1/350 USS San Diego CL-53 (Scratchbuilt)

All my models are scratchbuilt. Made in wood, paper and white glue. Plans are from Profile Morskie, and as always, I built this ship as I hope she was in 1945. I don't like the dazzle camouflage very much (1943-1944) because I consider that its breaks the ship and the model.

Before I met Jacques Druel, from L'Arsenal, I made my own Photoetch. This is the reason why I still have a stock of PE, such as railing, radars ,etc...  I met Jacques in 2001 and we worked together, during a certain period, and made many more PE and resin pieces such as guns (5 inches, bofors), searchlights, liferafts, 20mms guns, whale boats, paravans, etc... ). I am also using photoetch coming from other manufacturers such as Alliance and Flyhawk.

Paint is US #28 from Misterkit, slightly glossy. I know that, when a ship is freshly painted, the deck is darker than the rest of the ship. But, I noticed that after some days or weeks on the sea, you cannot see the difference. This is the reason why I only put some dark pastel powder on the deck. Except for the hull which is slightly dirty ( rust and oil) the ship is clean.

The sea is made with many coats of paint from Lifecolor. I mixed the paint with a gel medium in order to thicken. I made the small waves by hand. When dry, I applied micro Kristal Klear, also by hand.

I built this model rather quickly, because she is not too difficult and I had documentation. I needed 1,5 months.

Gallery updated 4/27/2015

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