Digital Navy - USS Arizona - 1/100

Thanks guys...

@Hank45... I use super glue (cyanoacrylate) that is pictured in #1 above. It's Elmer's brand in the white tube. Apply one small drop to your connection point then place the member with tweezers. Workability is brief, about 3 seconds before it sets up. I then use paper craft glue (gel) to set my rails on the deck.

@Barry... Yes, it's a big improvement on etched rails since you can locate posts where you need them to form corners. I wouldn't want to tackle this much below 1/250 scale though. Too small beyond that.
 

OhioMike

Member
Are you useing the premade-rails made from styrene then just modifying to fit or stock styrene rod? My LHS carries them in 1/87 and 1/192 for the railroad guys and i have used both. Along with stairs in both scales. Right now i'm useing etched rail bought from Bluejacket Shipcrafters online for a 1/96 scale FFG. Your right, you are kinda limited on where you can put down a stantion with etched rail though!
 
OhioMike,

No, these are rails made completely from scratch. Stick-built from .02" styrene round strip. The pre-made 1/96 rails are far to expensive to out fit a model of this size. Considering that DN makes their rails on the upper platforms in print, you get wonderful templates to use.

When I get down to railing on the main decks, I can lay them out however I choose. I know the idea of stick building rails can be intimidating (i've been there) but at this scale, it's not bad at all. See some of the work that Barry does with his soldered rails.
 
More decks, forward mast and rails upon rails

I've been down for a while. Needed to get some updated shots on here. I've been in Barry's hell (building handrails) :mrgreen: for the last week. As I add an additional level to the superstructure, I add rails ladders and details as I go. So it's creeping up the superstructure.

I've added the main trunk of the forward mast. This wasn't too clever. I rolled the printed mast around a 3/8" diameter styrene tube former. I cheated. :twisted: I've also added the two trunks for the main battery gun directors. These were done similary and shown in the last shot. They poke up through the second elevated deck and the catwalks on what is my top level right now. Paper parts rolled to 3/8" styrene tube as well.

You'll notice my top level has some three bar handrails now. Everything above second deck will get three bar rails. Not sure how this compares to the actual Arizona. The shots I've seen of the 1/96 model at Pearl don't get close enough to show the rail details on the upper platforms.

arizona79lw4.jpg


arizona81do1.jpg


arizona83kd7.jpg
 

Mauiman

Member
That looks great man. You are very good at the art.
I have a good feeling that this model will be a great display model for you kids and grandchildren and your great grandchildren and the many others that will come after them to look at and to enjoy.
 

CJTK1701

Banned
Wow! I don't know what to say. That ship si an awesome piece of work. I'm sure you can't wait to see it done, but I love looking in on this from time to time. Great job.:thumb:
 
J

jagolden

The handrail work (as well as all the other) is superb!
I like the 3-rail.

Have been anxious for more pictures and these don't disapoint-they're great.

Every detail added just has me in awe, and the scale is so big you really see how big a ship like this is and how complicated they are both real-life and model).
 

Teamski

Member
Wow!! You need to post those pics on the German Card model forum to show them that some people on this side of the Atlantic can detail with the best of them! Amazing job there......

-Ski
 
Thanks for the kind comments everyone!

Looks fantastic those rails beat the hell out of mine.
Barry... Thank you very much, that means a lot coming from you. I don't know about beating the hell out of yours though. I learned a lot about how to layout and build rails from watching you.

I have a good feeling that this model will be a great display model for you kids and grandchildren
Mauiman...This is exactly what I have had in mind with this build. I will enjoy it the rest of my life, and I will leave it to my son and he can leave it to my grandchildren... Long after I'm gone.

Wow!! You need to post those pics on the German Card model forum to show them that some people on this side of the Atlantic can detail with the best of them!
Thanks Ski! That's a big complement. Those guys really know what they're doing over there. I've gotten a lot of inspiration from guys in that forum. Guys like gustibastler, Millpet, Michael Urban, FRITZKARTON and others are masters of not only the craft, but the upscale aspects as well.
 
Weekly Update

Not much to show. One more level of superstructure, along with splinter shields, rails, and even the forward gun director with platform and rails.

Getting ready to start the secondary gun directors and the forward mast platforms. I'm getting into a rhythm now, and the funnel isn't to far away now.

arizona78hg4.jpg


arizona79co6.jpg


arizona80lc5.jpg


arizona81il8.jpg
 

jaffro

Long term member
So neat and clean!! If that was my build it would be covered in stains and glue spills by now. Looking great, keep it up. :thumb:
 
J

jagolden

What can I say? With every step it looks more and more like the real ship.:thumb:

Exactly! It's like watching a ship built from keel, up to the tip top.
Super clean and perfect edges. As someone else has said, museum quality.

I think I could spend hours at a time just exploring the finished model with my eyes - imagining stepping through an opening and making my way through the passageways and decks.

Just superb!
 
Thanks everyone. You're way too kind...

jaffro... Yeah, well, there is a spot or two on the ARIZONA. I've just been clever in hiding them. It's hard not to spill a spot here or there. I've already gone through one entire tube of glue on this one. :)

jagolden... Right on. Something I never imagined at this scale, was how detailed the ladder, ports, hatches and passage ways are. You can visually go through this ship at this scale. It's amazing.

Hank45... I use two sizes of scissors. One, a standard desk/daily use size. The second is a much smaller size for cutting small detail parts and sharp radius. I also use a hobby knife for cutouts and hard to get at corners. On the thick 2mm card, I use utility shears like used for cutting vinyl flooring. I also use my dremel for boring holes and some grinding sanding and cutting on the 2mm stuff.
 
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