Airfix 1/600 SS France

[ChrisSC]

Thanks gnomemeansgnome. I have always had a love for the early to mid-twentieth century liners, especially the British liners. I have to throw the Normandie in there too though. Unfortunately, they do not seem to be very popular with the companies that produce plastic models.

[Clashcityrocker]

Six months well spent. Beautifully built and painted. Lovely collection.

Nigel

[ShaunW]

You've certainly got some talent, Chris. It looks like you've been building these models for years rather than months!

[ChrisSC]

Thanks. I think it's more persistence than talent!

[ChrisSC]

I've been dealing with my Mom's health issues so I haven't had time to work on my 1/600 France. Today I took a little break and did some painting. Not so sure about the color I chose but the ship had green decks. This color is a gray that has a green tint. I really don't want to paint it a dark green so this is what's going to be on there.

[ChrisSC]

Just laying the decks on there the color will be good enough for me.

[JohnRatzenberger]

But where will you paint the shuffleboards & things ?

[ChrisSC]

But where will you paint the shuffleboards & things ?

I guess I will figure that part out when I get there. So far of the four ships I have built this one is the first I have struggled with choice of color. I have seen completed France models and most have very dark or bright green decks. I just can't bring myself to paint it that color as I dislike it immensely on a ship. I'm not in love with the color I chose either but at least it's somewhat closer to what's correct than a wood tone. I think it would look better all grey but I don't feel like masking it again. I believe the SS United States had similar color decks which I also was not a fan of. I'm hoping that with the addition of window decals and lifeboats the overall look will improve on this model.

[ShaunW]

More superb work. I've had a quick look at photos of the vessel on Google Images, Chris and although I am handicapped to a certain degree with colour vision your choice of deck colour looks near enough the same shade to me. My colour blindness is probably not reassuring you though and if your vision is OK it might be worth a further look

[ChrisSC]

More superb work. I've had a quick look at photos of the vessel on Google Images, Chris and although I am handicapped to a certain degree with colour vision your choice of deck colour looks near enough the same shade to me. My colour blindness is probably not reassuring you though and if your vision is OK it might be worth a further look

Thanks ShaunW. I'm really not trying to get it exactly as it was in life, I would rather have it look what I think is attractive. I don't like green so I figured if I at least wanted to make an attempt at having it sort of in the range of what the ship had as color I would pick the least offensive green I could get lol. I am definitely not a rivet counter so I quite often veer off course as to what is correct.

[ChrisSC]

I masked and painted the bridge windows and attached the forecastle. Lots of tiny pieces of tape!!

[gnomemeansgnome]

This one will a stunner. I can see a bit of Normandie in this one.

[JohnRatzenberger]

From your 2nd picture, just above, the green shows up well.

[ShaunW]

Classy. That really looks stunning, Chris.

[PaulBradley]

Just catching up with this thread and your work is terrific, Chris!

A alternate suggestion for future models and windows. If you have access to a laserjet printer, you might try printing your own windows, having first filled in the kit's window recesses. Bit like an airliner model.

Alternatively, use small squares of black decal, cut to size - you can buy decal sheets of black stripes and you can cut them to width. It's something I've done in the past for bridge windows on warship models.