Seaview: Almost at the Bottom!
![Album image #1 Album image #1](/albums/img/6/5/4/978654-93818-66-720.jpg)
Organized chaos ... or it it anarchic structure? Today’s fun: wire hooked from Control Room and bow through hole. Final top-coat sprayed on bow so I wouldn’t have to mask windows. Bow windows attached. Stern dorsal fin attached.
![Album image #2 Album image #2](/albums/img/6/5/5/978655-93818-13-720.jpg)
More work: nuclear missile LED added. Control Cdntre needed new LED ... used blue.
![Album image #3 Album image #3](/albums/img/6/5/6/978656-93818-34-720.jpg)
Propeller assemblies partially constructed.
![Album image #4 Album image #4](/albums/img/2/1/5/980215-93818-85-720.jpg)
The Missile. Got a bit improvisational when the decal actually snapped while I was applying it. Never had that happen. Like this better. Used electrical tape and Gundam marker.
![Album image #5 Album image #5](/albums/img/2/1/6/980216-93818-75-720.jpg)
Finished propellers with rough sanding almost done.
![Album image #6 Album image #6](/albums/img/2/1/7/980217-93818-76-720.jpg)
Drive assembly showing adjustable flaps. Very happy I did that!
![Album image #7 Album image #7](/albums/img/2/1/8/980218-93818-45-720.jpg)
Quite large gaps on conning tower fins. First time trying to mask before applying putty.
![Album image #8 Album image #8](/albums/img/2/1/9/980219-93818-98-720.jpg)
More putty. Applying and sanding it is not
my favorite activity, but I’ve learned it’s worth it.
my favorite activity, but I’ve learned it’s worth it.
![Album image #9 Album image #9](/albums/img/4/3/5/980435-93818-11-720.jpg)
Big step! Lower bow cemented on to the upper hull, locking in all that electronic goodness. It was a tight fit and took a long time to glue.
![Album image #10 Album image #10](/albums/img/4/3/6/980436-93818-20-720.jpg)
Locking in all that electronic goodness. It was a tight fit and took a long time to glue.
![Album image #11 Album image #11](/albums/img/4/3/7/980437-93818-42-720.jpg)
As you can see I’m going to need some putty on the nose. However the tiny gap is much less than the quarter inch or so I started with so not bad. Maybe I need more elastic bands?
![Album image #12 Album image #12](/albums/img/4/4/4/980444-93818-44-720.jpg)
Essential equipment for all model makers, especially on those nights when you have to take a big step: Nigori sake, sipped from a Star Trek glass.
![Album image #13 Album image #13](/albums/img/8/9/0/980890-93818-74-720.jpg)
Sanding, sanding, sanding ... then I might try some sanding. Working hard on the counting tower fins. They are devilish to sand.
![Album image #14 Album image #14](/albums/img/8/9/1/980891-93818-11-720.jpg)
The bow section. After all the drama yesterday, I am pleased with the glueing.
![Album image #15 Album image #15](/albums/img/8/9/2/980892-93818-85-720.jpg)
So much putty. Luckily, the seams are fairly modest. However it’s going to be a pain at the front near the light.
![Album image #16 Album image #16](/albums/img/9/0/7/980907-93818-54-720.jpg)
Anybody else have MDS (Model Distraction Syndrome)? Put some oatmeal on and went up to check some sanding. Came down half an hour later to this.
![Album image #17 Album image #17](/albums/img/7/8/8/981788-93818-53-720.jpg)
Connection! The bow and stern are connected.
![Album image #18 Album image #18](/albums/img/7/8/9/981789-93818-67-720.jpg)
The “diarama to be”. Three sheets of pink foam on top of a sheet of press board… Ready for carving into a sea bed.
![Album image #19 Album image #19](/albums/img/0/5/6/982056-93818-12-720.jpg)
Into the garbage with you!
(Don’t worry! As frustrated as I have been with this kit at times, I’m not about to throw it away. The main connection between the bow and stern hall is tricky and needs gravity to seal it properly, so I’m using the garbage can to stabilize it.
(Don’t worry! As frustrated as I have been with this kit at times, I’m not about to throw it away. The main connection between the bow and stern hall is tricky and needs gravity to seal it properly, so I’m using the garbage can to stabilize it.
![Album image #20 Album image #20](/albums/img/0/5/7/982057-93818-91-720.jpg)
As frustrated as I have been with this cat sometimes I’m not about to throw it away. The main connection between the bow and stern hall is tricky and needs gravity to seal it properly, so I’m using the garbage can to stabilize it.
![Album image #21 Album image #21](/albums/img/0/5/5/982055-93818-94-720.jpg)
What should’ve been the easiest seam in the build. Nope. Pretty tricky. Helped a lot by the use of spru goo.
Kommentit
8 14 April 2021, 23:05
![](/profiles/img/61283-429-s.jpg)
Absolutely Essential tools in pic #12! ?
A happy modeler is a well lubricated one!
17 April 2021, 07:20
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Any tips for working with LED? Mistakes to avoid?
I think I've learned that bleed though is an issue, so one ought to add metal paint and black maybe, to stop the light going through the plastic in places. I've seen tube paint been used around led diodes, a type of thicker paint.
17 April 2021, 07:58
![](/profiles/img/93818-901-s.jpg)
Yes Light spill is a concern. As you can see from some of these pictures, I painted the inside of the hull with black primer. I also used foil tape, the kind you use on heating ducts, not only to mask the light but to reflect it back where I wanted it. Of course what I learned this time around is that you've got to insulate your wires so they don't make contact with the foil.
17 April 2021, 16:26
![](/profiles/img/93818-901-s.jpg)
I know some of the modellers iin the Star Trek forum I belong to on Facebook use black sealing tape to prevent spill. Whatever you use, it's really important that you keep checking to make sure that you don't have spill before you seal it up.
17 April 2021, 16:27
Album info
It's been an eventful week. I've hit the sweet spot in the build where I have a nice flow going and the planning is finally being rewarded. Now comes the part I like: putting it all together!