SPA Modeler

As some of you already know the USS Johnston DD-557 along with other DD's and DE's USS Hoel DD-533, USS Heermann DD-532, USS Samuel B. Roberts DE-413, USS Dennis DE-405, USS John C. Butler DE-339 and USS Raymond DE-341 attacked Vice Admiral Takeo Kurita's center force of 4 battleships in Yamato, Nagato, Kongo, Haruna and 6 heavy cruisers, 2 light cruisers and 11 destroyers on Oct 25 1944. They turned to lay a smoke screen, run torpedo attacks and generally harass the Japanese Center to protect the 6 escort carriers of Taffy 3, USS Fanshaw Bay CVE-70, USS St. Lo CVE-65, USS White Planes CVE-66, USS Kalinin Bay CVE-68, USS Gambier Bay CVE-73 and USS Kitun Bay CVE-71 which were off Leyte Gulf to support the landings on the Philippines.
Let me explain...no, not enough room...let me summarize, the Johnston launched a torpedo spread at the cruiser Kumano. There is some speculation whether the Johnston or an Avenger from one of Taffy 3's air groups landed the blow forward of the number 10 frame which took off the Kumano's bow. The Johnston continued firing her 5" main guns and anything else she could bare even after she took several 14" or possibly 18" shells from one of the enemy Battleship rifles knocking out one of her boilers as she ducked into a squall. The Johnston reemerged out of the squall and continued the attack until she finally scummed to the multiple hits from the incoming fire of the cruisers and battleships.
I used the fantastic book "The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors" by James D. Hornfischer and episode 9 of the History Channel's Battle 360 for the inspiration of my diorama.
I started the build some time ago and have worked on it off and on. I has started installing the PE and am on the home stretch but will cover what I have done so far.
I am using Dragon's 1/350 The Sullavans for the Johnston since she was a square bridge Fletcher. I am also using Tom's Modelworks PE set and the 3D 1/350 Bofors crew from Shapeways.
The dio will be of the Johnston at flank speed turning to port getting ready to launch torpedoes to starboard.
Pictures to follow.
Thank you for your patience and for looking in.

As promised, here are SEVERAL pictures of my water base progression.
The base is made from Styrofoam with the initial wake and waves made with a scrapper and a lighter.







I then applied strips of paper using acrylic gel medium to smooth out the Styrofoam texture and help create ripples.






I painted the base using an acrylic mix of blue, whit and grey. After that was dry I went over that with a lighter shade to add variation in the color. Going back over the original color will wet mix the two colors adding more variation.




I then sprayed some light green or turquoise in the wake for the churn. I later added more than shown in the picture.




I applied some acrylic varnish to the base to protect the paint from mixing with the later acrylic gel coats.



After this was dry I started applying layers of acrylic gel and cotton for the churn and subsurface turbulence. I continued this process until I felt I had enough layers. I then added a few layers of acrylic varnish to add depth and shine.





As you can see from the pictures the build is also progressing. I have a pic of the depth charge rack, K gun and AA gun PE. I also started painting the hull with Vallejo.




I will have updates as I continue working on her between working on my 1/48 Hase Macchi c.202 and my upcoming 1/32 Hase Spitfire Mk V.

SWEET!!!!

Thank you Bruce,
Sometimes I overwhelme myself though. I think I have 5 builds going right now.

Modelcrazy wrote:Thank you Bruce,
Sometimes I overwhelme myself though. I think I have 5 builds going right now.

Just '5'? Man I wish I could reduce my works in progress to just 5 builds!

Slowly getting there. I am really looking forward to seeing more of this.

Duke Maddog wrote:

Modelcrazy wrote:Thank you Bruce,
Sometimes I overwhelme myself though. I think I have 5 builds going right now.

Just '5'? Man I wish I could reduce my works in progress to just 5 builds!

Slowly getting there. I am really looking forward to seeing more of this.

Well the concept to fix that is simple... don't start anymore until you finish up some of those WIPs. Of course I'm as guilty as you two here...

A superb bit of base work and ship building

Thank you so much guys.
I put her aside for a week or two but I'm definitely jumping back on it.
My airbrush is in the shop but there is still plenty to do without it. I'm hoping to take her to the IPMS contest in September.

Stikpusher wrote:

Duke Maddog wrote:
Just '5'? Man I wish I could reduce my works in progress to just 5 builds!

Slowly getting there. I am really looking forward to seeing more of this.

Well the concept to fix that is simple... don't start anymore until you finish up some of those WIPs. Of course I'm as guilty as you two here...

That is true. I have been doing more and more on stalled projects lately while only starting one or two new projects. Two of my newest completed models are shelf queens I was able to finish.

Glad to hear you are jumping back on this. I can't wait to see more progress.