USS Tucson

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Still playing with the right mix of red but making progress. Also been practicing with new airbrush and getting Tucson ready for painting. Once painting is done I'll install masts & antennas. retractable capstan, hinged cleats and maybe a hinged chock. One drawing I have shows what may be the chock aft but I'm not sure of that. Anyone know more about that?

Oh, forgot about a prop. That needs to be made and that will be a real challenge. I've never made one but I'll give it try.



Will Rogers
SSBN659

That'll take a ringed propeller, right? Got one. Want it?





David

[SSBN659]

Thanks David,

The scale on my Tucson works out to be 1/113 because I went with a piece of scrap 3.5 inch PVC for my hull. That would mean a ringed prop diameter of 2-1/8" for my model. I would love to borrow your prop to see how how close it comes to my scale. If it isn't close at least I could use it as a guide for my prop. What do you think?

Will Rogers
SSBN659

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Thanks David,

The scale on my Tucson works out to be 1/113 because I went with a piece of scrap 3.5 inch PVC for my hull. That would mean a ringed prop diameter of 2-1/8" for my model. I would love to borrow your prop to see how how close it comes to my scale. If it isn't close at least I could use it as a guide for my prop. What do you think?

Will Rogers
SSBN659

Naw. Not worth the effort. My unit is 1/96 scale. Just study these photos and build yours to suite your scale:

[wlambing]

If you have an engraved outline for the aft bullnose and capstan, you're good! I wouldn't put the bow one on either, as they're only used for mooring. USN submarines are meant to be sleek and sexy! Yes, mooring hardware adds some visual interest for when it's on display, but don't you want to run the crap out of this thing?? Mooring stuff just gives weeds more places to grab on. As for masts/antennas, the Type 18 (#2) and the BRA-34 and off you go!!! She's gonna look nice!

[SSBN659]

OK, I'll forego the bullnose if I must, but I've got the capstan, the Type 8 & 18 plus the AN/BRA-34 in the works. All kidding aside I appreciate all the comments and help you give me. The capstan below I also did years on my Will Rogers model along with the SPM. I seriously thought about doing the outboard on this model too but it would be very very small.





Will Rogers
SSBN659

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Your scribing and detail work has improved a great deal, Wil.

David

[wlambing]

What's the big hole down the center of the capstan? They don't have big holes. They have bronze plates with a big stainless bolt head in the center, used to rig them out and to retract. You gonna replicate that? :)

[SSBN659]

I used pop rivets to make the capstan and the "hole" you see in the center is just the head of the rivet shaft that I touched with a black fine point Sharpie. Do they make a bronze colored Sharpie?



By the way, is this a safe operation?

Will Rogers
SSBN659

[bwi 971]

By the way, is this a safe operation?

Will Rogers
SSBN659

One is sitting in the snap back zone of the rope, can be fatal.

[Das Boot]

If I’m not mistaken, Bob had a slew of props in a box for the raffle, and I swear that exact prop was there someone grabbed.

[SSBN659]

Started painting the underside yesterday with my new airbrush. Got on one coat of a mix of two reds that guy Lambing recommended. Let's assume he is somewhere knowledgeable :)




Realized I missed a couple of spots so this morning I tried another coat and my airbrush went nuts on me. After taking it apart and cleaning up the mess I found threads on the nozzle clogged with paint that I missed when I cleaned yesterday. Not a good day today but tomorrow I'll try again. Stay with me.

Will Rogers
SSBN659

[Marylandradiosailor]

Great model. If you have any additional information on paint suggestions you can share I would appreciate it as I will be painting my LA probably next month. Was the 2901 apple red mixed with another folkart color? It can be difficult to compare various pictures and then not quite sure on the color accuracy of the computer monitor. Thanks. Khim

[SSBN659]

I tried several blends and ended up using about 3 parts of Apple Red and 1 part of Flag Red for the model. Apple Red alone was too dark and adding too much Flag Red made it too light.



Good luck with your model. How about showing us how it's coming along?

Will Rogers
SSBN659

[Marylandradiosailor]

Thank you paint information, I will put up a build log this fall. Khim

[SSBN659]

Finally got the first coats of red and black on Tucson. Took some practice to improve my airbrushing since it's been years since I've used one.



After peeling back some tape I realized I should have primed the tape edge with red before painting the black. That old painter's tip would have prevented the black from bleeding though.



Now I really have some work to do in masking and priming for the next coat of paint.



Looks like I need to do some more fine sanding before the next painting. I also did a dry fit of some attachments on the sail. More to come on this later.



.
The final touch will be adding the retractable capstan and the hinged cleats



Still lots of work to do on the model including the prop, a stand and a display case. At least that's the plan.

Will Rogers
SSBN659