Scratch-built 1/350 HMS Prince of Wales (R09) - Build Notes

[davecov]

I have completed most of the fiddly work now. The hull needs a lot more sanding though and last night I worked on the fixings for the base. It gave me the opportunity for a photo-op to show the build up to now. The ski jump, islands and forward walkways have not been glued in place yet:
Pic 227:
[ATTACH]366088[/ATTACH]

It is only when it is on the kitchen worktop that you get a good idea of the size of this thing:
Pic 228:
[ATTACH]366089[/ATTACH]

The Forward Lift area still needs some detailing but that can't be done until after painting:
Pic 229:
[ATTACH]366090[/ATTACH]

Although my previous post shown an almost fully-assembled ship, I have deconstructed it again to allow final sanding and filling of the hull:
Pic 230:
[ATTACH]366091[/ATTACH]

The landing stage at the stern was added and the underside has been sanded to the profile of the hull and is ready for filling:
Pic 231:
[ATTACH]366092[/ATTACH]

I spent a lot of time filling and sanding small blemishes and whilst doing so I noticed that the keel extended back a little too far. I had to hack 5mm from the end and it was then filled and sanded. One thing I did miss and fail to correct was the fact that the trailing edge of the keel should taper inwards to a point:
Pic 232:
[ATTACH]366093[/ATTACH]

The bow is looking better but there are a few niggly "kinks" in the hull that need levelling:
Pic 233:
[ATTACH]366094[/ATTACH]

Filler around the stern:
Pic 234:
[ATTACH]366095[/ATTACH]

Leaving the stern to dry, I made some locating pins for the islands. This was necessary so that the model could be transported with the islands removed and relocated easily. Since taking this photo, I have chamfered the top of the plastic rod. I may glue .5mm magnets to the Flight Deck and islands for extra security:
Pic 235:
[ATTACH]366096[/ATTACH]

The Ski Jump has been glued in place:
Pic 236:
[ATTACH]366097[/ATTACH]

The aft section of the Ski Jump is a very shallow slope and was made up from thin plastic card which was filled and is ready for the final sanding:
Pic 237:
[ATTACH]366098[/ATTACH]

Last step was to carry a final check of the hull, fill any remaining blemishes and sand ready for priming.The final step was to glue the forward walkways in place and get the airbrush out. The starboard side of the bow section after spraying with primer/filler. The coverage is pretty good:
Pic 238:
[ATTACH]366099[/ATTACH]

Starboard side midships section. The aft lift and the dock for the starboard RIB proved to be bit of a pain to get covered properly:
Pic 239:
[ATTACH]366100[/ATTACH]

The aft section:
Pic 240:
[ATTACH]366101[/ATTACH]

Stern section. A fair bit of attention with the filler will be required where the transom meets the hull:
Pic 241:
[ATTACH]366102[/ATTACH]

Port side midships section. Once again, the boat docks were difficult to cover with the airbrush so I may use a hairy stick for the first of the light grey coats:
Pic 242:
[ATTACH]366103[/ATTACH]

Starboard side bow. A little filler is required around the bulbous bow but apart from that it looks pretty good:
Pic 243:
[ATTACH]366104[/ATTACH]

Time to prime the Flight Deck and it took a lot of spraying:
Pic 244:
[ATTACH]366105[/ATTACH]

The aft section of the Flight Deck. The walkways were another area that was difficult to cover:
Pic 245:
[ATTACH]366106[/ATTACH]

BTW, by now the side effects of my severe concussion had eased and I was able to model using both eyes again. I could also walk without problems and was able to drive. Things were almost back to normal again but I still had a tight deadline to meet!

That's all for now.

Dave

[davecov]

Starting to look like a ship now...
Pic 246:
[ATTACH]366107[/ATTACH]

Turning to the underside, I fitted the bilge keels. Not an easy task as the hull shape isn't perfect:
Pic 247:
[ATTACH]366108[/ATTACH]

Having filled the bilge keel joins, I lightly sanded the whole ship ready for more filler:
Pic 248:
[ATTACH]366109[/ATTACH]

Flight Deck sanded and filled - again...:
Pic 249:
[ATTACH]366110[/ATTACH]

Priming, filling, sanding repeatedly is a necessary evil and sometimes you think you are making things worse. Here is the centre section after light sanding:
Pic 250:
[ATTACH]366111[/ATTACH]

The bow showing some small digs which still need filling. The sanding of the Port forward walkway is finally finished and it is ready for painting:
Pic 251:
[ATTACH]366112[/ATTACH]

The aft end of the ship where there wasn't too much filling needed:
Pic 252:
[ATTACH]366113[/ATTACH]

I gave the whole ship another coat of primer/filler and the finish is looking rather smooth. However, there are still minor blemishes that need sorting (such as you can see here to the left of the anchor recess) before I do the top coats:
Pic 253:
[ATTACH]366114[/ATTACH]

Rest of the underside:
Pic 254:
[ATTACH]366115[/ATTACH]

Aft section of the Flight Deck. A light sanding and it should be ready for top coats:
Pic 255:
[ATTACH]366116[/ATTACH]

View from the other angle:
Pic 256:
[ATTACH]366117[/ATTACH]

A rather smooth looking ship:
Pic 257:
[ATTACH]366118[/ATTACH]

After yet another bit of filling and sanding, I finally got the anchors fitted. I also drilled some hawseholes forward:
Pic 258:
[ATTACH]366119[/ATTACH]

And drilled some aft:
Pic 259:
[ATTACH]366120[/ATTACH]

The decks and platforms of the islands were sprayed with Colourcoats NARN54 (RN Dark Deck Gray):
Pic 260:
[ATTACH]366121[/ATTACH]

A lot of time was spent masking off the island decks so that I could paint the top coat of light grey:
Pic 261:
[ATTACH]366122[/ATTACH]

Both islands were sprayed with Colourcoats NARN52 (RN Light Weatherwork Grey):
Pic 262:
[ATTACH]366123[/ATTACH]

The hull got a first coat of Colourcoats NARN52 (RN Light Weatherwork Grey):
Pic 263:
[ATTACH]366124[/ATTACH]

As did the walkways and platforms:
Pic 264:
[ATTACH]366125[/ATTACH]

View of the aft section:
Pic 265:
[ATTACH]366126[/ATTACH]

That's all for now.

Dave

[davecov]

The Phalanx CIWS and 30mm Guns also got a spraying. These came from Airfix HMS Daring kits:
Pic 266:


Two ribs had Plastruct rod glued to them so that they can be attached inside their bays within the sponsons. Also in the picture are the four stabilisers which having been sanded to shape and will be fitted at the end of the build:
Pic 267:


Pics 268 & 269 Removed

Lift chains were made from aluminium mesh strips have been cut and will be fitted after painting. Also in the foreground is the centre platform for the transom. It is from this platform that ladders go down to the landing stage on the waterline:
Pic 270:


The Mainmast components. I still have a bit of sanding to do as well as adding a bit more detail:
Pic 271:


All the little boxes and platforms seem to affect the airflow of the airbrush and I have been finding it difficult to paint this large build without getting areas of dry paint. This has necessitated a lot of work getting rid of the paint "grit". Here is the bow after treatment:
Pic 272:


Forward starboard sponson:
Pic 273:


Middle starboard sponson:
Pic 274:


Aft starboard sponson. My next few painting sessions will be split up so that I don't try and paint the whole hull in one go:
Pic 275:


I have painted the islands, removed some "grit" and resprayed them. There is some touching up to do but they look okay. Here is the Forward Island:
Pic 276:


The Aft Island needs a bit more tidying up than the Forward Island:
Pic 277:


And so it goes on and on:
Pic 278:


No painting today. However, I spent quite sometime designing and printing off some decals. Apologies for any optical illusions that the yellow/black stripes may cause you! I have printed off two sets of island decals and I will be trying a new fixative for the first time. If it works okay then I will spray the rest. If not, then I will use Microscale Liquid Decal Film:
Pic 279:


BTW, the test decals that had been covered with fixative spray failed miserably but the ones covered with Liquid Decal Film passed the test.

The transom of the ship showing the addition of the final three platforms to which ladders will be fixed later:
Pic 280:


That's all for now

Dave

[davecov]

Very early in the build, I painted the hangar doors, inner bulkheads and deckhead with H127 Satin US Ghost Grey and the deck with H27 Matt Sea Grey. However, I have since decided to use Colourcoats paints instead and I have had to repaint them:
Pic 281:
[ATTACH]366140[/ATTACH]

I made the mistake of masking off the hull in readiness for the red but it was too early and the tape started to remove the light grey. Rather than cause more damage, I removed the tape, made good the damage and have left the light grey to cure properly:
Pic 282:
[ATTACH]366141[/ATTACH]

Apart from my fuddled brain, I use this high-tech piece of equipment to keep tabs on this build - a notepad. Two items (Bridge window wipers and PTBs) were only ever going to be fitted if time permitted but to be honest, by the time this list was made, I had already decided to leave them out. Lift chains have been cut out and need painting and I now have six out of ten domes to make:
Pic 283:
[ATTACH]366142[/ATTACH]

Mainmast, domes and Cobham Type loop antennae after painting and ready for fitting:
Pic 284:
[ATTACH]366143[/ATTACH]

Life-rafts painted and ready for fitting:
Pic 285:
[ATTACH]366144[/ATTACH]

Phalanx CIWS and 30mm guns painted and ready for fitting:
Pic 286:
[ATTACH]366145[/ATTACH]

Ribs painted and ready for fitting inside boat bays:
Pic 287:
[ATTACH]366146[/ATTACH]

Aircraft handling vehicles and crane painted and ready for fitting:
Pic 288:
[ATTACH]366147[/ATTACH]

The Shapeways Chinooks I bought for this build didn't have rotors. I have adapted some 5-blade Sea King rotors although they are a bit on the narrow side. Still, they will have to do:
Pic 289:
[ATTACH]366148[/ATTACH]

Lots of lovely painting today. First of all, I masked off the upper hull, rubbed down the lower hull (again) and resprayed the primer/filler:
Pic 290:
[ATTACH]366149[/ATTACH]

First coat of the hull red (in this case Colourcoats RN19 - Royal Navy WW2 Antifouling Red). I had thought of using other paints but felt happiest using this:
Pic 291:
[ATTACH]366150[/ATTACH]

Rudders and stabilisers were not forgotten:
Pic 292:
[ATTACH]366151[/ATTACH]

The first coat of red was left to dry, lightly sanded to remove a couple of minor runs and then the second coat went on:
Pic 293:
[ATTACH]366152[/ATTACH]

Masking tape was removed and I am delighted with the result. The black boot topping will be done next:
Pic 294:
[ATTACH]366153[/ATTACH]

That's all for now.

Dave

[davecov]

Boot topping time! The boot topping was given two coats of Colourcoats Matt Black and the masking tape removed. The stern has a few places where the red has been lifted by the masking tape. Note that I still have to paint another coat of the light grey which I decided to leave applying until the boot topping had been done:
Pic 295:
[ATTACH]366154[/ATTACH]

The starboard side turned out pretty well with virtually no bleeding. The red at the bow needs raising to meet the boot topping though and there are a couple of places on the red where the paint has been lifted by masking tape but nothing major:
Pic 296:
[ATTACH]366155[/ATTACH]

On the port side there is a problem. I knew it was going to happen because when I took off the masking tape after painting the red, I realised I had sprayed the red too low. Easy to fix though:
Pic 297:
[ATTACH]366156[/ATTACH]

At the bow, you can see where the boot topping doesn't quite meet up but that will be put right when more light grey goes on. The yellow masking tape is staying on to protect the paintwork on the bulbous bow as it has proved to be a handy resting point during the build:
Pic 298:
[ATTACH]366157[/ATTACH]

Although I still have to do tidy up the boot topping, it really makes a difference now it is on. After putting the boot topping right I will spray another coat of light grey and paint the Flight Deck:
Pic 299:
[ATTACH]366158[/ATTACH]

Back to the islands now. The inboard side of the Forward Island after the decks had been given a second coat of dark grey, the funnel uptakes were painted H56 Aluminium and the name boards painted H9 Gloss Tan. The radar has also been painted black. Some of the light grey will need touching up:
Pic 300:
[ATTACH]366159[/ATTACH]

The outboard side of the Aft Island having been given similar treatment to the Forward Island:
Pic 301:
[ATTACH]366160[/ATTACH]

This is a picture that was actually taken before the last one and shows both islands from their other sides. I still have a bit of painting to do and cleaning up will be necessary before decals can be applied:
Pic 302:
[ATTACH]366161[/ATTACH]

Another view of them in their rightful position:
Pic 303:
[ATTACH]366162[/ATTACH]

Here the Flight Deck has been painted on the starboard side and I am working my way along the port side. Since taking the photo I have sanded down the Flight Deck ready for another coat later today:
Pic 304:
[ATTACH]366163[/ATTACH]

The islands were cleaned up enough to allow me to put some decals on. A couple of the windows on the Aft Island have peeled back a bit but were put right later:
Pic 305:
[ATTACH]366164[/ATTACH]

The other side still needs bridge windows but the "Ich Dien" ship's badge transfers have been applied:
Pic 306:
[ATTACH]366165[/ATTACH]

I applied another coat of Liquid Decal Film to the remaining decals to prevent damage to those. I have printed off another set bridge of windows to replace the damaged decals and they will be applied this evening.

When I had built QE I used decals for the Flight Deck markings but they take so long to apply that I decided to paint the markings for this build:
Pic 307:
[ATTACH]366166[/ATTACH]

I sprayed the first coat of white but I then hand-painted the second coat. The removal of the masking tape took half an hour and reveals a little bleeding here and there. I still have to paint the line that runs from the top of the ski jump to the stern:
Pic 308:
[ATTACH]366167[/ATTACH]

A bit more progress as I painted the white "P" on the Flight Deck and the dark line running the length of the Flight Deck. The masking has finally been removed from the walkways and I have a bit of bleeding to deal with there:
Pic 309:
[ATTACH]366168[/ATTACH]

I had to put two more coats of Light Grey on the hull so it was masking time - again! This time I used the Tamiya stuff that come with a length of polythene (550mm deep) attached. It is expensive (£8 for a roll) but has proved to be perfect for masking this ship. I applied a length of standard masking tape along the boot topping and lay the "poly" masking tape just under the edge of the standard tape. I then cut the polythene BEFORE unfolding it using a scalpel and NOT scissors. The Flight Deck was also masked off:
Pic 310:
[ATTACH]366169[/ATTACH]

The lower masking tapes were removed. One drawback I found with the "poly" masking tape is that it is not really suitable for re-use as it is because it is very low-tack and doesn't really stick a second time. However, you could use traditional tape to attach it:
Pic 311:
[ATTACH]366170[/ATTACH]

That's all for now.

Dave

[davecov]

I decided that the red of the hull was looking rather shabby as it had suffered quite a bit since it was painted. Some of it had lifted from masking tape use so I decided to repaint the whole thing again. Here the hull has been masked off with the "poly" masking tape - only took a minute instead of at least ten. The hull was filled and sanded and a coat of filler/primer applied:
Pic 312:
[ATTACH]366171[/ATTACH]

The first of three coats of anti-fouling red was sprayed on and left to dry:
Pic 313:
[ATTACH]366172[/ATTACH]

Away from the big stuff, I have made two life-raft shelters for the starboard side and they have been primed ready for a light grey top coat. I am also making some domes and some ladders from plastic card. I need twenty of those.

That's better! You can just make out the life-rafts that have been glued inside their shelters along the walkway:
Pic 314:
[ATTACH]366173[/ATTACH]

The scratch-built prop shafts and 'A' bracket components have been assembled. Props from a Tamiya 1/350 USS Enterprise have been reshaped to the profile of the QE class props and painted:
Pic 315:
[ATTACH]366174[/ATTACH]

I painted the shafts with Alclad Chrome but they are too bright and will be overpainted later. Note that the larger aft 'A' bracket legs are slanted forward on the QE class:
Pic 316:
[ATTACH]366175[/ATTACH]

The 'A' brackets have been painted with anti-fouling red. They are longer than necessary so that they can be trimmed back to fit snugly on the hull:
Pic 317:
[ATTACH]366176[/ATTACH]

The prop shafts have been laid onto the hull to give you an idea of how they will look. I need to drill holes in the hull for the shafts to go into. Once they and the rudders are fitted I will tidy up the red paintwork and respray the black boot topping:
Pic 318:
[ATTACH]366177[/ATTACH]

The photo of HMS Queen Elizabeth I had been working from to mark out the warning yellow striping on the Flight Deck showed the Forward Lift without a "box" at the aft end. However, I was looking at another photo of QE today online and it shows a "box" was added eventually. I added one too:
Pic 319:
[ATTACH]366178[/ATTACH]

Another view from above:
Pic 320:
[ATTACH]366179[/ATTACH]

Since taking those pictures, I have spent a lot of time touching up areas of overspray and bleeding in the walkways. I have also done some work on the Flight Deck but hopefully, I can rectify it's many issues by Friday. As for the remaining construction, I have to make 6 domes, that's all. Everything else (such as guns, aircraft, props, stabilisers, mast, radars et al) is finished (except for some decalling) and I have a big box of bits waiting to be glued on once I have finished faffing around with the painting.

I corrected a problem with the Aft Lift warning lines. I had painted some of them in the wrong place:
Pic 321:
[ATTACH]366180[/ATTACH]

I thought I would do a comparison with the waterline version which I have had to stop in order to get the full-hull build completed in time for Telford:
Pic 322:
[ATTACH]366181[/ATTACH]

I ended up respraying the Flight Deck and now need to tidy up the edges. I have also fitted the 3 Phalanx CIWS and 4 30mm guns:
Pic 323:
[ATTACH]366182[/ATTACH]

I have also fitted 20 ladders with a few left to do. The islands light grey paintwork was tidied up and decalling is now finished:
Pic 324:
[ATTACH]366183[/ATTACH]

The diagonal warning lines were applied. I don't like them much and if I have time I will remove them, sand down the paintwork and apply new decals. We will see...:
Pic 325:
[ATTACH]366184[/ATTACH]

That's all for now.

Dave

[davecov]

The decalling of the aircraft was completed yesterday:
Pic 326:
[ATTACH]366185[/ATTACH]

The sharp end of the ship. A bit of touching up of the Flight Deck grey is required but it is looking okay:
Pic 327:
[ATTACH]366186[/ATTACH]

The aft end:
Pic 328:
[ATTACH]366187[/ATTACH]

A view from the other side:
Pic 329:
[ATTACH]366188[/ATTACH]

The rudders were fitted and I now need to make good the damage around them and the 'A' brackets. Unfortunately, I have almost run out of red paint but luckily I have an order of fresh paint on the way:
Pic 330:
[ATTACH]366189[/ATTACH]

I wasn't happy with the striped decalling on the Flight Deck so I removed it all. Here I have masked off the yellow area so that I can sand it back before repainting it and applying new decals:
Pic 331:
[ATTACH]366190[/ATTACH]

Here I am decalling the Lift warning lines and I have fitted a pair of HF Loop antennae aft of the AS6000s. HMS Queen Elizabeth was built with a pair of Cobham Type HF Loop antenna aft of the AS6000s and when I built my QE model they were taken from the Airfix HMS Illustrious. HMS Prince of Wales has been fitted with a different type of annenae (Comrod NVIS HF230L-N) and HMS Queen Elizabeth will be getting her Cobham Type antennae replaced by HF230L-N during her first refit. Despite this, I used the Cobham Type from HMS Illustrious again as the difference is minimal and only noticeable to nerds:
Pic 332:
[ATTACH]366191[/ATTACH]

Nearly completed:
Pic 333:
[ATTACH]366192[/ATTACH]

The Forward Lift and it’s chains need to be fitted.
Pic 334:
[ATTACH]366193[/ATTACH]

Everything has been glued on now, including aircraft and the ship has been mounted on it’s proper base:
Pic 335:
[ATTACH]366194[/ATTACH]

Pic 336:
[ATTACH]366195[/ATTACH]

Pic 337:
[ATTACH]366196[/ATTACH]

Pic 338:
[ATTACH]366197[/ATTACH]

Pic 339:
[ATTACH]366198[/ATTACH]

Pic 340:
[ATTACH]366199[/ATTACH]

Pic 341:
[ATTACH]366200[/ATTACH]

Pic 342:
[ATTACH]366201[/ATTACH]

The handover of the model to Darrell Burge (Head of Brand for Airfix at Hornby Hobbies):
Pic 343:
[ATTACH]366202[/ATTACH]

As I said at the start of this build thread, this model was commissioned by Airfix for display at SMW 2019 (where the last six pictures were taken) and it's final home will be the Hornby Hobbies Visitor Centre in Margate.

If you have managed to read through this whole thread or even followed me through the build on the ATF, I thank you all for your staying power.

Hope you enjoyed the journey that began with a single step (or a single sheet of plastic card).

Dave

[Jim R]

Hi Dave
Amazing to see this in such detail. A real labour of love. Have you any idea how many hours went into this?
Jim

[davecov]

I've no idea Jim but it was thousands of hours. It is difficult to calculate because for a lot of the build I was making two carriers at the same time.

Dave

[Neil Merryweather]

Stunning, Dave, simply stunning!

[boatman]

HI Dave well I have just spent the last 5hrs goin through your build as I have hurt my back through liftin all the shoppin into the car yesterday with my wife jen as its an old injury at work but it keeps comin back so im carefull how much I lift an so for me no tiger build today until it esase's off.Now I think your build has been spectackular your attention to detail is second to none an in that small scale an with at times only one eye wow an yes you certainly like your filler as do I but I try an keep the filler to a minimum as my filler is building trade filler an it goes off like concrete an its a devil of a job to sand down apart from some green model filler I used around the props tubes on tiger .an who are this shapeways ? as some gent on another forum told me about them ? an whats this idea if you know that is about the F35 havin only one roundel on the wings what is the R/N goin like the ameicans idea ? an I amazed that you took off the yellow an black safety cheverons around the aircraft lifts an to me they looked ok ? well I cant think of anything eles but you've done yourself proud on this model for stickin at it fantastic :thumb2: :thumb2: :thumb2: :thumb2: :thumb2:
chris

[JR]

Thank you Dave for sharing this, it's a great tribute to your dedication and skill. Glad it's going to be seen by so many.
Very few people will realise how long it takes or effort into producing some thing like this.
Congratulations.:thumb2::thumb2::thumb2::thumb2::t humb2:

[davecov]

Thank you lads and congratulations on reaching the end of this build thread. :smiling:

Dave

[Ian M]

Thank you for sharing the build from the first bit of plasticard right through to the display on the Airfix stand.
Great work all the way.

[flyjoe180]

Fantastic work and result Dave, thanks for sharing your build