Joe's Scale Model World

[joe100]

Since I get a lot of PMs and interest when I post threads on my scale models, I decided to start one master thread and post to it. Better than starting individual threads on each subject.

Here are the old threads:

USS Idaho: http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=464238

SMS Viribus Unitis: http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=472822

SMS Derfflinger, the Iron Dog of Jutland: http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=482683

USS Alaska CB-1: http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=495845

IJN Akagi: http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=491802

HMS Victory cross section: http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=490793

So from now on, I'll update my projects in this thread. It'll make the discussion more tidy. And if you have questions, post them here that way everyone can read them. I don't mind replying to the PMs I get but if it's public, everyone can see the answer and join in.

Right now, I have a couple projects going on. The Kelly's Heroes diorama is wrapping up, the last of the Italian battleship Littorio parts will be delivered this week, and as always I've been working on a few 1/2400 warship dioramas. The Littorio project is going to be the most ambitious project of the fall. She's not quite as involved as Viribus Unitis was, but I do need to do a lot of scratch building.

Anyway, some updated photos:

Kelly's Heroes work in progress:













German Battleship Scharnhorst, Battle of the North Cape. This little diorama is titled "Straddled". Scharnhorst has only minutes to live as she's bracketed by British shell fire.









Starting this week. RM Littorio as she looked at Taranto in March 1941 on her "bones" camouflage:









Without camo:

[aekdb]

These are so impressive Joe!

[cop414]

Amazing work Joe!

[RichM]

Joe, you're the man. I also enjoy the history you provide with each build.

[GradyPhilpott]

[joe100]

Thanks everyone!

Some more photos of Littorio in different camouflage schemes.







Littorio and her 2 sisters Vittorio Veneto and Roma displaced 45,000 tons, mounted 9 15in rifles and are generally regarded as the best looking battleships ever built. The Italians did a fine job with the Littorio class, and being designed for the Med fleet, they were more than adequate.

Littorio was damaged in November 1940 during the British air raid on Taranto. Taranto was the genesis for Pearl Harbor. The Japanese paid close attention to the good results which proved aircraft could attack and destroy moored battleships. After Italy switched sides in 1943, Littorio, having been named for the symbol of Italian fascism, was renamed Italia. Littorio survived the war but was scrapped in the 1950s.

The model is going to depict her after the Taranto raid in March 1941. Right now I'm just trying to confirm that there were no aerial recognition stripes painted on the deck. These were added to keep friendly forces from attacking their own ships. Most axis navies had some sort of aerial recognition scheme. The Italians used a red and white barber pole scheme while the Germans, as subtle as they were, painted enormous swastikas on the bow and stern with giant red banners behind them. The Japanese used huge red disks representing their rising sun emblem. These were mostly used on carriers but some other ships had the national flag painted on the gun turrets.

I have a nice set of plans showing me all of the post Taranto modifications made to Littorio since they took the opportunity to rebuild some of the equipment while she was in dry dock. Mostly little things like the removal of the 3rd anchor on the starboard bow.

Anyway, more to come

[1William]

Great thread. I look forward to following it.

[GerardoG]

Amazing! Thank tou for sharing!!!

[sickened1]

Cool stuff!

[datejust24]

Amazing work Joe! Thanks for sharing.

[SearChart]

Wow Joe! Really love the ships you make, such a cool hobby

[Pix]

Oddball, Kelly & Big Joe...luv that movie, Just missing Crap game!

[dysondiver]

great workmanship ,,,

[RW16610]

Fantastic work, Joe! Seems like a nice hobby to have.

[Boothroyd]

Wow, Joe! Closest I got to this was some Apollo-LEM models when I was a kid. And that wasn't close at all. Please keep posting on these projects, really enjoy your work!

[KarlS]

Wish I had so much talent. Not even allowed to change the light bulbs at home!!

[joe100]

Originally Posted by KarlS

Wish I had so much talent. Not even allowed to change the light bulbs at home!!

It's all learned. Lots of practice with good tools.

Anyone can pick it up.

[joe100]

I've decided to depict Littorio as she appeared above the waterline like I did with Adams Derfflinger and SMS Viribus Unitis. Typically I prefer building the full hull, but with the dark grey and green camouflage and the dark green antifouling lead used under the waterline, it's going to make for a very dark and drab model. Great for breaking up the outline at sea, not so great as an artistic object inhabe to look at. I think dark is fine, but the drab green hull under the waterline is going to spoil the look.

Here is my RN Roma I built a few years ago. This is the sister ship of









The green works because the main color is a light grey, and the red/white recognition stripes add some interest. On Littorio, I think it's going to all get lost in the background. So waterline model it is. Besides, ships always look more graceful in their element. Even a 45,000 ton fast-dreadnought.

[threemonkeys]

Very nice!

[TheRolexKingofLV]

Very impressive Joe

[axjimenez]

These are incredible!

[joe100]

Thanks guys!

Above that should read SMS Derfflinger , not "Adams Derfflinger". Ha!

[Fleetlord]

How do you display all of these?

BTW...this is one of the best threads on TRF.....

[joe100]

Thanks Fleet!

I'll take a picture of my display case

[joe100]

Everything is here for Littorio. Here are a few shots of the hull and details.

[joe100]

[linesiders]

Very cool and very fine detail! Always love following your threads.

Originally Posted by Fleetlord

How do you display all of these?

BTW...this is one of the best threads on TRF.....

from one named Fleetlord

There seems to be something wrong with our bloody models today

[joe100]

Some progress. Most of the hull detail is finished. Still have some bits and pieces here and there. Notably the diamond trad plates around the 6" guns. All main and secondary armament is finished. The main armament took way longer than necessary because the guy who lathed the rifle barrels for the 15in main guns didn't machine the mounting pin to any perticular size. I use metric carbide micro drill bits and didn't have anything approximating the goofy size he used. I made due by drilling a smaller hole than I needed and reaming it slightly. No room for error because I had 9 blast bag parts and destroying one meant I'd have to re-do all of them so they matched. An irritating setback.

Most navies of the time put a layer of teak wood over the armored deck because teak doesn't get slippery when wet. You see this today even on modern cruise ships. The Italians only added teak to the stern area near the aircraft handling equipment. The rest of the decks were just painted and they used diamond plate where important. The reason they didn't go nuts with the wood was expense. The Littorio class battleships would operate entirely in the Med so they wouldn't experience the nasty storms of the North Atlantic. Other than rain, their decks wouldn't be awash, so why spend all the Lira? This makes construction go faster for me. Since I use real wood and loathe masking, I can add all the detail I like, airbrush the hull sides and deck their respective shades of grey and move on. I don't have to work about fitting decks made of real wood and accidently getting paint on them.

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by joe100

Most navies of the time put a layer of teak wood over the armored deck because teak doesn't get slippery when wet. You see this today even on modern cruise ships. The Italians only added teak to the stern area near the aircraft handling equipment. The rest of the decks were just painted and they used diamond plate where important. The reason they didn't go nuts with the wood was expense. The Littorio class battleships would operate entirely in the Med so they wouldn't experience the nasty storms of the North Atlantic. Other than rain, their decks wouldn't be awash, so why spend all the Lira? This makes construction go faster for me. Since I use real wood and loathe masking, I can add all the detail I like, airbrush the hull sides and deck their respective shades of grey and move on. I don't have to work about fitting decks made of real wood and accidently getting paint on them.

Loathe masking? I enjoy it. There's something strangely cathartic about masking. Especially removing it and revealing the lines...

Anyway, nice work so far Joe. Looks great.

[joe100]

Thanks! The horrors of lifting, things that cause me to wake up in cold sweats!