"Saga of Painting WTJ Ships - Part 2" Topic

After a long break, more work has been done on the WTJ British ships. The post with their pictures is here: link

If you haven't seen Part 1, either use the link within Part 1's post or go here: link

Saga is still continuing.

Jim

Very nice.
Brass rods for masts, simple and durable, in my opinion.
I like the ensigns ion the bases.

Very nice work!

The peacetime paint schemes really capture a period feel and look smarter than wartime RJW ships in camouflage. I also black washed my Panzerschiffe to bring out the detail, but that does dull them down a lot – see my comment on the earlier sea mat post for more.

Basic masts like sillypoint describes (wire cut to size) are incredibly easy and drastically improve the appearance. Ships of the early 20th C. and before really have to have masts. Fleets and harbors should look like forests from a distance. If nothing else, the asymmetry of foremast and mainmast heights can help discern bow and stern on British battleships.

I consider yards optional. They can add some to the appearance, at the cost of drastically increased fragility, more complicate storage, and a lot of extra work cutting and gluing.

I've never rigged a 1/2400 steam-powered ship, and always thought it would look out of scale and silly, but then in 2014 War Artisan posted this photo that changed my mind:

And since WTJ does sell three different sizes of fighting tops, I suppose I'll probably do as Yellow Admiral suggests, if I can find thin enough wire.

Jim

I make my fighting tops by just wrapping a strip of paper around steel rod masts until I get the size I want. I secure them with superglue.

I make fighting tops by slicing an tiny aluminum tube into rings with an Xacto knife.

Of course, WTJ also sells 3D prints of fighting tops. I haven't tried ordering any of these yet.

- Ix

I have some of their fighting tops, and some spare lifeboats. Both are lovely.