First Blood -- the USS Ward attacks an IJN midget-sub *DONE*

[JohnRatzenberger]

Great work John, have you made any more progress?

Moving along nicely, in final stages. Progress pix later today ...

[Dirkpitt289]

Very cool, I look forward to it.

[JohnRatzenberger]

As promised ....

Ward has gotten a coat of paint, hiding previous flaws. However, I've added new items -- the railings along the deck are in, life rafts have been added, the boats (not shown) are painted, and I have made new 4in/50's (which are a bit too big) to replace the kit ones (which were way too small). Once I tack the boats on and give it another coat of paint, it is basically done.

Well, except a few things. Forgot I need to decal it. I also have a small 700 scale crew in the clothing shop to finish and put them around the #1 and #3 guns at a minimum. And I want to take a stab at some rigging and antenna wires. It will be representational at best.



I'll never be an artist, some claim never a modeler either, so here's about the best I can do on converting the Squadron book cover into a diorama background. I decided not to use the kit submarine, but may change my mind and just use the conning tower. I may also take a shot at a 3-D wake.

So, no foreseeable issues making 6 Dec cut-off -- Ward will be on patrol, doing her duty ....

When I started this, I really wanted to use the 1/400 Mirage Hobby kit, but could not find one anywhere. In the last two weeks I found several and am now amassing a small flotilla of 4-stackers for various purposes. I can do Ward as built in 1919, at PH, and then as an APD. I can do Roper for an Atlantic escort vessel, and I can do a lend-lease or two ... all this to go with my Campbeltown I've already done. (Sure, at my build rate? )

[Dirkpitt289]

Very very impressive.Not that the model isn't top notch cause it is but the background makes it pop and come to life. BRAVO!!!!

[JohnRatzenberger]

I have done everything but put on rigging and antennas. I have some line hanging to take to curl out of it and will maybe start tomorrow (Sunday), if not then Monday. What you see different here is touched up paint, hull number, and a couple small gaggles around the #1 and #3 guns and the depth charges. I cut the conning tower off the kit mini-sub, then trimmed it down further just to have a 3-D target ....









Anyway, I'm calling it finished at this point, just in case I really screw up the rigging.

[splash]

That looks fantastic, well done with the build and the display, it’s hard to believe that is such a small scale kit.

Your work is inspirational I might even attempt a small scale boat, now you have shown us how to do it.

Thanks for sharing.

Regards
Splash

[Dirkpitt289]

First rate job John, and if my bleary morning eyes don't deceive me there is even a crew on the decks manning the guns. WOW!

[jssel]

Excellent, John. Dang if that don't look tasty.

[Jagewa]

John, you are an artist, I really like that, the colours in the sky, lovely and atmospheric. Bravo Sir.

Cheers
Jim

[Karaya]

I agree. The model on its own is outstanding but the custom background really makes it come to life. Very atmospheric.

[JohnRatzenberger]

I got almost no time in the last two days for rigging, except to get the flag run up ...

Here's a few and I've posted a couple others in the gallery ...








I enjoyed this GB, although I had hoped to do an airplane also. I had already gained some fascination for the old USN flush-deck destroyers, and collected some information on them. The research I put into this prompted me to do some more, and as I noted earlier, I finally found the Mirage Hobby 1/400 USS Ward kit, so I now have that and several other flush-deckers in their line to work on.

And I took another (small) step in working on backgrounds, so that's something new in my tool box ...

[JamesPerrin]

Love the little dio John, didn't think I'd see you tackle another so soon. What do we call this, a book cover art build?

[JohnRatzenberger]

"book art" seems close enough ....