"Tutorial - scratchbuilding a 1/2400 battlecruser Lexington " Topic

A number of folks asked for a tutorial on how I make my 1/2400 scratchbuilds – so here you go…. enjoy!

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Thanks for this! I am really looking forward to having a go at this, though I have a feeling my results will be far from yours. If only you could lend me some of your talent as well

Great tutorial! I am always impressed by your work.

Great!

Look like I may have me a new project to try.

Great tutorial. I am amazed at the detail and crispness you are able to get from balsa wood. Rob.

Very nice tutorial. You have provided me with a few aspects of your process that will prove handy…like the "lathe".
Have you ever considered using basswood instead of balsa? Though it is harder to cut, it is a much smoother wood and takes shapes leaving a more finished look than balsa.
It appears that you create most of your round items. There are various sizes of balsa dowel rod, especially useful for the barbettes. Curious why you didnt use dowel rod.
Thanks for providing the tutorial!

Basswood and dowels are too hard to cut quickly. Plus at this scale basswood splinters too easily – much more likely to split on the grain while being cut. Also much harder to take down (thin) and keep level. Basswood slows me down too much. This ship was an evening's work. When I model quality models or mold masters I work entirely in styrene.

Wow. That was just inspiring.

Thanks for sharing.

Eric

Glory Hallelujah.

Interesting to see other's techniques. I also prefer basswood but I like your wedge method of raising the bow angle. A suggestion (which you probably already know): I use a hand leather punch to cut small circles – works particularly well in styrene. My tool has a rotary head and cuts several different hole/circle sizes. I ended up buying a set of larger punches (ebay) for holes/circles up to 1" dia.

Johnny

Your wedge trick really is quite nice. Excellent post. Thank you.