Postwar navy.

[Nektarios]

Amazing....

[Gone Asiatic]

Good to see such unique subjects as Philippine Navy in Picture Post - and such outstanding detail!

Seems the smaller patrol vessel is one of the ex-HMS Peacock class ships built for the Royal Navy based in Hong Kong?

[orb]

Many thanks guys, much appreciated!

Gone Asiatic, if you are talking about the last picture then you're absolutely right. It's the BRP Apolinario Mabini, one of the 3 Ex-HMS Peacock class of ships in the PN:

[orb]

Hi guys,

here's a little diorama called "Forty degree up bubble"

I always wanted to try something like this. I'm not very satisfied with the result though. In my head tissue could have the right consistency to depict water going over the hull split seconds after breaking through the surface. Didn't quite turn out the way I had planned but it could have been worse I guess. Of course I should have probably chosen a reference picture a couple of seconds later, when most of the water spray has vanished.

The main problem is the ugly ripples that the tissue layer produced when drying. Also the water spray under the bow should be a lot finer but I couldn't think of anything else other than using cotton wool. So I'd be glad to hear some of your ideas. I'm sure I'd want to try again sometime, but here's the result for today.







Looks a lot better when it's out of focus

[Nektarios]

Hi guys,

here's a little diorama called "Forty degree up bubble"

I always wanted to try something like this. I'm not very satisfied with the result though. In my head tissue could have the right consistency to depict water going over the hull split seconds after breaking through the surface. Didn't quite turn out the way I had planned but it could have been worse I guess. Of course I should have probably chosen a reference picture a couple of seconds later, when most of the water spray has vanished.

The main problem is the ugly ripples that the tissue layer produced when drying. Also the water spray under the bow should be a lot finer but I couldn't think of anything else other than using cotton wool. So I'd be glad to hear some of your ideas. I'm sure I'd want to try again sometime, but here's the result for today.

It doesn't look bad at all Heiko for a first attempt. I am looking forward to seeing the Braunsweig class corvette.

[NukeMM]

Heiko,

I'm glad you said it so that I wouldn't have to. The water effect over the sail isn't very realistic looking.

Your sub looks good, though. The darker, blurry picture with the DDG in the foreground does look pretty cool.

I would think that a technique using first a flat or semi-gloss clear coat and then using a gloss clear coat to create wet and dry areas on the hull would be realistic looking. The final clear coat could also be applied thick and allowed to form drips to make a tecture of clear water running down the hull. FUTURE or Liquitex might also be used for this effect. Keep in mind that I haven't tried this, myself, so you'd be on your own.

I served on submarines in the USN and did several Emergency Blow operations. Instead of "Forty Degree Up Bubble" I might suggest "We're Going Ballistic!!" or "Angles and Dangles" or "Put Us On The Roof!" or "HELP! I Can't Swim!"

Here is my attempt to do a similar thing. I called my diorama "Broach!!!" which is an undesirable operation when operating at periscope depth and the ship partially surfaces during it and possibly giving away the sub's position and making excessive noise from the fairwater planes slapping the surface of the water. This was particularly more important on an SSBN when you're supposed to be hiding from EVERYBODY. The Ship Control Party (Officer of the Deck, Diving Officer, Chief of the Watch, and the Helmsman and Planesman) usually had to be debriefed after such an accident.

I had this idea one night and I stayed up well into the morning getting this one out of my head. I had an old 1/700 DRAGON USS Ben Franklin SSBN kit and I used a piece of Tamiya Ocean Effect Plate and a small Trumpeter Display Case. Within 8 hours..........it was done.

I used a combination of Liquitex Gel (it can be built up in layers with a hobby syringe), white paint and clothes dryer lint. The lint seems to be better than cotton balls, to me. Its a Jim Baumann trick. However, it is really hard to get "white" lint out of the dryer. It always seems to want to be gray even if the only thing you're washing and drying is all white. I still had to pick out various colored threads from the lint under a magnifying lamp.

If I were you, I'd probably use your diorama as an experiment and keep trying the water effects on it and then make another one after mastering the technique / look. I'm wondering if you could trim back the tissue on the sail, paint it a brighter white (it looks like an off-white to me in the pics) laying the paint on thick to hide the ripples in the tissue a little, and then apply the lint to it (using white glue) spraying off the top and sides of the sail and the hull. I think that being able to see part of the sail through the spray would look realistic. I realize that you were going by a specific photo for your reference.

Good luck with any re-try. And keep us posted!






Another application of the same technique.

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Thanks Nektarios and Carl!

Yep, I do realize that it's very far from being a convincing model in terms of water effects, but that's ok. I knew it would be difficult - at least for me. I think the hardest thing to do when it comes to putting a model of a ship or sub to water is the water itself - as it is the one thing which captures (should capture!) the dynamic of the situation. At first I didn't even want to post any pictures but then I thought that criticism can never hurt and as I would like to improve my techniques in the future, this is the place to be

Yes, the water effect around the sail is looking worse and worse everytime I look at it. In the picture I used for reference you could partially see the sail through the 'wall' of waterspray and I was trying to come up with a way to get that effect. Obviously not very successful, but at least now I know how to not do it. Also, the direction of the waterspray is just wrong. There are millions of semi-bubbles going over the hull in those seconds and to actually depict that in a model...didn't work for me.

I had actually thought of you Carl, since I remember you saying that you served on a sub (and I remember seeing your painted walls in a picture in another thread). So thanks for all the advice! I will definitely be trying out your method the next time around I try something like this. "We're going ballistic!" - I like that! Must have been pretty awesome taking part in an Emergency Blow.

Thanks again!

[Sr. Gopher]

Whoa guys, those are some awesome dioramas there!

[Nektarios]

I just finished the DML LCS-2 kit. The kit is very simple with not really many parts to assemble.
What is impressive is the shape of the ship and its beam compared with other modern USN kits. It appears that this very lightly armed ship was meant to fight with the helicopters/UAVs it carries. It is apparent is that there is not as much space as in LCS-1 design for upgrades. I tried to replace the Mk-57 with a Mk-45 gun but it looked that it really wouldn t fit there. The helicopter landing area is huge and it is possible to land two SH-60 size helicopters simultaneously or an H-53.
Anyway it is a welcome addition to my USN fleet collection.






[

[orb]

Hi Nektarios,

very nice! And definitely a must-built model for anyone who's interested in stealth ships (like me). Although I have to say... that must be one of the most hideous designs ever, in contrast to its "sister" the Freedom Class, which is very sleek. And I'm still not convinced that having a dual design for the LCS class was a good idea.

[kidcurrie42]

Great work as usual Nektarios, i am tempted to do one in a Swedish splinter camouflage.

Heiko, i think the original plan was for both Indy and Freedom to compete for the contract for the LCS fleet

Happy Modeling

John

[NukeMM]

Great job, Nektarios!

You beat me to it, on this one. I just started my Independence two days ago. I agree that there aren't many parts assemble. There seems to be more decals than parts.

I'm glad to see that you've found some time in your busy schedule, as of late, to get some modeling in. What's next?

With my model, I've tried to replicate the "tiled" effect on the hull and I used the full hull option and sanded it down not quite as far as the waterline option piece. I'm not entirely satisfied with the finish job and I'll have to hide some flaws with the hull sanding with the water effect.

[orb]

Carl, looks great! How did you do that? with some kind of grid and just sprayed different shades? You didn't spray each square individually, did you?

John, yes, that's what I read about. However, why did they decide to use both designs instead of settling for one?

[Sauragnmon]

I would imagine they have both designs in service as a long-term test basis. They haven't built more that I know of, so both of them might be in an operational test.

[Cliffy B]

Both were built as technology demonstraters with all sorts of brand new systems and equipment on each. The trimaran hull seemed like a good idea on paper but in service she has proved a rather unstable ship in even the lightest of sea states. There are plans to build an LCS-3 to a modified LCS-1 design. If you want to know specifics talk to NavyDave, he's the resident expert.

[NukeMM]

Carl, looks great! How did you do that? with some kind of grid and just sprayed different shades? You didn't spray each square individually, did you?

John, yes, that's what I read about. However, why did they decide to use both designs instead of settling for one?

Heiko,

I used some home-made stencils to paint the tile effect. I cut out patterns from PE brass mesh. I used two colors, first Flat Gull Gray as the over all color and then Neutral Gray in varying numbers of passes with the airbrush. So, there may be about 4 different shades of gray, there.

Some tile separation was lost in some passes with the airbrush.

[Nektarios]

Great job, Nektarios!
I'm glad to see that you've found some time in your busy schedule, as of late, to get some modeling in. What's next?

Thank you Carl for your kind comment. I have to finish some aircraft before i make more ships.
I will build several CH-53s from the pitroad S-30 kit and MH-53s from the S-25 kit from the same company plus several other helicopters. I will also add decals to four carrier airwings (the aircraft are already built) I hope to finish these projects by the end of this year.

I just started my Independence two days ago.With my model, I've tried to replicate the "tiled" effect on the hull and I used the full hull option and sanded it down not quite as far as the waterline option piece. I'm not entirely satisfied with the finish job and I'll have to hide some flaws with the hull sanding with the water effect.

It looks very good Carl i wish i had seen your technique before. I would have tried something similar

[Nektarios]

Hi Nektarios,
very nice! And definitely a must-built model for anyone who's interested in stealth ships (like me). Although I have to say... that must be one of the most hideous designs ever, in contrast to its "sister" the Freedom Class, which is very sleek. And I'm still not convinced that having a dual design for the LCS class was a good idea.

Heiko, i watched on your site the progress on Braunschweig.Amazing

[orb]

Interesting facts and thoughts about the LCS ships, thanks guys!

I used some home-made stencils to paint the tile effect. I cut out patterns from PE brass mesh. I used two colors, first Flat Gull Gray as the over all color and then Neutral Gray in varying numbers of passes with the airbrush. So, there may be about 4 different shades of gray, there.
Some tile separation was lost in some passes with the airbrush.

Thanks Carl, and very interesting. The more I look at the pictures the more I like the look.

Heiko, i watched on your site the progress on Braunschweig.Amazing

Thanks Nektarios, and she's nearing completion. I'm adding the final details today and will post a few pictures when she's done.

[orb]

Here are a few pictures of the finished ship. I also tried experimenting with the water a little.

The The Braunschweig or K 130 Class are the newest class of Corvettes for the German Navy. With a total of 10 ships planned, they will take over the responsibilities and tasks of the aging Gepard Class ships.