December Ship Club Meeting

Thanks to everyone who was able to attend our monthly meeting Saturday.  

Here is the LINK to the Zoom meeting.  The following is a recap of the meeting.

We started with some industry news.  Brandon Lowe has purchased back Free Time Hobbies and has also acquired the Hobby Swap site.  Brandon has started a weekly video blog.  In his first video he talks about his history in the business and the various companies he's bought and sold over the years.  This LINK will take you to that first video.  The next video will likely take place on Thursday evening, December 8th.  If I get some information about that I will get it out to you as quickly as I can.  In his next video he's planning to discuss the new 1/350 USS Atlanta model kit from Very Fire.  

More industry news.  Starling Models is going to start a new bi-monthly downloadable pdf publication solely related to ship modeling.  If you register on their site and request notification, you will be advised when the publication is ready.  

We had a follow up from the previous meeting on the capabilities of the USN Fire Scout unmanned helicopters which is the subject of a new TAKOM models release this month.  It can carry small rockets and surveillance pods.  

We spent some time looking at a very interesting model of the HMS Hood sinking.  This was timely as we had to protect a river pour left on the workbench.  These models are deep pour slow cure resin.  This would be an interesting, yet expensive way to display a model.  We may try it someday.  Well done by modeler Won-Hui Lee.

Next we looked at some of the projects our members are working on.

First up David shared his air wing for his 1/350 USS Lexington

Next up was Rob Weilacher who is back up and operating in his new home.  He's working on the USS Erie from NIKO models in 1/700 scale.  Also he shared with us his B-52G from Pit Road, also in 1/700 scale.  

Then John Widmar shared his Flyhawk HMS Agincourt.  Very interesting model with seven large turrets.  Some interesting history was shared about this model during the meeting and worth listening to.

John also shared his build of a rare Japanese kit of the Ashizuri.  Len identified the manufacturer.  John advised that all the instructions were in Japanese.  

I followed up on my work with Above & Below Graphics out of Canada.  They are the company that is working with me on anti-slip pads for model ships.  I did a sample on a sample deck painted in deck blue, but even lightened for scale effect didn't show off the pads in detail.  The group gave some excellent feedback which I will share with Above & Below prior to making them available.  Stay tuned!

Here's a great shot showing the pads on ships deck

Then we did a follow up on a Japanese wood ship manufacturer called Woody Joe.  They make traditional plank on frame modern ships in addition to the ancient boat and ship models we showed last time.  They also make lighting kits for their models.  Not our usual ship kit type but interesting.

On to Tool Time.  Jerry Beasley found a very nice Tamiya bottle holder/organizer.  I've been using something similar and very happy with it.  I have them for different products.  For example a three bottle holder for the just the adhesives.  Another one for decal solvent.  If you go to Etsy and search "Tamiya Bottle Holder" you'll find a bunch of them at reasonable prices.  

I brought in some glass files that I found on Amazon.  They are a similar design to those sold by companies like Infini to modelers for many times the price.  I got eight of these for $10 delivered on Amazon.  It's not the first time I've seen modeling products adapted from other markets and sold at much high prices.  Here's a LINK to them on Amazon.  The beauty of these files is that they remove material but leave a polished surface behind.   This set is sold in two grits.  

Some new kits that are on the market

From Atlantic Models a new resin kit of the HMS Severn.  It's a small patrol craft that can be modeled as three different ships.  This is a modern ship painted in the Norther Passages paint scheme that has a nod to WWII British and Canadian Corvettes. 

Dragon Models has re-released their 1/350 Gearing & Gleaves Class destroyers 

A model that's getting a lot of attention is Flyhawk's upcoming 1/700 Iron Duke.  

Here are some detailed CAD drawings from the Iron Duke.  

Here's something different.  This is a model from a company called Panzerkampf which translates into Tank Struggle?  Anyway, it's a 1/1000 Essex.  Upon further review, it turns out these are diecast models and are already built.

Something new from AJM Models are two Escort Carrier conversions.  They are the HMS Rapana Class  Amastra and the Dutch carrier HNMS Macoma.  Right now just CAD drawings but it looks promising.

These CAD drawings show the extensive detail below the flight deck.

I was the most excited to see this upcoming release from Black Cat Models of the Butler Class Destroyer Escort.  I'll be first in line for one of each!  I plan to build the early version as the USS Samuel B Roberts famous for her bravery during the Battle of Samar.   The late version (improved anti aircraft) will be the USS Tabberer who was famous for surviving Typhoon Cobra.  I can't wait for this one!!

This next one caught John Widmar's eye.  This is a company he's purchased models from before called Ocean Moon.  This model is the 1/700 USS San Francisco.  Can't wait to see John build this one!

A company we've been following is 3D-Wild who selling kits from a Chinese company called Chuanyu Models.  These are traditional resin hull models with extensive photo etch, turned barrels, etc.  The hull is one piece and full hull.  It's 1/350 scale.  

Bunker Studio continues to amaze us with their high quality 3D printed parts.  Here is the stack from the IJN Yamato mounted on the very plain Tamiya kit.  The rest of the kit is going to need a lot of upgrades to do justice to this beautiful work!

And for your 1/200 Yamato, how about some barrels with rifling printed on the inside of the barrel.  The technology allows it so why not!  

Bunker is also making some 1/350 aircraft of the IJN and USN during WWII.  They are modeled with open frame canopies which you can add something like Kristal Klear to in order to represent the glass.  What I didn't like about the TBD-1 are the saucer sized rivets on the side of the fuselage.  They would be better not added to the model.  Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should.  I suppose you could sand them off.

Moving on, Orange Hobby is releasing a new kit of the R.O.C.N Destroyer, formerly DDG-925 which is a Gearing Class FRAM conversion sold to Republic of China.  Not inexpensive for a 1/700 kit.  Orange Hobby does produce very high quality kits.  This one appears to be all 3D printed with photo etch and decals.

As you can see from this photo the ship was highly upgraded from her time with the US Navy.  She has missile launchers, Phalanx weapon, and improved deck guns.  

Another 1/700 kit from Orange Hobby is one they previously produced in 1/350 scale.  This is a Russian Tarantul III Corvette, a.k.a. by Ukraine as a target.  

In this kit you get two 3D printed models.  Do you sense a theme coming from Orange Hobby?  

From Kraken Hobbies, more upgrades to previously released kits.  Now they are producing 3D printed hulls to support their upgrade sets!  We know from Rob's experience that they produce quality parts.

Relatively new on the scene is HS Models out of Japan.  First up are some very nice 1/350 3D printed F-35B's.  

Also new are these modern deck guns.  Note the option to have their maintenance doors open, exposing the interior detail.  These are also in 1/350 scale.

Remember we still have build night coming up on December 20th.

Dave