Latest Update: More deck details and the Main Mast - January 10, 2013
The Build - More deck details and the Main Mast - January 10, 2013
I continued with the Lassen, adding more deck details, like the MK-38 25mm guns, the ship's launches and davits, and numerous other details, and began working on the main mast. The main mast on the Arleigh Burke destroyers is distinctive. It is a raked mast, angled back to help with reducing its radar signature. It is a miniature model all its own consisting of over 30 parts. I added a couple of Photo Etch parts from my Dragon, 1/350 Scale, USS Sullivans model that I am using for spare parts to assist with this model and the other two Burke Flight IIA DDGd I inytend to build for the US CSG and ARG. The Dragon Models have a second PE sprue that contains more parts, including the personnel supports on the main masts for the sailors to climb up there and do maintenance on the sensors. Here's the construction of those various parts:
Now it was time to attach the main mast and its supports. This had to be carefully done since the main supports for the mast, and the supports for the main arm of the mast could not be added until the mast itself was glued in place. You do not want the mast to dry firm before doing this because you have to have enough "play" in the mast to allow for the proper placement of those main supports and ensuring that they are both symetrical and properly placed.
So, here's the process I used to do this. First, you get the glue on...and in this case I carefully added glue to both surfaces (the mast and the deck), and then let it get "tacky." Once it was a little "tacky," I added the mast, pressing it in place firmly for about 20-30 seconds to get the bond started, and then letting it set for a few minutes so it would stand on its own, but not set enough to be firm. It was then that I added the two long support braces that extend from the middle of the mast at the main arm, down to the two locations on the forward deck house aft of the mast. This process allowed me to gently place those parts and move the mast into its proper final position, with both braces symetrcial to each other and the mast set evenly. Then, I let that dry firmly and then added the supports that come from the outer portion of the main mast arm (underneath on the bottom of the arm) down to each of these supporting braces. I was pleased with the results.
Very good progress on the vessel now. You can see the lower hull in the background in several of these pictures. For the next and possibly last installement of this build, I will paint the black waterline strip on the upper hull, add all of the life raft caontainers onto the vessel, build and locate the SeaHawk helicopters on the flight deck and add the safety netting there, and then add the lower hull, the props, screws and rudders. This should complete the model and I hope to be able to have the time to do that over the next 2-3 days, accomplishing the most on Saturday when I have more time to work on it. Back with more then.
The Build - More deck details and the Main Mast - January 10, 2013
I continued with the Lassen, adding more deck details, like the MK-38 25mm guns, the ship's launches and davits, and numerous other details, and began working on the main mast. The main mast on the Arleigh Burke destroyers is distinctive. It is a raked mast, angled back to help with reducing its radar signature. It is a miniature model all its own consisting of over 30 parts. I added a couple of Photo Etch parts from my Dragon, 1/350 Scale, USS Sullivans model that I am using for spare parts to assist with this model and the other two Burke Flight IIA DDGd I inytend to build for the US CSG and ARG. The Dragon Models have a second PE sprue that contains more parts, including the personnel supports on the main masts for the sailors to climb up there and do maintenance on the sensors. Here's the construction of those various parts:
Now it was time to attach the main mast and its supports. This had to be carefully done since the main supports for the mast, and the supports for the main arm of the mast could not be added until the mast itself was glued in place. You do not want the mast to dry firm before doing this because you have to have enough "play" in the mast to allow for the proper placement of those main supports and ensuring that they are both symetrical and properly placed.
So, here's the process I used to do this. First, you get the glue on...and in this case I carefully added glue to both surfaces (the mast and the deck), and then let it get "tacky." Once it was a little "tacky," I added the mast, pressing it in place firmly for about 20-30 seconds to get the bond started, and then letting it set for a few minutes so it would stand on its own, but not set enough to be firm. It was then that I added the two long support braces that extend from the middle of the mast at the main arm, down to the two locations on the forward deck house aft of the mast. This process allowed me to gently place those parts and move the mast into its proper final position, with both braces symetrcial to each other and the mast set evenly. Then, I let that dry firmly and then added the supports that come from the outer portion of the main mast arm (underneath on the bottom of the arm) down to each of these supporting braces. I was pleased with the results.
Very good progress on the vessel now. You can see the lower hull in the background in several of these pictures. For the next and possibly last installement of this build, I will paint the black waterline strip on the upper hull, add all of the life raft caontainers onto the vessel, build and locate the SeaHawk helicopters on the flight deck and add the safety netting there, and then add the lower hull, the props, screws and rudders. This should complete the model and I hope to be able to have the time to do that over the next 2-3 days, accomplishing the most on Saturday when I have more time to work on it. Back with more then.
