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**pittnuma** · 20-10-2011

I am currently building a 1/96 scale Royal Navy Type 23 Frigate, the hull and some parts are by Fleetscale but the majority of the parts are being scratch built.

Hopefully this is the correct place to post.

I am doing a blog on my build aswell, please feel free to take a look and drop any comments if you wish, any tips GREATLY APPRECIATED.

Building a Fleetscale 1/96 Scale Type 23 Frigate

But happy to share my tribulations here aswell if wish, it is my 1st "scratch build" having only ever built the likes of Tamiya 1/350 model boats and 1/32 aircraft out of the box (with added PE) but that is my limit, so this is well out of my comfort zone.

Frwrd Citadel

Stern

More SuperStructures

Mr Pooky checking on the build

Aft Hanger

Running Gear

Carrying on from where I am now.....

Bases for the window wipers created out of 1.0mm styrene, cut to 10.8mm long by 1.7mm wide, wiper motor housings cut to 4mm out of 1.5mm Styrene.
Not doing the actual wiper - too thin, unless I get a brain wave.
Still to shape n sand.
Rear S/S behind bridge now sanded down.

**pittnuma** · 23-10-2011

Building the forward Mast for the Citadel.

Easier than I thought so far, especially if you use the CAD drawings.
As you can see the mast is built out of 4 sides of styrene, the top mast resin piece is supplied by Fleetscale. Think I will drill out the centre to remove some of the weight, ah, maybe not, I have to get the shaft for the radar motor through that.

Not glued, starting on the base now.

**spanner570** · 23-10-2011

I've just had a look at the blog, very interesting read. I will be following the progress as I too am having a bash at scratch building.....

Nothing as complicated as this, I'm just doing a derelict farm!

Good luck with the build.

Ron

**pittnuma** · 24-10-2011

Hi Ron,

Glad you enjoy the blog, I'm really enjoying the scratch build, I am at some stage going to do a scratch build for a dock for 1 of my 1/350 Bismark's, so will be interested to hear how you go with the scratch builds on the farms.

I am still not happy with cutting styrene when scratch building, I keep looking at the Tamiya scriber, but blades don't seem easy to get. I use a 10A scalpel at present, bought 150 blades off ebay for a fiver, but I go through on average a blade a day.

**spanner570** · 24-10-2011

Hi Darren,
Yes, I'm having fun too. It is new to me and hopefully, will give me a new dimension for displaying models.

I did a diorama for my 1/350 Bismark on here a while back, it's in a Norwegian fjord. Nothing elaborate, but it showed it off O.K.

I use Swann Morton 10A blades, have you tried the No 11? They have a finer point and are better for that initial stab!

Re. my farm, if you care to have a look, I have a thread running at the minute in the Winter Group Build Sniper called "Flush 'im out..now!"
I would be interested to your comments....

Cheers,
Ron

**radish1us** · 24-10-2011

Originally Posted by pittnuma

I am currently building a 1/96 scale Royal Navy Type 23 Frigate, the hull and some parts are by Fleetscale but the majority of the parts are being scratch built.

Hopefully this is the correct place to post.

Got me beat with this post.

Somehow the word "Scratchbuilt" seems to have lost it's true and actual meaning- ie, something made from plans/photos/ideas and starting with NO bits from a kit, just hand made stuff, not pre-moulded plastic bits.

It appears that boat builders have a complete section to post their wears in, but just because somebody decides to do a bit of KIT MODIFYING/ KIT BASHING, is it now a "scratchbuilt" item ?

Somehow, this demeans the word "scratchbuilt" to just another model, is this the way the word "scratchbuilt" should be treated, or should it be respected, and not abused, in this manner ?

What do others think of this subject of "scratchbuilding", or is kit modifying, now going to called "scratchbuilding" on this forum ?

If I'm totally out of order here, then, could the moderator please remove my posting.

Forgot to add that the 'mods' have done a decent thing and introduced this section, good to see, but I think it deserves to be treated a bit better than this.

regards radish

**spanner570** · 24-10-2011

As I was the instigator in asking for, and thanks to John the site owner, getting 'Scratch building' included on Scale Models I would like to add my thoughts on the subject.....

First his thread title 'part scratch built' conveys to me that it was never intended to be anything but that.
Secondly, Darren did enquire if this was "The correct place to post."

In my book anyone who has the balls to make something free hand out of god knows what, to modify or add to a model is a scratch builder. It doesn't matter to me whether it is a complete off the cuff build, part build or just a funnel, it is the fact that the builder is taking up the challenge of producing something from a piece of card!

Finally radish, whilst I understand what you have written, this is Darren's first go at scratch building and he needs encouragement in his endevours, not to have to read your way over the top post referring to his 'Abuse' of scratch building.

I am sure he will be thoroughly deflated by your post and it's content...I know I would be.

Ron

**pittnuma** · 24-10-2011

Originally Posted by radish1us

Got me beat with this post.

Somehow the word "Scratchbuilt" seems to have lost it's true and actual meaning- ie, something made from plans/photos/ideas and starting with NO bits from a kit, just hand made stuff, not pre-moulded plastic bits.

It appears that boat builders have a complete section to post their wears in, but just because somebody decides to do a bit of KIT MODIFYING/ KIT BASHING, is it now a "scratchbuilt" item ?

Somehow, this demeans the word "scratchbuilt" to just another model, is this the way the word "scratchbuilt" should be treated, or should it be respected, and not abused, in this manner ?

What do others think of this subject of "scratchbuilding", or is kit modifying, now going to called "scratchbuilding" on this forum ?

If I'm totally out of order here, then, could the moderator please remove my posting.

Forgot to add that the 'mods' have done a decent thing and introduced this section, good to see, but I think it deserves to be treated a bit better than this.

regards radish

Radish, as I stated this is a part scratch built boat NOT fully, as the major superstructures, many parts (the majority in fact) are being scratch built I had thought this was an apt thread to place it in, however if it is deemed incorrect then please remove. . As for considering this to be kit bashing or kit modifying, it is FAR from either, there are NO instructions whatsoever, only thing I have are Jecobin plans and the internet and there is NO kit.

I have NEVER scratch built ANYTHING before, even a ladder let alone whole superstructures, hangers, masts, railings, boxing, detailing etc etc etc and the scratch building that will be involved in getting 1 of these to have turning radars, lights, sounds etc, the soldering it entails positively scares the

out of me...As I say I am WELL outside of my comfort zone.

I had hoped I had placed my post in the correct area within this forum, as the scratch building I am doing will be complicated (maybe not for you but it sure is for me) and I had hoped I can get advice on my build as I go from seasoned scratch builders, I also hoped this would/will encourage those like me who thought it is not for them, that there are options open to them rather than jumping straight into a frying pan (by the way a complete scratch build, including the hul...way out of my league...for now...I may gain enough experience and ideas from this build to progress onto full at a later stage.

Forgot to add that the 'mods' have done a decent thing and introduced this section, good to see, but I think it deserves to be treated a bit better than this.

Thanks for the support

Originally Posted by spanner570

I am sure he will be thoroughly deflated by your post and it's content...I know I would be.

Ron

Nail on the head!
Thanks for the support.
Not tried the No 11, will give those a whirl, thanks.

**radish1us** · 24-10-2011

Ron, firstly, thanks for annoying the moderators to get a "scratchbuilt section" on the go, well done.

Now, something that has to be clarified here, what does the word "scratchbuilt", actually mean ?

a) you start of with a KIT ( box of bits ), then add one or two small changes and it's suddenly changed into a "scratchbuilt " item ?

b) you start of with a KIT ( box of bits ), use the base as a start point, then add as much as possible to it and then call it "scratchbuilt" ?

c) Take a heap of photos and measurements, draw it (whatever) and proceed to make it from whatever raw materials you have available. Whilst along the way, you discover or find, you can use some bits from different kits, just to give it the 'finished look', these would account for no more than about 10 % of the finished item ?

d) start with a drawing, photo, measurements and then, with whatever raw materials you have on hand, create IT from " scratch" ?

So, once you have decided what the word "scratchbuilt" actually stands for or means, where does the term KIT MODIFYING / BASHING enter this discussion ?

How can the two 'terms' ever be used together ?

These above points, definitely do need clarification from the moderator/s of this forum, or there will forever be endless arguments, about what is "scratchbuilt" and what is actually "kit bashing".

regards radish

**pittnuma** · 24-10-2011

I'm not going to get into a debate over this and will be my last post on this matter, 1 of the reasons I posted here was Under the heading on the forum Scratch building it states.Building your model from scratch or building a kit and thinking "out of the box" by adding your own parts?

I am quite happy for the post to be moved/Deleted.

As for the model.....
In the mean time if anybody is interested, my blog is upto date.

Forward Citadel, with wiper motors installed, and lower walkways now created out of 1mm styrene, still have the undersides of all the walkways to create the underside "lattice" work of box sections for detail.
Just out on the left of the pic is the base for the Optronics sight system (mostly covered in filler to be honest).