My Build of the 1/350 scale PLAN DDG-171, Haikou by Trumpeter

(Continued from 1st post)

The Build - Forward Main Gun, VLS, and CIWS, Aft Helo Hanger (May 25, 2012)

The Main gin can be built to tutn on its mount and for the barrel to rais e and lower its elevation, I built the model to do this. All decks are painted in TEstors flat gray. All major side housings and the VLS and gun mounts are painted in Testors Light Gray. By painting the gun covering in off gray, and the CIWS in black, as well as the mount for the VLS missile reloader in a ghost gray, contrast can be added that is realistic and pleasing to the eye.

I detailed the hanger with various poieces of equipment, and also cut the door to be shorter than the two provided. The long door covered the entire hanger which would have completely hidden the inside, but the shorter one was half height and also covered most of the opening. I wanted one 3/4's open and so carefully cut the 1/2 height door and removed a middle portion of the roll-up structure and then glued it back together again and painted the rull-up structure of the door with steel by testors.

This is how all of that turned out.

The Build - Forward Main Structure, port and starboard fairings, Aft VLS and CIWS(May 26, 2012)

Continuing, I build the main forward deck housing with its PAR radars. This was not a straight forward process as the parts had to be build with very little support and they tended to want to move as far as their angle was concerned. This ocvcurred several times with this model as will be pointed out where the joints could have benefited from either holes and pins, or stronger flange attachements that held them at the right angle. But, with careful attention, I was able to get them fitted properly, just be aware that this type of thing on this model can sometime test your patience and you need to work slowly, methodically, and with attention to detail. I painted the windows high up on the main deck housing using a weathered black, which is not quitre as dark or uniform as a standard flat black. I find, in the absence of cut out windows with smoked clear plastic inserts, that this provides a better glass solution.

I then built the aft housing around the hanger. This is not as bad in terms of fit and maintaining correct angles as the forward housing, but it still has the same issues and care must be taken.

Part of this issue with the fit now came was fitting the faired side panels along the side of the vessel to the sid of the center deck, to the main deck housing just discussed, and to the after housing around the hanger. Unless these pieces are positioned just right, a good seam along the side of the vessel is difficult to maintain and some sanding, putty, and careful alignement or realignment may be in order.

All in all, it worked out nicels and is seen in the following pictures.

The Build - Forward Main Mast, Amidships Engine Exhaust and mast housing (May 27, 2012)

The main mast has many small pieces for antennae and sensors. They need to be cut off the sprues carefully and then handled carefull to be able to be properly placed. Attention to detail and patient, painstaking placement is the key here to build the mast and properly prepare it for the placement of all of those pieces. I found it easier to build the main structuire (this section) and then paint and place the smaller pieces later, many of which were small intricate assemblies of their own.

I then build the Engine Exhaaust structure and the two funnels for the Gas Turbine Engines. These were painted in the weathered black I use, inside and out. I painted the exhaust panels on the sides of the structure using steel.

The Build - Forward main deck and mast detail/Equipment/sensors, Amidships Mast, sensors and ASW Missiles, Aft Sensors and details (May 28, 2012)

The details for the vessel at this point, particularly for the masts, are intricate, and as stated above, many of them involve fairly detailed assemblies of their own. In addition, there are some inconsistanceies between the model configuration and the actual vessel. I have not placed those yet and intend to build them as seen on the vessel. For example, the antennae that are located on the exhaust structure are not cioncluded. There are four of these that need to be painted flat black. Also, the intricate antennae that are on the secondary housing are far too thick and configured towards the very initial configuration of the first vessel, DDG-170, LAnzhou. Since initial launch, this has changed and has a different configuration and much thinner more delicate antennae. I intend to build these as they now exist.

Actual Mast and Antennae Configurations of DDG-171, Haikou

Other than that, the life rafts, the sensors, the antennae, blast deflectors, and particularly the intricate and highly detailed anti-surface missile luncher quad packs were all built. Thoe quad packs are relatively difficult to put together. The joining of the parts is not too sturdy and you have to spend time, be patient, and put them together carefully and then let them dry and get strong before proceeding. when you do, the results are ver nice indeed.

(Continued in next post on this thread.)

(Continued from above post in this thread.)

A bow on view of the model to this point is starting to look pretty impressive:

The long Memorial Day weekend here in the states benefited me because on two of those days I was able to spend many hours working as opposed to my normal routine of spending a couple of hours each evening.

But, there's still lots to do. Building the various antennae and sensors mentioned above to the correct configuration. Building and placing the chaff and decoy lanchers. Building and placing the cranes and ship launches on each side. Building and placing the entire prop, propeller, and rudders, and then all of the photo etched railing and sensors (that came with the vessel and additional after market parts) to complete the realism of the vessel.

I am looking at probably late the first week of June or the second week of June to complete...ahead of the current schedule.

SCHEDULE for Future Activities as of May 29, 2012

This is a great build. Trumpeter makes some really good products, particularly in their 1/350 scael ships.

Once I am complete, it will be back to the Aircraft Carrier Battle groups. My current schedule calls for the following regarding those groups:

- By June 30, 2012: Complete PLAN Lanzhou Class, Haikou DDG-171.
- By Oct 15, 2012: Complete the USS Enterprise, CVN-65.
- By Dec 15, 2012: Complete the USS Lassen, DDG-82.

At that point I will go back and complete the PLAN Carrier group, centered on the [url=http://www.jeffhead.com/modelbuilds/PRC-CV-01.htm">the PLA Navy's Aircraft Carrier in 1/350 scale by Trumpeter[/url], including Trumpeter's DDG-168, Guangzhou; DDG-139, Ningbo; FFG-570, Huangshan and the Hobby Boss PLAN ChangZheng5, SSN-405.

Then, it will be on to finish the US Carrier Strike group including ,Trumpeter's USS Bunker Hill, CG-52, and the Los Angeles Class attack sumbmarine (which I have already completed), Testor's SSN-764, USS Boise (It was actaully the San Juan, but I built and marked it as the USS Boise).

Then Trumpeter's USS Iwo Jima LHD-7, Trumpeter's USS Freedom, LCS-1, Cyber Hobby's USS Independence, LCS-2, Hobby Boss's USS Texas, SSN-775.

When a 1/350 scale USS Gerald R. Ford comes out from Trumpeter, Airfix, Tamiya, Dragon, or whomeever else, I will add it to this group along with another AEGIS Cruiser and Burke DDG.

Once the US and PLAN groups are built, I intend on building a complete Russian CSG (centered on Trumpeter's Kuznetsov) and a UK CSG centered on the HMS Queen Elizabeth if it is available, and if not then on Airfix's HMS Illustrious (which I have already purchased). That group will also include two Type 45 Daring Class Airfix models which come out in May and which I am on the advnced order list for, a Trafalgar SSN (which I already have) and an Astute SSN (which I also alrady have). The models are or will be available for me to do those CSGs after the PLAN and US ones are complete late this year.

Then, again, once the models are available, I'd like to build a Japanese group centered on their new 22DDH carrier and the Hyuga, an Italian Group centered on the Cavour, a French Group centered on the De Gaulle, a Spanish Group centered on the Jaun Carlos, and ultimatly an Australian Group centered on the new Canberra. If they ever build the models, an Indian group centered on either the Vikramaditya or their new ADS Carrier the Vikrant would also be nice. You can see all of these carriers at my site:

All of these along with their escorts will be in 1/350 scale. Literally years worth of building, probably the rest of my life.

WORLD WIDE AIRCRAFT CARRIERS

...and most of their surface escorts at:

AEGIS VESSELS OF THE WORLD

[QUOTE=Jeff Head;190847](Continued from above post in this thread.)

A bow on view of the model to this point is starting to look pretty impressive:

The long Memorial Day weekend here in the states benefited me because on two of those days I was able to spend many hours working as opposed to my normal routine of spending a couple of hours each evening.

But, there's still lots to do. Building the various antennae and sensors mentioned above to the correct configuration. Building and placing the chaff and decoy lanchers. Building and placing the cranes and ship launches on each side. Building and placing the entire prop, propeller, and rudders, and then all of the photo etched railing and sensors (that came with the vessel and additional after market parts) to complete the realism of the vessel.

I am looking at probably late the first week of June or the second week of June to complete...ahead of the current schedule.

SCHEDULE for Future Activities as of May 29, 2012

This is a great build. Trumpeter makes some really good products, particularly in their 1/350 scael ships.

Once I am complete, it will be back to the Aircraft Carrier Battle groups. My current schedule calls for the following regarding those groups:

- By June 30, 2012: Complete PLAN Lanzhou Class, Haikou DDG-171.
- By Oct 15, 2012: Complete the USS Enterprise, CVN-65.
- By Dec 15, 2012: Complete the USS Lassen, DDG-82.

At that point I will go back and complete the PLAN Carrier group, centered on the [url=http://www.jeffhead.com/modelbuilds/PRC-CV-01.htm">the PLA Navy's Aircraft Carrier in 1/350 scale by Trumpeter[/url], including Trumpeter's DDG-168, Guangzhou; DDG-139, Ningbo; FFG-570, Huangshan and the Hobby Boss PLAN ChangZheng5, SSN-405.

Then, it will be on to finish the US Carrier Strike group including ,Trumpeter's USS Bunker Hill, CG-52, and the Los Angeles Class attack sumbmarine (which I have already completed), Testor's SSN-764, USS Boise (It was actaully the San Juan, but I built and marked it as the USS Boise).

Then Trumpeter's USS Iwo Jima LHD-7, Trumpeter's USS Freedom, LCS-1, Cyber Hobby's USS Independence, LCS-2, Hobby Boss's USS Texas, SSN-775.

When a 1/350 scale USS Gerald R. Ford comes out from Trumpeter, Airfix, Tamiya, Dragon, or whomeever else, I will add it to this group along with another AEGIS Cruiser and Burke DDG.

Once the US and PLAN groups are built, I intend on building a complete Russian CSG (centered on Trumpeter's Kuznetsov) and a UK CSG centered on the HMS Queen Elizabeth if it is available, and if not then on Airfix's HMS Illustrious (which I have already purchased). That group will also include two Type 45 Daring Class Airfix models which come out in May and which I am on the advnced order list for, a Trafalgar SSN (which I already have) and an Astute SSN (which I also alrady have). The models are or will be available for me to do those CSGs after the PLAN and US ones are complete late this year.

Then, again, once the models are available, I'd like to build a Japanese group centered on their new 22DDH carrier and the Hyuga, an Italian Group centered on the Cavour, a French Group centered on the De Gaulle, a Spanish Group centered on the Jaun Carlos, and ultimatly an Australian Group centered on the new Canberra. If they ever build the models, an Indian group centered on either the Vikramaditya or their new ADS Carrier the Vikrant would also be nice. You can see all of these carriers at my site:

All of these along with their escorts will be in 1/350 scale. Literally years worth of building, probably the rest of my life.

They look good, I have been trying to find some of the old Cox control line models I used to buy and destroy, supriseingly the Stuka was the fastest and flew the best. I believe I had three or four of those, a coupla Mustangs and Corsairs, a Spitfire, which I was watching a nice one in Canada and made an offer on, but it went for about 400+. I did most of the flying out in the street in front of our house on base. The SPs would come by and order us out of the street, and we would wait 20 or 30 minutes and start flying again, but 18,000 rpm two strokes are a little noisy. When they came back they drove their truck into my flying circle and I pulled out of a wing-over just in time to avoid takeing the lights off the top of the truck, they were POed to say the least. I did mow the Chiefs lawn and he and I got along great, his name was Captain Mayer, so he intervened on my behalf, but no more flying for a few days. So we went to carrier takeoffs from the picnic table, using the PT-19s which were held together by rubber bands, I think a successfull take-off was about a 35% probability, but just added to the fun, any way neat looking ships all and they do look like the real thing.

Sounds like lots of fun. When I was young,out in the country of North Central Texas on the ranch, I built quite a few US Navy and particularly German and Russian models. We would ultimately take them down to the creek and started at about 10 years of age with BB guns and some black cat fircrackers. By the time I was 16 and 17, it was .40 ga shotguns and Cherry Bombs. We would glue partitions in the hulls and make them water toght...as many as we could.

Then go up the creek a few dozen yards and take turns either letting them go and float down, or standing on the creek bank as shore batteries blasting away at them.

Lots of fun back then...but now I build them and spend too much money and time on them. So they end up on stands and in cases on shelves next to one another in their various groupings for comparison and old sea dog talk.

Anyhow, I have added the helo deck netting/safety railing and some of the railing. Am also building that mid deck comm and sensor array. Hope to have this one pretty close to being finished by the end of the weekend or next week. Will show more pics later.

Wow..nice work Jeff! Again as always, you still impressed me. I bet you got the system down pretty good, therefore can on these models pretty fast.

Originally Posted by Jeff Head

Sounds like lots of fun. When I was young,out in the country of North Central Texas on the ranch, I built quite a few US Navy and particularly German and Russian models. We would ultimately take them down to the creek and started at about 10 years of age with BB guns and some black cat fircrackers. By the time I was 16 and 17, it was .40 ga shotguns and Cherry Bombs. We would glue partitions in the hulls and make them water toght...as many as we could.

Then go up the creek a few dozen yards and take turns either letting them go and float down, or standing on the creek bank as shore batteries blasting away at them.

Lots of fun back then...but now I build them and spend too much money and time on them. So they end up on stands and in cases on shelves next to one another in their various groupings for comparison and old sea dog talk.

Anyhow, I have added the helo deck netting/safety railing and some of the railing. Am also building that mid deck comm and sensor array. Hope to have this one pretty close to being finished by the end of the weekend or next week. Will show more pics later.

To the targets at your front, on your own time...FIRE!

Hehe.

Jeff, at this rate you're going to croak with a Testors tube or a paintbrush in your hand!

Originally Posted by Norfolk

To the targets at your front, on your own time...FIRE!

Hehe.

Jeff, at this rate you're going to croak with a Testors tube or a paintbrush in your hand!

Hehehe...there's a whole lot worse ways to go!

But I believe, now that I have pretty much stabilized from my very major bout and surgery and rehab with chordoma bone cancer, that I have a lot of life left in me, and the model building has been one of the therapuetic ways of dealing with it, along with work and a lot of time with wife, kids, and grandkids!

Got a couple of grandsons helping me with it too, which is also a lot of fun.

Originally Posted by equation

Wow..nice work Jeff! Again as always, you still impressed me. I bet you got the system down pretty good, therefore can on these models pretty fast.

Well, the DDGs and other non-carrier surface ships go a lot faster. I still have a couple of weeks left on this to get everything done, so it will be close to a month. Then I will start the USS Enterprise and that's going to be a good 4+ months of work and will go a lot slower.

Thanks for the kind words!

Latest progress update. She's looking pretty darn good!

PLAN DDG-171, Haikou 1/350 Scale Model Progress - June 4, 2012

Originally Posted by Jeff Head

Latest progress update. She's looking pretty darn good!

PLAN DDG-171, Haikou 1/350 Scale Model Progress - June 4, 2012

Nice job Jeff, you made it look so easy to do. I was wondering, is your workshop pretty well ventilated, considering all that smell coming from the glue and paint?

Originally Posted by Equation

Nice job Jeff, you made it look so easy to do. I was wondering, is your workshop pretty well ventilated, considering all that smell coming from the glue and paint?

Yes.

Tomorrow I am going to update my main Model Building Site with pictures of my shop, the models I already have completed (some of which I have had to repair recently due to grandkids getting a hold of them and damaging the...yut that's alright...it's just paint, glue and plastic and easily repaired. Hurt feelings of little ones are not as easily repaired), my "stash" of 35 or so unbuilt models, etc.

As you will see, I have a window right there, a fan, and good cross ventilation.

Good question!

Originally Posted by Jeff Head

Hehehe...there's a whole lot worse ways to go!

But I believe, now that I have pretty much stabilized from my very major bout and surgery and rehab with chordoma bone cancer, that I have a lot of life left in me, and the model building has been one of the therapuetic ways of dealing with it, along with work and a lot of time with wife, kids, and grandkids!

Got a couple of grandsons helping me with it too, which is also a lot of fun.

Well, the DDGs and other non-carrier surface ships go a lot faster. I still have a couple of weeks left on this to get everything done, so it will be close to a month. Then I will start the USS Enterprise and that's going to be a good 4+ months of work and will go a lot slower.

Thanks for the kind words!

Quite Right, and a lot of his brothers here on Sino D are praying for him, speaking of brothers, and I feel that way about all you guys, are there any sisters on Sino D, or maybe they just couldn't tolerate us dudes? I know its a dumb question, but it seems that the ladies are not interested in this stuff?

Originally Posted by Air Force Brat

Quite Right, and a lot of his brothers here on Sino D are praying for him, speaking of brothers, and I feel that way about all you guys, are there any sisters on Sino D, or maybe they just couldn't tolerate us dudes? I know its a dumb question, but it seems that the ladies are not interested in this stuff?

Well, I haven't seen any (hehehe of course) but with the psuedo names, you never know. I suspect there are in fact sister SD enthusiasts, either lurking and perhaps posting.

Originally Posted by Equation

Nice job Jeff, you made it look so easy to do. I was wondering, is your workshop pretty well ventilated, considering all that smell coming from the glue and paint?

Nawh! that would take the fun out of it, my next door neighbor on LRAFB was a Cpt, and an IP in the 130 like my Dad. He was a motorhead, "yes I did scare him in his own 65 corvette with the 396 Big Block, rated a 425hp", loved the smell of gasoline. He was a Texan, and related that his Uncle found him passed out on the top of the gas barrel, "yes, all US farms had a gas barrel", right bd, anyway he had climbed up on top of it and had the filler cap open and his nose down in it and passed out. Gasoline smelled a lot better in the old days, especially AV-Gas. Anyway JP only smells good after its burned, coming out of the nozzle. So if you must sniff, keep it brief, as it does kill brain cells. Really don't do it!

Originally Posted by Air Force Brat

...anyway he had climbed up on top of it and had the filler cap open and his nose down in it and passed out. Gasoline smelled a lot better in the old days, especially AV-Gas. Anyway JP only smells good after its burned, coming out of the nozzle. So if you must sniff, keep it brief, as it does kill brain cells. Really don't do it!

Now that is a good old sailor's story told by a US Air Force old coot...hehehe. Good story though...I was just picturing it in my mind's eye. LOL!