SS Normandie Ocean Liner, 1:350 Scale Model Kit, by JohnM

J

JohnM

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Hi Everyone,

I started this thread originally in response to a post by Dennis about building the Old Model Kits 1/350 SS Normandie resin kit. I'm going to rework this, from the beginning, with captions!

I bought the kit in 2017 as soon as I learned it was available, and as soon as I was able to talk myself into spending the money. So I've been working on it off and on ever since. Lately I've been working on it a lot. But once again, it's gonna go on hiatus while I try to finish another model in time for the IPMS Nationals in Omaha this summer. There's no way I'll finish Normandie in time without really rushing it, and I don't want to do that.

So here we go from the start. First thing was to prep the two halves of the hull for cementing. This was a challenge because it didn't line up very well. I used Six10 epoxy from West System. This is a marine-grade, slow-curing, gap filling adhesive. Great stuff! https://www.westsystem.com/specialty-epoxies/six10-thickened-epoxy-adhesive/

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Dennis2039 said:
Hi John, the hull looks very nice. I still need to start with the SS Normandie, but one of the biggest challenges is the hull. Both parts do not fit properly. How did you fit both parts to each other?

Hi Dennis, yes, joining the hull together was a project in itself. The first thing I did was to sand all the mating surfaces so they're flat and square. I used a long strip of very course sandpaper taped to a flat surface, and power tools!

As mentioned in the instructions, cut notches in the cast-in supports to give the hull a little flexibility. I used wooden dowels and epoxy to push the sides out in places. Eventually I got the fit to be "good enough." I joined the halves with epoxy and lots of clamps and very heavy duty rubber bands.

It still required a lot of filling and sanding, and then rescribing the lost plating detail. It's a good idea to rescribe these lines as you go rather than trying to recreate them in areas where they're completely sanded away.

I ended up rescribing all of them.
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Still scribing and sanding. The row of windows below the promenade had a lot of casting defects so I was thinking of a way to redo them, which is why I filled them in.

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JohnM said:
Which forum should I use? The one for plastic models?
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Hello, John. I have been moved all of your posts, responses corresponding to your Normandie model. Please continue using this thread as your build log.
 
Dennis2039 said:
Hi John, the hull looks very nice. I still need to start with the SS Normandie, but one of the biggest challenges is the hull. Both parts do not fit properly. How did you fit both parts to each other?
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Hello Dennis,

It would be awesome if you will start your own build log. How does this sound to you? ;)
 
JohnM said:
In 1935, the SS Normandie sailed triumphantly into New York harbor on her maiden voyage. As "Queen of the Seas" and a "Floating Work of Art" she was never surpassed.

Hi Dennis, I've been working on that 1/350 Normandie kit. It's a challenge, but doable.
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Hallo John alias @JohnM
we wish you all the BEST and a HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Birthday-Cake
How is your work on the SS Normandie going ?
 
Uwek said:
Hallo John alias @JohnM
we wish you all the BEST and a HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Birthday-Cake
How is your work on the SS Normandie going ?
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It's picking up steam, so to speak! I've been working on it a lot. I'd like to start a new build log thread.
 
JohnM said:
I'd like to start a new build log thread.
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sounds very good and we would be happy to see your progress,
but please do not start a new building log, you can post your photos here in this topic, so we half everything together in this building log...
 
JohnM said:
Still scribing and sanding. The row of windows below the promenade had a lot of casting defects so I was thinking of a way to redo them, which is why I filled them in.

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I have always thought of the Normandie as one of the most stylish of the liners... did not know there was a kit available. I will have to keep an eye out for that. The complexities of fit are a little disconcerting though... I did recently complete a build of the France, which is essentially her successor... also stylish and fabulous! I would LOVE to see what your Normandie looks like when completed!
 
JohnM said:
Thanks! I have been working on other projects but will get back to Normandie soon, and I have lots more photos.
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Anything to report on completion? Still eager to see what your hard work paid off looking like :)
 
designck said:
Anything to report on completion? Still eager to see what your hard work paid off looking like :)
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Well, yes: the body work on the hull is complete including all the scribing and (I think) cleaning out all the portholes. So I'm starting on the upper decks which is a lot of cleaning up of the small windows. Then lifeboats and their hardware, etc. etc.
I haven't worked on in it about a year! I was working on an airplane last year, then I broke my wrist and couldn't work on models, etc. So I'm finishing that plane by the end of next month and I will try to have SS Normandie done by the end of July for the IPMS Nationals in San Marcos, Texas.

It's been much, much too long! This is about where I left off. I added some internal structural detail to the aft (dummy) funnel that looks kind of accurate...

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Hi John,

You have done some really excellent work on your model of the S.S. Normandie.

Beau.
 
JohnM said:
Well, yes: the body work on the hull is complete including all the scribing and (I think) cleaning out all the portholes. So I'm starting on the upper decks which is a lot of cleaning up of the small windows. Then lifeboats and their hardware, etc. etc.
I haven't worked on in it about a year! I was working on an airplane last year, then I broke my wrist and couldn't work on models, etc. So I'm finishing that plane by the end of next month and I will try to have SS Normandie done by the end of July for the IPMS Nationals in San Marcos, Texas.

It's been much, much too long! This is about where I left off. I added some internal structural detail to the aft (dummy) funnel that looks kind of accurate...

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That is really cool... I bow down to your expertise on making the model so damn AWESOME! And also, I did not know that Normandie's aft funnel was a dummy... interesting, and kudos to you for making it so structurally accurate. I try to upscale all my models but I think your skills have me beat, LOL!
 
designck said:
That is really cool... I bow down to your expertise on making the model so damn AWESOME! And also, I did not know that Normandie's aft funnel was a dummy... interesting, and kudos to you for making it so structurally accurate. I try to upscale all my models but I think your skills have me beat, LOL!
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Thanks. I haven't built a ship of any kind since I was in grade school, but I've worked on a lot of difficult and primitive airplane kits. It all crosses over - except for the ship things that planes don't have, like wooden decks!

The dummy funnel housed a dog kennel and I think a children's play area too.
 
JohnM said:
Hi Everyone,

I started this thread originally in response to a post by Dennis about building the Old Model Kits 1/350 SS Normandie resin kit. I'm going to rework this, from the beginning, with captions!

I bought the kit in 2017 as soon as I learned it was available, and as soon as I was able to talk myself into spending the money. So I've been working on it off and on ever since. Lately I've been working on it a lot. But once again, it's gonna go on hiatus while I try to finish another model in time for the IPMS Nationals in Omaha this summer. There's no way I'll finish Normandie in time without really rushing it, and I don't want to do that.

So here we go from the start. First thing was to prep the two halves of the hull for cementing. This was a challenge because it didn't line up very well. I used Six10 epoxy from West System. This is a marine-grade, slow-curing, gap filling adhesive. Great stuff! https://www.westsystem.com/specialty-epoxies/six10-thickened-epoxy-adhesive/
Click to expand...
Hallo @JohnM
we wish you all the BEST and a HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Birthday-Cake
 
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