OK I realize it's been months since the last installment on this build, so I will now begin a policy of giving excuse- I mean,
updates
- on what has been occupying my time, in-between:
Click on Image to EnlargeIn a word:
Matt Stein Models (ok so that's three words*
). Not least, work on the protoype "Knuckle-Nose" Hurricane bow for the Revell 540-scale Hornet-II - on which (as its picture implies) the Light at the End of the Tunnel is now in sight. (Don't worry: there will be a detailed update/announcement on this upgrade set - already far more extensive than what you see above - as soon as it's ready.)
Meantime, for
my own modelling, I finally managed to resume - and complete some extensive work - on the Gambier Bay refit:
Click on Image to EnlargeAt left, where we last left off, simultaneous with splitting the keel to expand the beam, I also took the opportunity to re-flatten the flight deck back out, anchoring it firmly this time via girders at its aft end (top), and several blocks under its mid-section (bottom). All of which were additionally reinforced with CA-putty, as shown at center. Note in these pics the entire fringe of the flight deck is secured down (on a perfectly flat board) with (non-stretch) aluminum tape - resulting in elimination of basically all bowing from the re-secured flight deck.
This presented an ideal opportunity also to fill- and extensively shape/refinish the resized keel and hull - particularly including almost the entire fantail - as seen at right. Again, CA putty (light gray) was used extensively and to excellent effect:
Such a beautiful result for the hull of course then put heavy pressure on the remaining features to come up to par:
Click on Image to EnlargeAt this point I realized (which I'm sure was inevitable) that the refitted build would
have to be mounted on a proper brass pedestal, and at top a brass nut to receive one was countersunk into the new keel, flush with its surface. I also felt now compelled to plate-over using plasticard (white), all gaps between the new blocks under the flight-deck. And of course to install the new prop-shafts and rudder. The former a compromise between several discrepant reference drawings: some showing the shafts completely sheathed within heavy skegs, others showing the skegs as lighter-weight plating, more like webbing between shaft tubes and hull, and yet others depicting
struts - and ultimately I settled on (having fun with) combining elements of all three. Likewise, the rudder is a compromise required by the fantail, whose (still insufficient) upsweep prohibits a rudder height more than about 2/3 actual - and rather than refit the rudder so squat, I opted simply to downsize it overall.
Notwithstanding any of the above compromises, this refit is well on track - indeed, is already starting - to look miles ahead of the old build from which it started out. Next: beginning on a mass of detailing, which should provide graphic confirmation of (more than) this expectation...
Cheers,
- Matty
