GBM 1:600 Charles-Martel

**Golden Bear** · #1 09-10-2011, 10:40 AM

Modeling activities have been forced to take a backseat to other things for a few weeks but I have made some progress on new things. I've designed but not built a Canopus in 1:600 and started on this. It is actually more complicated than one might think to convert an old CAD model at one scale into another at smaller scale. Naturally I can take some shortcuts and use artwork to depict details that otherwise might be built.

I wanted to see if the cutouts in the hull could be put in after putting on the hull, to simplify the order of assembly. The answer is a questionable yes since it would have been easier to attach them first but I'm getting by anyway.

Carl

**Michael Mash** · #2 09-10-2011, 06:39 PM

Hello Carl,
As you know, I am a fan of Charles Martel, so I always enjoy watching your (or anyone's) rendition of this ship. I followed your 1:250 scale work several years ago, and it was one of the best development threads I have ever tracked. I believe, if one goes back far enough, it can still be viewed on this forum. This is one of the most attractive and fascinating examples of early French battleship design. The work you continue to do with her is remarkable given the difficulties in obtaining reliable information.
Great job.
Mike

**Golden Bear** · #3 09-11-2011, 06:02 AM

A few more shots. Completed the inserts and associated side details and glued down the decks. Then did turrets.

Carl

**Don Boose** · #4 09-11-2011, 01:46 PM

A beautiful model, Carl. I'm glad to see that you are extending your 1/600 project into the French warship line.

Some challenging compound curves of this ship!

Don

**Golden Bear** · #5 09-11-2011, 06:06 PM

Hi Don and Mike! Welcome to the (nearly) invisible thread.

Actually, the curves are easier to form at this scale than on the 1:250 model. In some sense I understand it, but mostly find it puzzling. Really, the sides lay on very easily.

These are the last photos for the weekend. Not much new, just one of the main turrets. I also tried to take a closer image to show the detailing under the turrets but found that I was inside the focal distance of my cheapo digital camera.

Carl

**Barry** · #6 09-11-2011, 06:13 PM

I did write a load of rubbish about joints then relooked at the previous pictures and realised it was just first class building as usual I really like the scale used.

**Don Boose** · #7 09-11-2011, 08:05 PM

It is, indeed, first class building. The hull is marvelously smooth and the model replicates the actual ship superbly.

Don

**Golden Bear** · #8 09-11-2011, 08:13 PM

Barry is correct about the nasty seam on the port quarter. It didn't look so bad until the FF (Fault Finder) was turned on to it. I should rip it off and redo it. The starboard side looks good though, to me.

I've spent the afternoon reading about RN radars in the War and my head is spinning.

Carl

**Don Boose** · #9 09-11-2011, 08:30 PM

Okay. Now I see the slight vertical shadow line on the port quarter in images 1 and 3 of Post #3. Even so, I never noticed it until you mentioned it and it doesn't look bad to me (maybe it is more visible when you are looking at the actual model with a critical eye and close up.

Don

**Greg S.** · #10 09-12-2011, 11:56 AM

Nice look to the model. Did you knive out or draw in the square windows in the hull?