Topic: HMS Solebay build

[radio joe]

I've been wondering how to do the walkways as two of them link structures that are removeable separately, my solution was to glue the aft walkway to the aft gun deck and form a slot on the aft of the centre gun deck, as the aft gun deck is held down with elastic band, you can lift it and slid it aft to disengage the walkway and then turn it 90 degrees, this allows the centre structure to be lifted and slid backwards and off the boat, The middle walkway is glued between two fixed structures so no problem, the forward walkway is glued to the forward gun deck, and a bracket glued to the funnel, so it slides off the galley roof as the centre structure is removed.

[radio joe]

Painted most of the deck area and installed the anchors , there wasn't enough chain with the kit and as I was considering an email to Deans when the wife came up with a length of old chain she had in her jewellery box it was very near to scale and it only cost me a cup of tea and yes it is real gold, the value of the boat just went up, lol. Next I'll be priming the superstructures but first I have decided to glue some microstrip around the forward bridgedeck similar to the gunwalls I think this will give a good line to finish the green deck, I ordered some more microstrip from Deans Friday morning and knowing Deans it will be here Monday.

[colin]

the way you solved your walk ways, is very similar to the way, it is described in the .... HMS Inflexible instructions as can be seen in my build bottom right corner photo, lip sticks out, and the walk way slots onto that....

as for the rest of your build, She is looking very nice   

i always have a spare stock of Microflat and Microstrips i tend to use a lot of the stuff   

[radio joe]

I also got another stanchion/rail etching from Deans as I wanted to make sure I had enough to fit rails both sides of the walkways, the plan only shows it one side, and although they didn't have the the health and safety rules we have today back in 1945 I cant imagine they would not have had rails both sides, just a small detail but it pleases me. Now in the process of priming/painting all superstructures.

[mikearace]

Looking better all the time Joe.  You are right about the stanchions.  Often the stanchion rail was only on the outboard side and nothing on the inboard. 

[karlgalster]

Looking really impressive. By the way I don't suppose you have any more gold you would like to exchange for a cup of tea?
Robin

[radio joe]

Hi Robin,  I'll ask the wife if she has any more hidden away lol.

[paul swainson]

Hi Joe,

She is lookin very smart indeed, I have been reading the Battle class Destroyers by Patrick Boniface and none of the ships built seem to have the stanchions on both sides of the walk way.  The walk way looks OK with both side, but I will do jut the one side as I am sure some Navy bod will point it out when he views the model.  But very impressed with the quality of build.  Have my own Dremel but made by JBC and she its very nice tool to have.

Paul.

[radio joe]

Hi Paul, yes I'm sure you are right about the stanchion rails, that's the trouble with working in Portsmouth dock yard the last few years before retirement, you had health and safety rules morning noon and night, I guess I got carried away on the model LOL.
most of the painting of the superstructure is complete, now to start the super detailing, been looking forward to this bit I think it's what brings the ship to "life".
done another float test with 420g of extra ballast on board as I want to eventually fit a smoke generator and a whooper module and this would probably require another battery, I don't think I can go much over the 420g or just under 1lb.as she is right on her water line,
the whooper wouldn't be a problem on it's own as I could use a 9 volt small battery for that but the smoke gen is a different story, I'll have to look onto it a bit further.

[radio joe]

I've assembled all her staag's and bofors and dc racks, also most of her other fittings. It wasn't that obvious how the bofors were meant to be built and there was some very small pieces broken off the bases, but I know what a bofors gun looks like so I just did what thought looked right,and I added a few bits of scrap to the twin staag's to make them, not necessarily authentic, but a bit more interesting, every thing is on double sided tape and ready for spraying and have just started making the torpedo stations.

[mikearace]

For 1/96th scale they look as close as you can expect I think Joe.  The main bit extra was was radar direction mount which you have in place.
The STAAGs were slightly different to the earlier Battle's Hazemeyer which had the radar director resembling a tv type aerial.

http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_4cm-56_mk12_pics.htm

[radio joe]

Thanks for the link Mike , as you said close enough for 1:96

[radio joe]

All her armaments are now on board, and the davits, hoists etc. and D C s aft deck, can not believe how quick she is advancing now, just her main stanchions and ships boats to do really, so I guess sea trials are not that far off, though I will wait for a perfect day with no wind and the lake like a mill pond, that could be quite a while, but to be fair I was down there with the dog last week and it was close to those conditions.

[Tommydean]

wow nice build...ten and twelve hour days at work are keeping me out of the basement

[karlgalster]

Nice neat build - very quick too. Have you thought about some 1/96 crew members from Deans Marine? Certainly adds that final touch.
Robin