1/700 Tamiya USS Saratoga CV-3

[hamchuck]

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I would offer no criticsms, as this IS your Sara and your model fun, but I think you have the earlier, 1942 Rabaul raid Measure 21 paint scheme Rather than the post 1944 refit Measure 32/11a dazzle paint job. Her career as a dedicated night carrier was in the offing.
Either way, she looks very fine!

I did consider this for a while, but I wanted a scheme she saw combat in, even if it was for only two weeks. I'll probably do a dazzle scheme on another ship at some point, though. I've been considering doing two versions of the Enterprise, Midway and later in the war, and she did carry the dazzle scheme through 1944.

On the subject of the number problem, what I'm thinking now is printing out my own decals. Has anybody here tried that?

 

[Heavens Eagle]

I did consider this for a while, but I wanted a scheme she saw combat in, even if it was for only two weeks. I'll probably do a dazzle scheme on another ship at some point, though. I've been considering doing two versions of the Enterprise, Midway and later in the war, and she did carry the dazzle scheme through 1944.

On the subject of the number problem, what I'm thinking now is printing out my own decals. Has anybody here tried that?

@Rhino Hey Chris!

Decals can be printed out. Laser printers printing will usually work quite well. Ink jet printing will need to be coated with something as the ink will do weird dissolve things with decal softeners.

 

[hamchuck]

@Rhino Hey Chris!

Decals can be printed out. Laser printers printing will usually work quite well. Ink jet printing will need to be coated with something as the ink will do weird dissolve things with decal softeners.

Ah, top tip about the ink jet, since that's what I have. Thanks.

 

[Rhino]

I did consider this for a while, but I wanted a scheme she saw combat in, even if it was for only two weeks. I'll probably do a dazzle scheme on another ship at some point, though. I've been considering doing two versions of the Enterprise, Midway and later in the war, and she did carry the dazzle scheme through 1944.

On the subject of the number problem, what I'm thinking now is printing out my own decals. Has anybody here tried that?

I do it often. I cain't print white. I have success with inkjet decals on clear decal paper. DO NOT buy the Koala brand of clear decal paper. It's about as thick as your fingernail.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/174733780487?var=473913826728


This is the brand I have had the greatest success with in 1/350 and 1/700 scale. They also offer laser jet clear decal paper.

 

[Heavens Eagle]

I do it often. I cain't print white. I have success with inkjet decals on clear decal paper. DO NOT buy the Koala brand of clear decal paper. It's about as thick as your fingernail.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/174733780487?var=473913826728

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This is the brand I have had the greatest success with in 1/350 and 1/700 scale. They also offer laser jet clear decal paper.

What do you coat the decals with before doing any setting solutions etc.

 

[moon puppy]

I've used future in the past...

 

[hamchuck]

I've used future in the past...

Aaaaand now I've gone cross-eyed.

But that triggers a vague memory of this technique, probably from when I got Finescale Modeller in the 80s. I think they airbrushed their decals in that one. Future is no longer available, but another acrylic floor wax should do the trick.

 

[moon puppy]

but another acrylic floor wax should do the trick.

Absolutely. I've tested the Bona stuff, has a milky color to it out of the bottle but dries glossy clear.

 

[hamchuck]

The weekend report:

I decided to try painting the flight deck lines. It took a bit of minor masking work (sarcasm, it took a good chunk of Saturday) but it worked out pretty well. I goofed a little by continuing the centerline stripe all the way to the fantail, where the aft "3" is supposed to go. That should be an easy fix, though. I really wish that I'd waited to attach the island structures until after I'd completed the flight deck because it made the masking even more of a pain. Lesson learned for the Enterprise.

As for the numbers themselves, it looks like printing them out will work out great, except for one hitch. A test on a spare flight deck shows it turns out too dark. I tried to fade it a little and anything other than pure black prints out as magenta. I don't use my printer very much so it's probably the print head.

 

[moon puppy]

all that symmetry, everything evenly spaced and squared up. Outstanding job! I'm jealous. Well done Al!

 

[Rhino]

The flightdeck markings are outstanding! Try using a shade of blue, for the numbers, maybe? I'll wager your already thought of this.

 

[hamchuck]

The flightdeck markings are outstanding! Try using a shade of blue, for the numbers, maybe? I'll wager your already thought of this.

I was thinking dark gray, but it's no problem to try it a couple different ways. I've got a new printhead on order which should fix the magenta problem.

 

[Heavens Eagle]

Grays on inkjets are usually done as colors and are mixed. Thing is, you now have a pattern which you could cut out of paper and could use as a mask pattern.
Make the mask, set it on the deck and use some weight around the edges. There is also some double sided photo tape that 3M makes that is just barely sticky that you could use to hold parts in place as needed. Then airbrush with low pressure from some distance and you can get the desired darkness. It isn't as hard as doing the lines striping that you just did.

BTW the lines striping are superb! EXCELLENT JOB!