So you like to build small model ships? That's cute

[joe100]

Little project I've been on for a while. A 1/2400 scale depiction of the Japanese aircraft carrier IJN Akagi. Mostely made from stainless and brass sheet, with photo etched brass and stainless detail.

[azguy]

Ok, I'll bite. Why 1/2400 scale

1/1200 would have been an accomplishment enough and easier to make out details

[joe100]

Originally Posted by azguy

Ok, I'll bite. Why 1/2400 scale

1/1200 would have been an accomplishment enough and easier to make out details

"We work in the dark--we do what we can--we give what we have. Our doubt is our passion and our passion is our task. The rest is the madness of art."

---Henry James

[Dr. Robert]

Wow!

[RichM]

Amazing Joe. I don't know how you do it.

[TripleB Boston]

How long did it take? It's impressive.

[cop414]

That's great Joe, I'd never have the patience not to mention the skill for that!

[SemperFi]

Terrific work Joe. I'd love to try my hand at something like that.

[TheVTCGuy]

You Really want to impress me Joe!? Build one Lifesize.... THEN I'll be impressed

[218225]

Originally Posted by joe100

Little project I've been on for a while. A 1/2400 scale depiction of the Japanese aircraft carrier IJN Akagi. Mostely made from stainless and brass sheet, with photo etched brass and stainless detail.

SNIP

We all need a hobby, but that is impressive. My dad used to make ships in bottles.

I've watched hours on youtube getting ideas for my new workbench in the garage. I have one, but I want a new one that I built myself.

[masterserg]

Awesome!! We need macro shots!!

[SearChart]

Wow Joe, that is really awesome!!

[joe100]

Thanks everyone

[TK-710]

Wow! That's is one huge nickel!

Oops my bad.

Wow! That is one tiny ship!

Congratulations that is incredible.

[skydriver]

Very impressive.

[joe100]

This evening's project was to finish off my WW2 German fast battleship Scharnhorst in 1/2400

I'll be doing a similar diorama to the Akagi but it'll probably be a few days before I start the base.

The British destroyed Sharnhorst on the day after Christmas 1943, with the loss of almost her entire crew. Only around 35 survived.

The paint scheme is the last camouflage scheme she wore and this is how she was painted on December 26, 1943. The deck markings are there to prevent aerial attack by friendly Luftwaffe forces. Aerial recognition markings were used across all powers during the war, but more widely by the Axis. The Akagi model above has the giant red sun on her deck.

Scharnhorst was seriously undergunned and all but useless fighting ships her size. Her tonnage would have been more smartly used to build u-boats but thankfully the Germans chose to build Scharnhorst and her sister Gneisenau instead. These two ships weren't completely useless however. Early on they were deployed as commerce raiders and did okay against allied shipping. The Germans realized quickly that 2 giant commerce raiders the size of battleships drank fuel and weren't exactly subtle.

Scharnhorst is considered to be one of the best looking battleships ever built, probably second only to the Italian Vittorio Venito class. It's too bad she had to fight and die for such a terrible regime.

[goin camping]

Very impressive.

[GradyPhilpott]

That's more than impressive, it's incredible.

I have trouble even picking up things that small, much less building things that small out of things even smaller.

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by joe100

This evening's project was to finish off my WW2 German fast battleship Scharnhorst in 1/2400

I'll be doing a similar diorama to the Akagi but it'll probably be a few days before I start the base.

The British destroyed Sharnhorst on the day after Christmas 1943, with the loss of almost her entire crew. Only around 35 survived.

The paint scheme is the last camouflage scheme she wore and this is how she was painted on December 26, 1943. The deck markings are there to prevent aerial attack by friendly Luftwaffe forces. Aerial recognition markings were used across all powers during the war, but more widely by the Axis. The Akagi model above has the giant red sun on her deck.

Scharnhorst was seriously undergunned and all but useless fighting ships her size. Her tonnage would have been more smartly used to build u-boats but thankfully the Germans chose to build Scharnhorst and her sister Gneisenau instead. These two ships weren't completely useless however. Early on they were deployed as commerce raiders and did okay against allied shipping. The Germans realized quickly that 2 giant commerce raiders the size of battleships drank fuel and weren't exactly subtle.

Scharnhorst is considered to be one of the best looking battleships ever built, probably second only to the Italian Vittorio Venito class. It's too bad she had to fight and die for such a terrible regime.

She has lovely lines. But I still prefer the Iowa class battleships over anything the Europeans produced. They were a bit more potent than anything anyone built, (the 16/50's were probably the best gun design ever bolted to a ship, arguably better in combat than the 18/45's on the Yamato).

The model looks great. Can't wait to see the base finished out.

[joe100]

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

She has lovely lines. But I still prefer the Iowa class battleships over anything the Europeans produced. They were a bit more potent than anything anyone built, (the 16/50's were probably the best gun design ever bolted to a ship, arguably better in combat than the 18/45's on the Yamato).

The model looks great. Can't wait to see the base finished out.

Thanks!

I agree the Iowas look modern, even today. I don't think any one of the Iowas would have enjoyed a duel with a Yamato class. Most of what I've read, all things being equal, it would have taken 2 Iowas to kill a Yamato. Hitting power is one thing, but Yamato had superior armor.

[bayerische]

This is amazing!

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by joe100

Thanks!

I agree the Iowas look modern, even today. I don't think any one of the Iowas would have enjoyed a duel with a Yamato class. Most of what I've read, all things being equal, it would have taken 2 Iowas to kill a Yamato. Hitting power is one thing, but Yamato had superior armor.

Yamato had thicker armor, made with cheap steel. The Iowa class used modern armor grade steel that was stronger and lighter, which allowed the ships to achieve higher speeds. The Yamato class also had weak seams in the underwater armor belts that would have opened right up when hit by plunging shots (as demonstrated when a submarine's torpedo opened a 25 foot hole in her).

The Iowa's 16/50's had nearly the same penetrative power as the 18/45's and could penetrate the Yamato's armor, they had far superior radar fire control systems, and the ships were faster. Yamato would have been pretty lucky to hit an Iowa class BB travelling at 30 knots further than 20 miles away with optical range finding and poor radar, but the Iowa's could start doing major damage at 23 miles. And the faster Iowa's could maintain that range advantage throughout the battle. Lucky shots do happen, but I think the Iowa's more advanced fire control technology gave them the advantage.

[kirksingleton]

Great work! I would love to see some macro shots of those!!

[cpark]

I'm thoroughly impressed!

[BNA/LION]

Originally Posted by joe100

Little project I've been on for a while. A 1/2400 scale depiction of the Japanese aircraft carrier IJN Akagi. Mostely made from stainless and brass sheet, with photo etched brass and stainless detail.

WOW! That is Awesome work!

I worked with a guy who started building ships and turned it into a business... http://www.sdmodelmakers.com/

[kirksingleton]

Are these scratch built or a kit?

[linesiders]

Great work!

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

She has lovely lines. But I still prefer the Iowa class battleships over anything the Europeans produced. They were a bit more potent than anything anyone built, (the 16/50's were probably the best gun design ever bolted to a ship, arguably better in combat than the 18/45's on the Yamato).

The model looks great. Can't wait to see the base finished out.

The ultimate BB hypothetical

Partial to the SD class, arguably best Treaty Battleships with the 16/45s ;)

[hsfrank]

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

That's more than impressive, it's incredible.

I have trouble even picking up things that small, much less building things that small out of things even smaller.

I would give you a thumbs up but I am all thumbs. I even have trouble with door knobs. LOL truly wonderful accomplishments. My son in law paints and sells figures but not to 1/2400 scale. Again Bravo

[joe100]

Thanks everyone!

I've put the Italian battleship on hold once more but for good reason.

A beautiful set of resin figures was released recently in 1/48 scale and this is going to allow me to build a scene from one of my favorite movies, Kelly's Heroes. A Spanish company has done Alberty, Eastwood, Sutherland, and Savalas and of course I ordered immediately! Also have the street base parts ordered aaaand the Tiger 1 tank. The movie used a modified T34 for the Tiger but I'm not scratch building the tank from the movie. This gives me an excuse to build the gorgeous Skybow Tiger 1 tank kit.

[GB-man]

Incredible that you have the steady hand and patience to build on that scale. It's akin to watchmaking in some ways I imagine.

Once again Abdullah has me impressed with in depth random knowledge. I wouldn't want to play him in trivial pursuit