May 2026 ship club meeting.  

Here's a LINK to the meeting recording.  

We took a break to attend CoMMiESFest which took place April 4, 2026.  We had a vendor table there in which four of us participated.  Brian Hatak and I (David Waples) entered models and were awarded for our efforts.  

This month I shared ship models from three different shows.  HeritageCon, AtlantaCon, and CoMMiESFest.  At each show ships were well represented.  I'm not going to copy all the ship models to this recap.  To view them watch the link to the live meeting above.  If you want me to send you a photo of something specific, let me know.

Okay, so here we go...

We started with some club business.  Our July meeting is scheduled for July 4th and the library is closed.  So we either skip July or pick a different day.  Most seemed to be interested in picking a different day.  I'll check and see what days in July makes sense.  

This is a follow-up from our March meeting.  Markings on the edge of the flight deck are part of the camouflage.  Sam commented that it was bad luck for a ship to have its name changed.  This carrier changed its name three times.  The photo below shows her as the Midway.  It was then changed to St. Lo.  She was sunk at the Battle of Samar  at Leyte Gulf.  Bad luck indeed!  But here's a breakdown of the camo scheme.

Not sure why the image was so poor during the meeting.  This is a clearer view of the drawing Sam provided showing Measure 32.  The colors are identified in the drawing.  

Here's a color drawing of how this paint measure should look.  This is the USS Gambier Bay, also lost at the Battle of Samar.  Thanks for following up on this, Sam!

Tool time!  We spotlighted a new electric hand drill from a favorite tool maker, Dspiae.  

Here's a LINK to a Dspiae video outlining the features of this drill.  Looks like a useful tool!  If interested you can find these at various places in China.  I'm not seeing any available in the US yet.  

Let's take a look at what we're building.  

Rob Weilacher showed off his recently finished Flower Class Corvette in 1/700 scale from Black Cat Models.  90 pieces in 3 inches.  Great work, Rob!  That kit is a real gem.  

Rob referenced this book which is available at many places online.  

Black Cat Models offers five different 1/700 Flower Class Corvettes.  Check out their web site for details.  You can find them HERE

Rob also challenged us to identify his next project.  It was correctly identified by Richard (and not by me) as Scharnhorst.  We'll look forward to this one coming together.

David Angelo shared a photo of his recent build of his White Ensign Models, HMS Warspite.  David has a few things to finish up before calling it complete.  Great work, David.

David referenced this book.  Only available used.  If interested I found it on Biblio for $23.  

 "The Battleship Warspite" 

Ross Watton

Naval Institute Press  1986

120 pages, the usual format

Covers from birth to death.

Greg Hauser shared his 1/350 Fujimi Kongo with the Flyhawk photo etch set.  I was not smart enough to show it to you during the meeting.  Nice work, Greg!

When I went to HeritageCon I planned some time at museums in Buffalo.  I started with the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park.  Unfortunately the museum was closed beyond their planned opening date.  That would have been good to know!  I'm told they are great museum ships, but check before you go.. then check again! I was still able to take some photos of the USS Sullivans, and guided missile cruiser, USS Little Rock.   

While there I also caught the USCGC Bristol Bay.  She's operational and looked to be in great condition.  Unfortunately no tours available.  

While in Canada, Harvey Low took me out to see the HMCS Haida which looks to be a fabulous museum ship.  She is really well looked after.  Hopefully I can make it up there another time when she's open.  

She really has some nice lines!

We took a look at some new kits on the market.  First up was a ship class that Roger Schafer served on during Vietnam.  It was the USS Borie which was an Allen M. Sumner Class FRAM II destroyer.  This is a full hull, 3D printed model available in either 1/700 or 1/350 scales.  These are available from Hellenic Ship Model in Greece.  A little pricey to get here but the kit looks exceptional.

New from 3D Wild is the USS Nevada in 1/350 scale.  Observations from the group were favorable.

3D-Wild is also releasing a computer mat with the USS Nevada.  It will be autographed in some way by the last remaining survivor of Nevada, Richard Ramsey.  

Triumph Models has announced a bunch of new ship kits.  

They will be releasing a 1/350 Flower Class Corvette.  At least the CAD drawings look great.  If interested you can probably find it when released at Hobby Easy.  They carry the full range of Triumph Models kits and accessories.  

Also coming from Triumph Models is a full hull 1/700 Nagato.

They have announced a 1/350 Sumner Class in WWII configuration.  

Again, the CAD work looks amazing

Next from Triumph is a 1/350 IJN Destroyer, Yugumo.

This one looks close to being released.  This will give you an idea of what's involved with this kit.

Announced is a 1/700 HMS Courageous.

Another IJN Destroyer announced is the 1/350 Matsu in 1944 configuration.

This one also looks ready to hit the market

Something a little different is this T6 Sherman Tank floatation device.  

We were wondering if this was actually used and it was.  As you can see the tracks are exposed under the floatation device so it can drive itself onto the beach.  

Another unique model announced is the Moskva Class Aviation Cruiser from Takom.  It's 1/350 scale and includes lower deck details.  Notice the elevator in the aft deck to lower helicopters to the hangar bay.  

Coming from Very Fire is the USS North Carolina.  Not much information available yet.  

Again, the CAD work looks exceptional.  Expect a basic and advanced version of this one.

I 💖 Kit is releasing another early Burke Class Destroyer in 1/200 scale.  This one will include the hangar bay on the fantail.  

Back to 1/700 Snowman Italian Battleship Andrea Doria in 1941 configuration.  As you can see there is a ton of 3D parts included with this model, along with photo etch.  Also included is the Italian lighthouse.

Here's a finished model displayed on a sheet of black acrylic, which I think looks quite nice.

Snowman is also releasing again their 1/700 Gearing Class destroyer, this time with some 3D printed parts.

This was interesting.  This model was placed into an image using Artificial Intelligence.  Pretty remarkable way to display your work!  I'm sure we'll be seeing more of this!

Last I came across this 1/35 late war Elco PT Boat from Italeri.  One of the best renditions of this kit I've seen.

We'll see you next time!

 March 2026 Ship Club Meeting Recap

Thanks to everyone who was able to make our meeting on Saturday, March 7th.  Here's the LINK to the recorded meeting.  

Here's what we covered...

We began by discussing laser weapons systems currently deployed in the Middle East in Operation Epic Fury.   Martin provided some excellent information during this discussion.  There are two different systems currently deployed in the area of operations.  They are ODIN (Optical Dazzling Interdictor), and HELIOS.

Below is an example of the ODIN system on an Arleigh Burke destroyer.  

HELIOS system actually burns holes in whatever is targeted.

This is a gray scale photo of the system being fired.  It took place at night.

Interestingly nobody has designed any 3D parts for these systems.  I would expect that to change before long!

The Iranian Navy has been completely taken out, but at the time they had not struck any of the Iranian mini submarines which are the Ghadir Class Mini Sub.

Interestingly the South Korean Frigate Cheonan was sunk by a mini sub that this boat is designed after.

I was checking on the USS Colorado to see if she has been deployed.  She has not, but the crew is doing a fundraiser by selling USS Colorado blankets.  The blanket is Navy Blue with the logo in this slide embossed it.  If interested go to the USS Colorado facebook page and send an email as instructed.  

A follow-up from our last meeting is what replaced the Mystic rescue submarine.  Below is what the US Navy is using today.  It can take on 16 passengers at a time.

I followed up on on the Infini brand brass rigging wire with a demonstration.  

Here's my ship mule with a few .1mm wires secured to the mast and bow.  The trick for me was to use UV resin.  I put a tiny amount on the end of the wire and cured it.  Then I attached another tiny drop where I want the line secured and hold it in place while I hit it with a light.  

Len invested in a Kickstarter for a new wireless hobby sander.  This one looks very promising with a variety of attachments which makes it very versatile.  One of the features that caught my attention was the use of sponge sanders which is extremely useful for curved surfaces.

If you go to this LINK you can learn more about the tool and the available options, which are many.

When then had a short discussion about waterline markers.  Some use some of the below tools, while others just eyeball it.  The key is to set up your model with the desired waterline on a level plane.  The tool is then dragged around the model marking the waterline to be painted... or decaled.

The marker in the slide below is from Amati and sells for about $20

This is the marker I've been using for years.  When I bought it there wasn't much on the market.  What I like about this marker is it has a heavy base, and there is a micro adjustment that allows you to very carefully adjust the pencil or scriber.  The only downside is that the only pencil that will fit into it is something very skinny, or else you have to put it in a lathe and cut it down.   

I found this one on Etsy at a very reasonable price.  However the pencil or marker isn't designed to angle down.  

This one is similar and also available on Etsy.  Unlike the other it has laser engraved delineations.  This one also does not have any angle to it.

This one was available at Model Shipways at a very reasonable price.  I'm not sure how the pencil is supported.  Martin has one and is going to give us some feedback.

This one is similar to the Amati marker and operates in the same manner.  

Speaking of waterlines, Quinta Studios is now producing waterline decals.  These are black and mostly suited for 1/700 or possibly small 1/350 models.  They come in a large variety of widths.  It would be nice to see these in some thicker widths as black line decals are useful for a variety of subjects.

On to what we're working on now.  

Victor Prall shared a photo that he is very proud of.  It's his USS Enterprise in the background, and the USS Missouri in the foreground.

David Angelo finished his Constellation 1916.  This is a ship designed but never built.  It was built for speed.  David 3D designed and printed many of these parts.  Really well done, David!

Here is Rob Weilacher's USS Downes kit from Kraken built as the USS Cassin DD-372

Next I shared my two latest builds which are Los Angeles Class I and III (688i) submarines from Riich models.  

This is the USS San Juan, Flight III boat.

This is the USS Dallas with the attached Mystic DSRV 1 Rescue Sub/

This explains what I did with the kit to bring it to a display model.  I originally planned just to make these as test models.  But I ended up liking them more than I expected and went off the deep end.  

I'm also working on some Virginia Class submarines from RCSubs .cz.  This first one is a bad kit that Oto sent to me as extra parts.  Turned out it built into a respectable model.

The complete kit I have is coming together very nicely.  One thing I learned on the practice model was that the mast covers are incredibly fragile.  They are 3D printed into the mast.  To protect them from my fat fingers I wrapped thin cardboard (think cereal box) around the sail and taped with Tamiya tape.   

I'm also working on a 1/144 Virginia Class, Block III sub as the USS Colorado.  I learned after the kit had been produced that the flood holes at the stern were different than those at the bow.  I chose to fill the kit holes in with UV Putty which worked perfectly. After cleaning up I will add corrected flood holes and the hatch covers for the anchor and auxiliary propulsion system.

My goal is to have all these sub kits completed for some shows this spring!

Remember the lady that had the YouTube channel and segment about curing resin in cold temperatures?  Well this is what I needed to cure the oil on the bases.  The oil needs to be exposed to a constant 70 degrees or higher over three days to completely cure.  This did the trick and was an inexpensive and effective solution for cold winter days.

Here's a photo of my little garage setup.  As you can see I was able to cure two frames at a time.  With a second drying rack I could cure four of them!

On to new kits on the market...

Flyhawk has released a 1/700 German Heavy Cruiser, Admiral Scheer 1940.  

As you would expect with flyhawk, lots of tiny plastic parts providing super detail to your model.  This can be modeled as full hull or waterline.

Next from Very Fire is the 1/700 Takao Deluxe edition.  As with all Very Fire kits you can buy a basic or deluxe version, depending on how much detail you wish to add to your model.

The brass linoleum stays are an interesting idea.  Not sure if it's a good one though!  

The hull detail is remarkable in this scale.

Very Fire now incorporates more 3D printed parts, eliminating a lot of frustrating photo etch

 Flyhawk has also come out with a 1/700 HMS Martin in 1942 configuration.  This is a deluxe edition which includes photo etch and 3D printed parts.

Now some models of note...

First up is a model of the IJN Mamiya, Food Supply Ship.  This is a Pit Road model kit.  Really well done as a full hull model.  Some thought that it was available as a waterline kit from Aoshima.  

Finally I came across this model from SS Models.  I was advised that Richard Harden at Tom's Modelworks did the photo etch for this model.  Being from SS Models it is likely completed as a 3D print.

That's it from this month.  Next month I hope to be reporting on the show I'm going to near Toronto, HeritageCon.