So...converting a Jean Bart to be more accurate to the Operation Torch appearance...how crazy am I?
Having not seen the WAS mini, what exactly is inaccurate about it?
Formerly "Admiral Jacky Fisher."
"It follows then as certain as that night succeeds the day, that without a decisive naval force we can do nothing definitive, and with it, everything honorable and glorious"--George Washington
From what I've managed to gather, the Jean Bart mini uses essentially the same mold as Richelieu, just with one turret missing. But reading about the ship, during the war it also had none of the secondary guns, and almost no AA guns. Moreover, the second turret was present, but only as a hollow frame with neither guns nor armor.
So...converting a Jean Bart to be more accurate to the Operation Torch appearance...how crazy am I?
You might have a better time starting with my design. I didn't do the turret frame for the #2 turret because the detail is a bit smaller than my design tolerances, but otherwise I did hold true to the secondary and AA layout from that time.
Not crazy either way though. The WotC version is as you described; using the same mold as Richelieu but they just popped a peg in the #2 turret hole instead of a turret.
I'll probably stick to the WotC mini, mostly because it's already in my possession. But that's a very nice model, and now I'm distracted by looking at your others.
Working from the WOTC model, most of this would involve simply cutting stuff off. I actually did that to several Jean Bart minis back in the day for kitbashing (at one point it was a super cheap mini on the singles market and it has nicely detailed AA guns). An approximation for the frame of the incomplete turret might be doable with styrene, but depending on how steady your hands are, that could quickly become a solo hair pulling contest.
Yeah, I've already decided not to build a true frame, but instead make the major ribs as fins, with the interior areas painted to look like shadows. Should be much easier to build, and also stronger.
I'll probably stick to the WotC mini, mostly because it's already in my possession. But that's a very nice model, and now I'm distracted by looking at your others.