1/700 USS Louisiana SSBN

[Gator]

Time to get this shelf queen finished. The construction is done but I need to get her on the base. Using air dry clay, I got the base sculpted.

 

[lupanzer]

Very nice!...anxious to see the painting job :dude

Luiz.

 

[moon puppy]

See the world...NAVY...what's the waves made of Kenny?

 

[Gator]

See the world...NAVY...what's the waves made of Kenny?

Pronto air dry clay. I needed to use this because of the way the bow moves under the water.

Here is the base coat of dark prussian blue. Next will be gel medium to start forming the surface texture.

 

[Gator]

Base colors are dry and now I will be starting the texture process with gel medium and color washes.

 

[jknaus]

Very nice. I really like that water effect
JAmes

 

[moon puppy]

REminds me, gotta get the Sailor emoticon up.

 

[Gator]

Thanks James and Bob.

 

[Sherman 18]

Very nice.

Please continue the SPS on the water

 

[Gator]

Thanks guys. Okay, she is almost finished. I got a few touch ups that need to be done.

So, I apply gloss gel medium using a dabbing motion over the entire base. I make sure that the area of disturbed water has more texture than the undisturbed water. Then, over the lighter blue area I use a good quality hog hair bristle brush to dab on the white around the sub. I work more opaque closer to the sub and then lighter as you move away.

After everything dries, I give the base a coat of Golden brand Gloss Polymer Varnish. It goes on nice and thick and give a good wet look. The last thing I did was to craft three dolphins out of styrene rod and attach them to the base in front of the main swell of ocean. I dry brush some white just behind the dolphins to give the appearance of disturbed water.

 

[reconron]

Way cool,Kenny,Waaaaay cool!!!



Gr,Ron.

 

[moon puppy]

Damn good crafting Kenny! Don't think I've ever seen anyone do this before. Pretty neat.

 

[Gator]

Thanks guys.

 

[Gator]

Okay guys. I need your opinion. This build is going to be part of a larger group of 1/700 ships named after places in Louisiana. I've already started the next ship, the USS Orleans Parish. Questions is, do you like the placement of the USS Louisiana's crest on the base? This is just a mock up. For ships that don't have a crest I plan on doing a generic image to go there.

 

[moon puppy]

beautiful work Kenny, I'm torn. Having the crest there distracts from the dolphins but...if you had it in the right lower corner, they may be lost.

 

[Gator]

Still playing with it Bob. Although, with it in the upper left hand corner, it does draw your eye in that direction where you may see the dolphins better.