Building of the USS Blunderbuss - 28mm aeronef

[Thunderchicken]

Ray, this is turning into a great piece of work. Fear not, once it's painted up and you've got those rivets in place your son might change his mind. I dont think they have smoke stacks and rivets in Star Trek, then again I might be wrong.

[Ray Rivers]

He's a weird kid...

 

[Thunderchicken]

He's a weird kid...

 

A VSFer in the making then. 

[Ray Rivers]

He's a weird kid...

 

A VSFer in the making then. 

Too right!

Meanwhile, I am suffering through the construction of the observation tower.  The tower will be detachable from the rest of the ship for storage purposes.

I cut down a plastic cup, added a strip around it for reinforcement, then added a couple more small strips for rigging purposes.  Those little gray things are small tracks for a M-113 model.     The mast is part of a telescoping antenna I saved from a defunct mobile telephone.  Inside the cup is some milliput to flatten out the surface to accommodate wooden planks.  The round wooden deck still needs to be cut into planks.



Here is a picture of me fighting to cut out the round wooden deck, curtsy of Litko:



The next picture you see of this structure will be entirely finished, as I have to paint the darn thing before I can glue in the deck.  Figure I'll need at least another spear... 

auf Wiedersehen... for now.

[Ray Rivers]

Okay... changed my mind again.   

Decided to go ahead and glue the observation deck to the structure, however, I still am going to paint it to completion so I can glue in the wooden deck.

Here she is with a base coat:





I'll be using Foundry Boneyard Shade as the base color, Spearshaft Light as the shade and Base Sand Shade as the highlight. Everything above the "Poop Deck" (first level) will be painted tan, the rest white.

With luck I'll finish this part tonight!

I'm up to four spears now... 

[Sinewgrab]

This is really looking good. I am slightly jealous - and I need to find a way to get to a con over there someday, so we can run our Aeronefs side by side.

[Ray Rivers]

Wow... finishing the observation tower was a bit more difficult than I thought.

Had problems placing the wooden deck (didn't take into account the extra thickness of the paint) and the rigging (which is wire) was a real learning curve in how to manipulate without breaking the plastic attachments.

But anyway, it's finished (sorry for the focus, using my point and shoot for this stuff):





And now time to move on to the "flying bridge."  It fits just in front of the observation tower, to top of the forward structure with access by the two ladders to the side.

Here are some of the components; plastic card, wood, lead railings, 2 search lights, the wheel and a couple "driving" accessories:



Hopefully... it won't be as difficult as the tower... 

[Bullshott]

Ray,
I only just came across this thread. This 'nef is looking really good. I'm looking forward to seeing the completed vessel.

I really must think about some aerial transport for my VSF US Marines....

[Ray Rivers]

I'm looking forward to seeing the completed vessel.

So am I!   

[Ray Rivers]

More progress... in the never ending story!   

Added a few "do dads" to the observation tower and painted it.

Added the "flying bridge" and the planking, which will be left a natural color.

Added a couple "do dads" to the gun area and gave it base coat.

And here it is:



While doing all this, I discovered that I had not painted INSIDE the structures, which would have left them white.     I blame this on the news, because it distracted me with its gloomy weather report.     But anyway I had to get inside the structures via the port holes and THAT was a real pain in the butt.

To facilitate painting the interior, I invented the "L shaped" brush!   



Perhaps I should patent it and sell it to folks like me.   

Next up will be finishing the "flying bridge" and the interior of the gun area.

Wish me luck!

[Christian]

That brush looks like it's been to hell and back... poor thing! Interesting idea though.

The Aero looks great too, really coming along nicely. Can't wait to see it all painted up nice.

[Wolf 359]

  This is really coming along nicely. I'm in the process of doing an airship for my Quar Crusaders, and what I have been following here is a big motivating factor. Keep up the great work, sir!!

[Ray Rivers]

That brush looks like it's been to hell and back... poor thing!

 

Actually, I used it again, so it has entered my stable of brushes!

Have now finished the gun deck by adding the planking and painting up "Big Bertha."



Though I wanted to finish the "flying bridge" first, I believe I need to do more basic structure first as the smaller bits would probably get damaged if I do them now.  So I'll be moving to do the aft portion of the interior next.

This time... I'll paint inside before I put on any upper decking.   

As an aside, Trevor, from Redoubt Enterprises answered by email concerning buying some of his unarmed sailors and I gave him an order via email.  Have no I idea if they will show up or not, but hopefully within a couple weeks I'll have some real crewmen to man my ship.

[argsilverson]

but hopefully within a couple weeks I'll have some real crewmen to man my ship.

the next option will be Old Glory's  "boxer rebellion"  European naval artillery crew and maybe Blue Moon's sailors.

[Chairface]

What can I say? Outstanding!