level bulkheads and superstructure walls.

So far, progress is going good. Slow, but good.

PHOTOS! After two years of research and "talking" about the Montana, I've actually made quite a bit of progress in the last two weeks. So here's some links below to check out. My apologies if any seams are showing or anything else which looks out-of-place in the pics. I've still got a lot of work to do yet and it's going to take a long time, plus I'm half blind.





The two links below show what I want to do for the bow section. I have two drawings at home which show the bow of the Montana having only a 20m gallery of 6 guns. But there's also two other drawings I have at home which show configurations similiar to the IOWA class with two 40mm emplacements and two 20mm emplacements. I want to include the 40mm on the bow of the ship, but I'm not sure if I'll have enough room to have a six gun, or four gun, 20mm gallery; and yet still have space for all the anchor fixtures and other stuff. The parts are only laying on the deck for reference purposes. Which do you think would look better?
(Links no longer available. Sorry.)

Eric,

She's looking real good! I'm impressed! I'll bet for awhile there you thought you'd never see her looking so good.

You're definitely gonna be finished way before I am. Heck, you'll probably be finished before I get to the point that you're at right now!

As for mine, well, I'm hoping to start cutting down the hulls this weekend, but I have to finish the new workdeck first. Also, while I haven't yet decided on method, I have decided that I'm going to give mine a real wood deck, either planks or sheet. That'll take me awhile...

Bill

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The kids never ask me, "Are we there yet?"

Ahhh the taking shape of a monstrosity...it's beautiful!

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De quoi s'agit-il?

Thanks for the compliments, guys. Although, does anyone have any suggestions, comments, tips, regarding what I mentioned below the pics for the bow area and the armament choices I want to add? Any advice is appreciated. I'll probably have new pics again in mid or late January.

Can you take a pic of the 20mm in the slots? that'll help in deciding whether the arcs would be good.

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De quoi s'agit-il?

Eric, looking good thus far.

Looking at your pics and ideas for the forward AA batteries I came up with this as a compromise perhaps:



Although, not knowing the dimensions of your bow/ship, it might not work, but it's an idea.

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-Abram
ModelWarships Gallery Page
Joslin Models Facebook Page

Hi Eric,

As for the AA placement in front of A turret, I think that Abram's drawing would work very well with a slight modification. That mod being that you'd need a 3-4' break in the center of the steel wall around the 20mm so the bow AA crews could get to their mounts during GQ without having to climb or jump over the wall.

With that slight mod, I think it's a very good placement.

Bill

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The kids never ask me, "Are we there yet?"

Ok, taking Timmy's advice, I decided to snap a few more pics. The first link shows how much wider the bow of the resin hull is compared to the bow section from the TAMIYA Iowa kit.


These next pics show different layouts that I could use for the AA fit on the bow. Like I said before, I want to use the six gun 20mm layout that the Montana originally has, but when I start adding all the anchor bits, vents, and other stuff, I'm not sure I'll have much room and the bow area might become too crowded. The configuration that Abram posted might be possible. I'll have to do some thinking on that.
(Links no longer available. Sorry.)

I my self would drop the 2 loose 20 mm, that poor guy in front of that 40 mm would have to change his pants quite often, the 5 across looks right. ARH

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Simple but effective.

I think the twos would be better, as once the gun shields are on, there'd be very little room.

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De quoi s'agit-il?

ARH: If I go with the config that Abram posted, it wouldn't be much different than say, What the North Carolina had when she had some 20mm that were very close to her 40mm mounts. See this link here and look at some of the overhead pics around the bridge area and at the bow. Notice how some of the 20mm are really close to the 40mm or to other 20mm?
http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html

I think I may go with Abrams configuration, but I'll have to talk it over with my friend and see what he wants first.

She's looking very good! The v-groove deck is a huge improvement.

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I'm currently working on the anchor area and adding all the different bits and pieces. When it comes time to get 1/350 scale anchor chain, I was thinking of using some cheap, but decent, costume jewelery from the Jewelery Dept. at the department store that I work at. Does anyone have a good idea on what size I'll need? Links per inch? Etc. It's easier for me to do it this way than to mail order something.