HMS Roberts - WWII Monitor - 1:350 Trumpeter

[Guest]

Thanks again Derek. Now off to the Merlin

Laurie

[Guest]

Very nice looking model and good painting. The weathering is about right, as naval boats were constantly painted to reduce the effects of the weather

[Guest]

Phase II - Making Waves

Here I am going to attempt to copy the method used by the Canadian Artist/Modeller Chris Flodberg.

I am using the box the model came in for my base, I am using the top of the box for the main base and inserted the bottom only of the lower half of the box as a stiffener.

Chris uses bran flakes for the sea, I am not exactly sure which type, but I took a gamble and bought this from Amazon, I also used cheap Super Glue from 'Pondland', I used 8 off 20g tubes. The type of bran is important as the quantity of Super Glue used generates a lot of heat and the wrong type of Bran can smoke and fog the model. Fortunately I was lucky with my choice. It was surprising how warm the base got even through a double lair of cardboard.

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The idea is to fix your model to the base, fill the box up to the waterline, and with a spatula, shape the bran flake to what ever type of sea you want. When you are happy with the results, you drench the bran flake with super glue, in order to lock it into place. Do this outside,in a warm day with a light breeze otherwise the fumes will get your eyes and lungs. I left it for 48 hours to dry and de-gas thoroughly.

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After the two days I trimmed the excess cardboard off with a Stanley knife.

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Next step is to give the bran flake 2 to 4 heavy coats of Extra Heavy Gel, to smooth out the roughness of the flakes, for this I used a stiff hog hair brush. It also seals the Bran Flake.

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This is the results after the first coat of Gel, will leave it over night before applying the second coat, which I think will be sufficient.[ATTACH]86711.IPB[/ATTACH]


Cheers Derek

[Guest]

Interesting technique, looking forward to see how this turns out

[Guest]

Heart in your hands at the moment Derek.

Fascinating idea/technique. Looking good having owned a motor cruiser, in times gone by, recognise the swirling of the sea a worrying time for small boats. Brings back some memories.

Not for monitors assume they must be one of the heaviest ships about having to be a gun platform.

Laurie

[Guest]

Thanks Lads, Laurie, HMS Roberts was about half the length of the HMS King George V, but roughly the same beam. See photo below of the latters hull against the Roberts. The white on the seascape is where the gel has not dried yet, it dries translucent.

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This is the sea pattern I am trying to copy but with a choppier English Channel sea.

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Cheers Derek

[Guest]

Took about 48 Hrs. for the Gel to dry, here you can see the second and last coat of the Gel, it was a much thinner coat so it seems to have dried in 24 hours, but I will leave it for another 24 Hrs.

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Could not find the exact paints used by Chris in the U.K., so have bought the following, which is a heavy body acrylic.

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Cheers Derek

[Guest]

A couple of shots with the base colour on. Cheers Derek[ATTACH]86927.IPB[/ATTACH]

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[Guest]

Looking very good Derek. That sea is spot on.

Laurie

[Guest]

Looking very good Derek. That sea is spot on.Laurie

Thanks Laurie, I found a photo of HMS Roberts off Normandy in June 1944 in the choppy sea I am trying to replicate. Cheers Derek

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[Guest]

A couple of shots showing the discolouration of the water with the underwater turbulence of the Ship, will use cotton wool next for the white water. Cheers Derek

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[Guest]

Have added most of the cotton wool to represent turbulence, still a bit to do, but will make this my last posting here. Cheers Derek

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[Guest]

Very nice Derek. The wash of the boat looks very realistic.

Thanks for the cruise Derek. I "monitored" and enjoyed your first class efforts

Splice the main brace !

Laurie

[Guest]

Thanks Laurie, Quite the poet Laurie_t. Thanks also for your support throughout the build. Will post final photos soon. Cheers mate Derek

[Guest]

That is truly amazing Derek and very convincing scale appearance !