Ian Moore's Shipbuilding (and General) Modelling Tips Con't...
17. For a quick water base use water glass from a stained glass store cut to the needed 
size. It is available in various patterns and colors of blue green etc.
Attach waterline kits with white glue filling in the wave troughs under the hull .
Wake may be simulated with a painted on application of acrylic gel medium or white gesso taking care not to smear the hull.
Careful observation of photos of the vessel at speed to see the areas of the pressure waves and wake. The gesso or gel medium should be over-painted with washes of clear blue and green acrylic between the wake crests.
18. Use Gallery Glass white, pearl or blue and green over a base when modeling wakes.
19. From a surgical supply store or pharmacy obtain 22 gauge needles. When carefully cut with a saw or Dremel tool to the correct length they are perfect for 5 inch gun barrels in 1/350 scale.
20. SCALE EFFECT many modellers dull down the brightness of colours to more accurately depict the effects of scale, distance, weathering etc and get a more realistic looking model.
The common ratio of dilutant used to “grey” down a colour is up to the square root of the scale ie: to obtain a less distinct black ,up to 19% white would be added to black in 1/350 scale and up to 27% white would be added to black in 1/700 scale.
Lighter colours would need much less of the dilutant colour ie: yellow may need 10% white and white may need only 1% yellow to “age”. Complementary colour wheels are useful. The closer to the base color the dilutant colour is, the more to the scale square root ratio is needed.
21. For realistic searchlights for a larger light cut the round body of the light from a piece of clear sprue or rod and paint all but the front lens silver and then overcoat all but the front lens with the normal ship color.
22. For CARLEY FLOATS use plastic or rubber coated small diameter electrical wire. Cut and bend to an oval shape and super glue the ends together. Back with an oval of fine wire mesh, plasticard or paper to simulate canvas. Paint to color of canvas or the appropriate camouflage. Add tippet line loops around the circumference as hand lines.
In larger scales surgical or neoprene tubing may be used. Cut the tubing to the correct circumference. Use 2 pieces of dowel or plastic rod each about 1/3 the length of the tubing and small enough to fit snugly inside. Push one length of rod into the centre of the tubing. Use the second rod piece to insert in both open tubing ends to but them together and glue. You should then have a rectangular/oval float with round corners.
Use strip styrene, brass grating or screen for the float floor. Rig with hand lines looped for at least 8 positions around the circumference, Add oars and provisions box etc.
23. For square bridge window areas use the correct scale photo etch brass ladders cut
to length and glue in or over the opening. Windows may either be painted in first with black marker or use Microscale Kristal Klear or white glue in the window. This may be tinted if desired with a drop of Tamiya clear blue or green added to the glue mix . The frames of the window may then be painted the base ship color before placing the glue drops in the openings.
(Microscale Kristal Klear available at most hobby shops.)
24. For Bridge windows cut out the whole window line or drill individual windows.
Replace the window line with appropriate size photo etch ladder or window frame material.
Use Kristal Klear tinted with a drop of blue or green clear acrylic paint and place a pane of Kristal Klear in each window. Use same for portholes and scuttles.
(Kristal Klear being applied with a toothpick)
25. Use painted surgical, Micropore tape or Tamiya Tape cut to strips for canvas in large scales or for tie down straps for armour kits.
26. for Canvas boat covers, blast bags etc, apply wet facial tissue cut to shape and adhered to model using diluted white glue in progressively higher concentrations from 25 to 70 % to coat the tissue. Let dry thoroughly between coats and use a soft brush to work in textures and folds carefully to avoid tears. Once completely dry paint with acrylic dark in folds and lighter highlights.
27. For brass Buckles on seat harnesses, web gear belts and tie down straps cut photo etch ladders or large square mesh into squares and attach to the material strip or belt.
28. for planked decks with engraved caulk lines wash with black or dark brown followed by the dry brush deck colour on the planks themselves.
For decks with raised caulk lines paint the base color, then gently roll a ever hasp retractable pencil lead along the raised caulk lines . Seal with a flat acrylic. Then use a final wash of the deck colour, thin enough to avoid obscuring the pencil outlined caulking.
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