USNS Comfort and Mercy, A Scale Model, Part 5

After I finished painting the waterline, the faux keel, and the funnels I turned to the Red Crosses and the bridge’s windows. 

My initial idea for the windows was to craft a stamp of a window raw. I took a strip of wood and partially saw it to make a short comb-like stamp. I then painted the tips of comb’s teeth with black paint and stamped a scrap piece to see how it looks.

Unfortunately, the outcome was inconsistent and did not look uniformed so I resorted to another technique. 

I masked the lower and the upper parameter or the windows’ raw, and with a thin brush painted each of the windows, stroking the brush from top to bottom. My first attempt was on the helicopter control bridge which turned out ok. To fix the access thickness of some of my lines I repainted the gaps between the windows with white paint. Then, when I continued painting the windows on the main bridge I used a finer brash, plus I did a better job with the masking tape, so the outcome was finer and nicer. 

The Red Cross decals

I made a few cross decals by affixing a blue masking tape to a cutting mat, drawing the crosses, and cutting them off with a craft knife. 

I then pressed them onto their locations and painted over with red acrylic color. 

After peeling off the decals, the USNS Comfort was ready for some satin clear finish. 

The project was finished by using a spray can and applying a few coats of lacquer on the ship to preserve the decals and the milk paint. 

Now that this detailed ship project is completed I have some second thoughts on whether I should hand over the command of this lovely ship to my five-year-old son. What do you think, should I wait a few more years, perhaps until he gets his driver’s license?