SMS Lutzow

[rifleman]

fine looking hull very nice indeed well done

[Play7]

Originally Posted by Bluenoser

Been a long time since I built something.
This one's been in the pile for quite some time and will make a fitting adversary/counterpart to my HMS Iron Duke at 1/200.
I am going to fill in the large voids with balsa so that the hull keeps a good shape under the card (no caving in). This will add a lot of extra work but will ensure that it stays smooth below the waterline.

Hi there ,
Had no such concern on my 1/200 USS Missouri.
Don’t over do it . The lower skin will be strong enough .
Recommend a good stand .

[Bluenoser]

I think I've already overdone it.

[Bluenoser]

Assembly of the hull plates was going along swell. I actually got them all attached off the hull and a dry fit was pretty good.

[Bluenoser]

.... but when it came time to put it on, it all went south. It didn't get it aligned very well and then it wouldn't move into position. Getting it off was impossible and this is what I'm left with.
I'm weighing my options as to tossing the whole project into the bin or starting salvage operations.

[Royaloakmin]

I don’t think the assembled skin technique is compatible with a filled hull. I’ve never seen them used together. Just smooth the hull with drywall spackling and paint it.

[Bluenoser]

Agreed on both counts.

[Royaloakmin]

I think you will be fine once you are past the underhull.

[Paper Fan II]

Agreed, fill, sand, varnish and paint.

I never understood the advantage of assembling the skins then placing over the frame. It requires absolute perfection in cutting and little to no time to adjust with gluing in place, such a large section.

Several here have made this work, but I still prefer individual plating, filling and painting the lower hull.

[Dancooper]

Indeed, there is absolutely no need to assembling a skin and then try to fit it over a framework like trying to fit a skinny jeans over a well shaped... hmm nevermind.
Just make the frame and glue the skins on it, yes you can beaf-up the voids in the frame with whatever you want and than sand it smooth (something I have, for the first time not done in my latest build because somebody told me not compare paper models with plastic or wood models). Just don't consider the skin as sort of separate kit to fit over it, it will NEVER fit that way.