rcmdrvr

The bridges and the main mast bitts were the next task.  After reading bobandlucy's build and seeing how Bob had a problem with the two access ladders for the bridges being too short I decided to move the two platforms inboard a little so the ladders would reach.  I chose not to paint the platforms but left them natural.  I also scored them to simulate planks.

The main mass bitts were assembled, painted and glued in place.

Cabin Skylights:
After assembling the aft cabin skylight I noticed that the laser etched positioning guidelines on the roof were way to big for the skylight.  I chose to fill in three of the four guidelines with wood filler and then repaint the roof.

Repainted roof

Skylights glued to roof

Funnel assembly:
The funnel assembly was next and the first thing I did was to clean up the britiannia steam pipe and whistle.

After cleaning and straightening.

The funnel was assembled per the instructions using the card stock wrapped around a wooden dowel. I used a scrap piece of dowel inserted in the upper part of the funnel to keep me from crushing the card stock while handling it.

Painted funnel

The two ventilators were cleaned up and painted

Completed funnel assembly

It has been awhile since I last posted to this build.  During that time I have completed most of the deck structures and assembled the cannons and placed them on the deck.  As mentioned in my last post I had to "scratch build" most of the deck structures to insure that the positioning scribes in the deck were covered.  I think that I was able to accomplish this.   I purchased various thicknesses of basswood sheet at my local hobby store and using a zona saw and hobby knife I cut block to appropiate sizes.   It was actually kind of fun to fashion my own structures.  The only kit supplied parts I used were the vent louvers; which were PA provided in the kit.
 
Next came the cannon carriages.  The sides of the carriage were those provided by the kit but the pieces connecting the sides were again scratched as I found the carriages were too narrow for the metal cannon barrels.  It took quite a bit of fitting and filing to get everything to fit.  Preparing the cannon barrels for painting was also a lengthier task than I thought.  It took quite a bit of filing and polishing with a dremel tool to get them ready for priming.  Once completed I was surprised that they would only fit in their positions if the barrels were pointed down.  Otherwise they would not fit below the railing.  I am convinced that the provided cannons are too big for the scale of the model.  Rigging the carriages was the final step.  I chose to minimize the amount of cannon rigging as was suggested in the instruction booklet.
 
I have provided photos of the build to date.  While I have expressed some difficulties with my build so far; I think the final results are pretty nice.  Next task; figure out how to make round masts from squate basswood sticks cut from the provided sheets.
 

I have my eye on the Mikasa.  Not sure that I will do the Pontos thing....expensive and I do not have alot of experience with Photo Etch.  I will follow your build with great interest.  Oh......WELCOME!

I have my eye on the Mikasa.  Not sure that I will do the Pontos thing....expensive and I do not have alot of experience with Photo Etch.  I will follow your build with great interest.  Oh......WELCOME!

It has been awhile since I last posted to this build.  During that time I have completed most of the deck structures and assembled the cannons and placed them on the deck.  As mentioned in my last post I had to "scratch build" most of the deck structures to insure that the positioning scribes in the deck were covered.  I think that I was able to accomplish this.   I purchased various thicknesses of basswood sheet at my local hobby store and using a zona saw and hobby knife I cut block to appropiate sizes.   It was actually kind of fun to fashion my own structures.  The only kit supplied parts I used were the vent louvers; which were PA provided in the kit.
 
Next came the cannon carriages.  The sides of the carriage were those provided by the kit but the pieces connecting the sides were again scratched as I found the carriages were too narrow for the metal cannon barrels.  It took quite a bit of fitting and filing to get everything to fit.  Preparing the cannon barrels for painting was also a lengthier task than I thought.  It took quite a bit of filing and polishing with a dremel tool to get them ready for priming.  Once completed I was surprised that they would only fit in their positions if the barrels were pointed down.  Otherwise they would not fit below the railing.  I am convinced that the provided cannons are too big for the scale of the model.  Rigging the carriages was the final step.  I chose to minimize the amount of cannon rigging as was suggested in the instruction booklet.
 
I have provided photos of the build to date.  While I have expressed some difficulties with my build so far; I think the final results are pretty nice.  Next task; figure out how to make round masts from squate basswood sticks cut from the provided sheets.
 

I have my eye on the Mikasa.  Not sure that I will do the Pontos thing....expensive and I do not have alot of experience with Photo Etch.  I will follow your build with great interest.  Oh......WELCOME!

It has been awhile since I last posted to this build.  During that time I have completed most of the deck structures and assembled the cannons and placed them on the deck.  As mentioned in my last post I had to "scratch build" most of the deck structures to insure that the positioning scribes in the deck were covered.  I think that I was able to accomplish this.   I purchased various thicknesses of basswood sheet at my local hobby store and using a zona saw and hobby knife I cut block to appropiate sizes.   It was actually kind of fun to fashion my own structures.  The only kit supplied parts I used were the vent louvers; which were PA provided in the kit.
 
Next came the cannon carriages.  The sides of the carriage were those provided by the kit but the pieces connecting the sides were again scratched as I found the carriages were too narrow for the metal cannon barrels.  It took quite a bit of fitting and filing to get everything to fit.  Preparing the cannon barrels for painting was also a lengthier task than I thought.  It took quite a bit of filing and polishing with a dremel tool to get them ready for priming.  Once completed I was surprised that they would only fit in their positions if the barrels were pointed down.  Otherwise they would not fit below the railing.  I am convinced that the provided cannons are too big for the scale of the model.  Rigging the carriages was the final step.  I chose to minimize the amount of cannon rigging as was suggested in the instruction booklet.
 
I have provided photos of the build to date.  While I have expressed some difficulties with my build so far; I think the final results are pretty nice.  Next task; figure out how to make round masts from squate basswood sticks cut from the provided sheets.
 

It has been awhile since I last posted to this build.  During that time I have completed most of the deck structures and assembled the cannons and placed them on the deck.  As mentioned in my last post I had to "scratch build" most of the deck structures to insure that the positioning scribes in the deck were covered.  I think that I was able to accomplish this.   I purchased various thicknesses of basswood sheet at my local hobby store and using a zona saw and hobby knife I cut block to appropiate sizes.   It was actually kind of fun to fashion my own structures.  The only kit supplied parts I used were the vent louvers; which were PA provided in the kit.
 
Next came the cannon carriages.  The sides of the carriage were those provided by the kit but the pieces connecting the sides were again scratched as I found the carriages were too narrow for the metal cannon barrels.  It took quite a bit of fitting and filing to get everything to fit.  Preparing the cannon barrels for painting was also a lengthier task than I thought.  It took quite a bit of filing and polishing with a dremel tool to get them ready for priming.  Once completed I was surprised that they would only fit in their positions if the barrels were pointed down.  Otherwise they would not fit below the railing.  I am convinced that the provided cannons are too big for the scale of the model.  Rigging the carriages was the final step.  I chose to minimize the amount of cannon rigging as was suggested in the instruction booklet.
 
I have provided photos of the build to date.  While I have expressed some difficulties with my build so far; I think the final results are pretty nice.  Next task; figure out how to make round masts from squate basswood sticks cut from the provided sheets.
 

A very pretty, little model.  You can be proud of your efforts.

A very pretty, little model.  You can be proud of your efforts.

A very pretty, little model.  You can be proud of your efforts.

Cabin & pilothouse:
I started the cabin and pilothouse assembly following the instruction booklet but after gluing a few of the wall sections to the base I found that they just didn't fit the base correctly.  The wall sections were too short.  Good, bad, right or wrong, I chose to I disassembled what I had done and to then glue all the wall sections together first and then adjust the base to fit.

Completed cabin and pilothouse

Although I did not have a problem with the Photo-Etched pilothouse window frames fitting I did have an issue with the cardstock panel that wraps around the exterior of pilothouse.  In the second photo down you can see that the door and the first window cutout do not match up with the wood cutout underneath.  My fix was to cut the door off right at the window frame opening and move it back. I also removed the first window mullion and moved that back also.  I then fill the gaps with small pieces of wood.  I did this on both sides of the pilothouse.
 


 
Cardstock door and window relocated.

 

Thanks druxey. I'm assuming you're talking about the boat because I'm far from well adjusted. 😁😉
 
Thanks rcmdrvr.  The fit may have had something to do with me building the walls first.  I had to modify the base quite a bit to make it fit.  The outer card layer didn't fit to well though.
 
 
Thanks to everyone also for all the likes.
 
 

Great job on your cabin and pilothouse.  Wish mine had turned out as well.  I don't understand why your photo etch fit so well.  I must have really screwed something up in the assembly of the basic structures.

Great job on your cabin and pilothouse.  Wish mine had turned out as well.  I don't understand why your photo etch fit so well.  I must have really screwed something up in the assembly of the basic structures.

Great job on your cabin and pilothouse.  Wish mine had turned out as well.  I don't understand why your photo etch fit so well.  I must have really screwed something up in the assembly of the basic structures.

SalD.  Soon you will be building the cannon structures.   I have not posted my cannons yet (I am travelling) I swear that the cannons are too big for the carriages.  I had to do alot of work on the carriages to get the cannons to point out the ports.  Take it slow and test fit over and over.  I also spent a few hours with a jewelers file to get the barrels ready for painting.  Good Luck!

SalD.  Soon you will be building the cannon structures.   I have not posted my cannons yet (I am travelling) I swear that the cannons are too big for the carriages.  I had to do alot of work on the carriages to get the cannons to point out the ports.  Take it slow and test fit over and over.  I also spent a few hours with a jewelers file to get the barrels ready for painting.  Good Luck!

Very much like your deck.  Hope you can build your deck structures to cover the location scribes.  I was only simi successful.

Thanks rcmdrvr.  I've started placing some of the forward deck pieces onto the deck and the scribed deck is making the location scribes a little less noticeable.

Very much like your deck.  Hope you can build your deck structures to cover the location scribes.  I was only simi successful.

I really like the eagles.

I really like the eagles.

I really like the eagles.