1/700 HMS Belfast

[Draco]

When I was 14, I build and assembled a plastic model of the HMS Belfast at a small scale.

Sadly I have it no more and don't remember why o when. Now, I'm starting the same model at my favourite 1/700 scale.

So far I just have resized the original paper model (made from Fly Model at 1/200 scale) and printed three of the four pages that will compose my model.

I have assembled some of the ribs too, but I've not gone far because meanwhile I'm finishing my CV-6 Enterprise and a Spad XIII.

[herky]

jsc have a nice waterline cversion at 1;400

[LouCoatney]

I have done/solved the British triple 6" gun turrets - with middle gun recessed - and should design (cardstock paper models of/for) the Town Class ... and Colony class, for that matter.

1:700 is my preferred scale (for wargaming).

[Draco]

thanks for the info, Herky, but my "religion" forbids me to make waterline ships

Anyway the starboard side of the skeleton is finished, and I'm planing to try a new way to cover the underwater side with big shets of paper. This new method will decrease the number of join that disrupt the aesthetic of my model.

Or at least I hope so

[Draco]

The hull squeleton is finished, and the decks are placed. The upper deck goes over the rear one, because this space will remain open when finished.

As I have made the Scharnhorst, someday I will be taking pictures of both ships side to side. The size difference is big! If not by the Scharnhorst radar failure, the result would have bee very different!

[Draco]

I'm starting to cover the hull. The ship has a distinctive rectangle protuding over the sides due to antitorpedo bulges.

This makes covering the sides a bid more complicated than usual, but so far it seems to be going right.

As you can see, I let down the underwater piecing and instead I'm using custom made parts, bigger but easier to place and with less seams. I'm expecting to reduce from 20 to 5 or 6 pieces just the part of the hull from bow to the plane platform. And the seams will be following the antitorpedo bulges or the bottom of the hull.

[Draco]

Here compared with the DMK Scharnhorst, both at 1/700 scale, and showing the advance of the underwater skin.

The building has been slow because I've dedicated more time to my CV-6 Enterprise

[Draco]

)(&$$"#!!!!!

I was happy expecting to reduce the underwater piecing from 24 to 11 but the antitorpedo bulge had another plans and destroyed all my effords!

Now I'm thinking about an internal cheap reinforcement that will let me do a smooth contour. I'll try first with styrofoam, let's see what happens.

[Draco]

It seems that placing pieces of foam between the ribs does a wonderfull improvement of the final look of the ship, and reinforces the "skin" of the model too.

Right now, just with the first layer of paint and before sanding and varnishing, the hull is smoother than my previous ships. I'm eager to see the final look.

Next steps:
Finding the right colors of the hull, opening the hull portholes with a pin, varnishing and sanding, painting the main deck and starting with the main guns.

So far, very happy.

[elliott]

Looking forward to seeing the finished hull.