Author Topic: The Last Ship USS Nathan James DDG 151  (Read 18911 times)

Offline 35th-scale

  • On first name terms with someone called Nathan...
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The Last Ship USS Nathan James DDG 151
« on: July 17, 2016, 08:30:47 PM »
Welcome to my build of the USS Forrest Sherman which will be done as the Nathan James, the fictional DDG 151 from the TV show The Last Ship, series 3 of which starts tonight on Sky 1.

Trumpeter kit and a lot of parts compared to the Fletcher in the same scale. Includes PE rails too....

The superstructure has some very complex shapes but fit is excellent and the pictures below reflect just 2 evenings at the bench. Haven't decide to go full hull or waterline version but am toying with the idea of doing it in a water base. I must be mad 😊









Will leave one hanger open the other closed as it was converted to the research lab

Offline elmayerle

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Re: The Last Ship USS Nathan James DDG 151
« Reply #1 on: July 17, 2016, 10:19:29 PM »
Looking good!  If memory serves correctly, the tv series is taken from a novel of the same name.  I wonder how close series and novel match?

Offline 35th-scale

  • On first name terms with someone called Nathan...
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Re: The Last Ship USS Nathan James DDG 151
« Reply #2 on: July 18, 2016, 03:21:01 AM »
From what I have read they are not very similar really. The book I believe was based in the '80s and it was after a nuclear exchange. More like On The Beach it sounds like.

Offline Buzzbomb

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Re: The Last Ship USS Nathan James DDG 151
« Reply #3 on: July 18, 2016, 09:43:27 AM »
Nice one.
Trumpeter appear to do a nice ship. I have recently done the HMS Roberts and more than happy with the outcome of that

Seen a bit of it and the concept is ok.

Offline 35th-scale

  • On first name terms with someone called Nathan...
  • I wonder what scale he builds in???
Re: The Last Ship USS Nathan James DDG 151
« Reply #4 on: July 19, 2016, 02:00:54 PM »
Im up to date on the show and really enjoy it. Great to have it back now.

There are a lot of complex shapes in the superstructure but the fit if parts is excellent. Very few gaps requiring filling.



So I decided to attach the main superstructure parts before painting in order to get a good solid bond and as there is some cleanup/filling needed at the joins in the sides.




And these little chaps arrived yesterday. Beautifully cast but so tiny they are going to be fun 😃





Plus these sets originally ordered to complete my USS Independence LCS which I will get around to one day. It's only been sitting in the shelf for 3 years

Offline Volkodav

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Re: The Last Ship USS Nathan James DDG 151
« Reply #5 on: July 19, 2016, 09:47:31 PM »
Nice, I'm thinking of ordering precisely those sets for my RAN Type 23, plus their Phalanx set and/or their RAM set.  Could you please let us know what you think of them?

Offline 35th-scale

  • On first name terms with someone called Nathan...
  • I wonder what scale he builds in???
Re: The Last Ship USS Nathan James DDG 151
« Reply #6 on: July 20, 2016, 02:13:03 AM »
Just looking at the bits in the boxes they look fantastic. No putting together required for the chaff or sensors but the SH60 and 25mm have absolutely tiny parts. Very nice but tiny! Will let you know how I get on putting them together in a few days or weeks.

Offline 35th-scale

  • On first name terms with someone called Nathan...
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Re: The Last Ship USS Nathan James DDG 151
« Reply #7 on: July 20, 2016, 05:36:14 PM »
I couldn't wait 😄

Decided to put one of the VM SH60s together. The kit does come with two of the Trumpeter clear plastic helicopters but I'd borrowed them for another project. Some very small parts including torpedo and MAD(Magnetic Anomaly Detector). 4 PE parts for the main rotor but the smallest bit was for the winch above the side door. But with all that and my poor eyesight it still went together very well. A bit too much glue in places but that was my fault.



Offline Volkodav

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Re: The Last Ship USS Nathan James DDG 151
« Reply #8 on: July 20, 2016, 07:30:21 PM »
Very nice!

Offline Frank3k

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Re: The Last Ship USS Nathan James DDG 151
« Reply #9 on: July 20, 2016, 11:26:00 PM »
This is a fun build to follow. That SH-60 looks better than the Trumpeter version - at least it isn't molded in that brittle clear plastic.

Offline 35th-scale

  • On first name terms with someone called Nathan...
  • I wonder what scale he builds in???
Re: The Last Ship USS Nathan James DDG 151
« Reply #10 on: July 21, 2016, 02:52:11 AM »
Except for the deep recess Windows. Will paint them black then fill with white PVA which should dry clear.

Just noticed the Forrest Sherman has no rear CIWS platform. No front one either. But Nathan James has the rear CIWS so I'm going to have to scratch build the platform. The guns at least are in the kit. There are also different side panels for the rear smoke stack superstructure so they will give me the correct sides at least.


Offline 35th-scale

  • On first name terms with someone called Nathan...
  • I wonder what scale he builds in???
Re: The Last Ship USS Nathan James DDG 151
« Reply #11 on: July 21, 2016, 06:35:17 AM »
I have the following reference book:



But as I'm building a fictional ship, where two real ships were used for the filming, the main reference is the show itself. And the Nathan James has the rear CWIS and the flat stack tops.

Quite pleased with how my scratch built platform came out:



And also started painting the decks



And that's it for evening 6! Unbelievable progress for me. But it will slow down once I get on to all the detail bits

Offline Buzzbomb

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Re: The Last Ship USS Nathan James DDG 151
« Reply #12 on: July 21, 2016, 08:57:01 AM »
zooming ahead.

Great work on the Helo's

Offline 35th-scale

  • On first name terms with someone called Nathan...
  • I wonder what scale he builds in???
Re: The Last Ship USS Nathan James DDG 151
« Reply #13 on: July 31, 2016, 08:41:53 PM »
Finally got my airbrush so practicing on a few other bits before tackling the superstructure painting. Also got Mr Hobby Grey FS 36270 which looks close enough to the right colour for me. And thanks to a colleague in IPMS Ireland who printed the crest on decal paper for me



So we'll be underway again shortly

Offline Old Wombat

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Re: The Last Ship USS Nathan James DDG 151
« Reply #14 on: August 01, 2016, 12:07:17 AM »
This is nudging me closer to starting my own modified class ship.  ;) :)
"This is the Captain. We have a little problem with our engine sequence, so we may experience some slight turbulence and, ah, explode."

Offline 35th-scale

  • On first name terms with someone called Nathan...
  • I wonder what scale he builds in???
Re: The Last Ship USS Nathan James DDG 151
« Reply #15 on: August 01, 2016, 09:52:48 PM »
Go for it Wombat. What are you planning?

This was fun:


Offline Old Wombat

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Re: The Last Ship USS Nathan James DDG 151
« Reply #16 on: August 01, 2016, 11:15:03 PM »
It's still a thought-game in progress but the following ideas are where I'm at right now.

Lose the hangars & helo's.
Maybe lose one of the VLS locations.
Remaining VLS to be a dedicated anti-shipping system.
Gain a Y (?) turret.
Gain long-range SAM launchers in B & X locations (locations to be scratched).
More medium-, & short-range AA weapons.
More light weapons (25mm Bushmasters)
Better/more shipborne ASW weapons systems.

I'm still working on the scenario for the mod's being applied to a sub-class of Australian-modified Arleigh Bourke's, which involves ongoing confrontations with an ever more aggressive Indonesia continuing on from the 1950's/60's Konfrontasi, in a similar manner.
"This is the Captain. We have a little problem with our engine sequence, so we may experience some slight turbulence and, ah, explode."

Offline 35th-scale

  • On first name terms with someone called Nathan...
  • I wonder what scale he builds in???
Re: The Last Ship USS Nathan James DDG 151
« Reply #17 on: August 01, 2016, 10:56:22 PM »
Sounds awesome. Veteran Models bits will come in useful.

Offline Old Wombat

  • "We'll see when I've finished whether I'm showing off or simply embarrassing myself."
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Re: The Last Ship USS Nathan James DDG 151
« Reply #18 on: August 01, 2016, 11:28:10 PM »
Yep! My stockpile is growing! ;)
"This is the Captain. We have a little problem with our engine sequence, so we may experience some slight turbulence and, ah, explode."

Offline Volkodav

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Re: The Last Ship USS Nathan James DDG 151
« Reply #19 on: August 02, 2016, 08:18:41 PM »
Can't wait to see how your painting turns out, I screwed my last ship wiff come paint time.

Offline 35th-scale

  • On first name terms with someone called Nathan...
  • I wonder what scale he builds in???
Re: The Last Ship USS Nathan James DDG 151
« Reply #20 on: August 02, 2016, 11:24:12 PM »
Having only just got my first airbrush last week I want to practice on a few other things first before tackling this beast so it might be a week or two before I make any more progress.

Offline 35th-scale

  • On first name terms with someone called Nathan...
  • I wonder what scale he builds in???
Re: The Last Ship USS Nathan James DDG 151
« Reply #21 on: August 09, 2016, 04:19:55 PM »
I probably should have started with the red bottom, then grey and then the boot line but too late now. Took a top down approach.





I really do like that Mr Hobby paint for spraying. It was so easy!

Offline Old Wombat

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Re: The Last Ship USS Nathan James DDG 151
« Reply #22 on: August 09, 2016, 05:07:06 PM »
Looking good! :)
"This is the Captain. We have a little problem with our engine sequence, so we may experience some slight turbulence and, ah, explode."

Offline Brian da Basher

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Re: The Last Ship USS Nathan James DDG 151
« Reply #23 on: August 10, 2016, 06:36:59 AM »
That reversal in painting order could become what our good friend Bob Ross used to call a "happy accident".

It sure looks like it's coming along superbly!

Brian da Basher

Offline 35th-scale

  • On first name terms with someone called Nathan...
  • I wonder what scale he builds in???
Re: The Last Ship USS Nathan James DDG 151
« Reply #24 on: August 10, 2016, 08:57:04 PM »
Another step forward....

First coat of the Hull Red by Vallejo. Went down nicely. However it would appear I got a bit carried away with the airbrush so some over-spray to be cleaned up.