RGL

The last bits put together for the ship, the back veranda gets very busy very quickly with the aircraft. There were apparently 2 types of aircraft, one with and one without float planes, the latter could only be recovered on a proper aircraft carrier or airstrip. Whilst the kit does provide teo of these I cannot find any reference on how they went on the catapults so I’m just not going to do them. A fair bit of work to do to paint them yet, which I will not have time for this week or next. 

You can also try some of the chipping fluids. Works nicely and on a big 1/200 should work well

Very sneaky Cog, you got distracted! 

Looks good mate, it’s easy to get distracted doing the tiny details and we forget it’s hardly noticeable on the finished product. 

It does, but in the photos from Kure Harbour in 1945 have it under water. There are no cranes nearby, and it appears to be a big clear area so the rear main gun barrels can traverse. 

The casements for the rear removed guns stored fuel for the aircraft and aerial bombs.

I have no idea. There is bugger all reference and they conflict somewhat. 

I love it how Cog, OC and I are not the only ones with the PE addiction. Looking forward to us plastics group growing. 

Thin glue! Use a scalpel to cut a groove for it and the support struts. I hated this bit on my Varyag. 

Ok, the main ship is now pretty much done. Davits and Cats added, rigging done. I’ll touch up the paintwork at the end. 

I’ve got a shed load on this to go yet. I’m hoping to get the rigging done today, then I can add the davits, then throw on the catapults then start on the back ate and aircraft. 

So, that’s it, all the armament added, 8 big cannon, 8 12.7cm high altitude gun mounts, 31 triple 25mm’s, 10 single 25mm’s, 6 rocket mounts. 

Fantastic news old boy! So much more important 

Yes mate, the next build. 

I got three base boards made up, deciding if I should use it on Isuzu plus the new one which I bought on eBay 

So, throw a few guns and ammo boxes on, set the TV aerial up...

Work inboard to outboard. Wait till you see the convoluted mast. I was starting to get a bit stale with this build, and considering I still have the ship’s boats and aircraft to go I think I’ll be well and truely over my IJN phase after this one. 

I haven’t posted for a while because there has been an enormous amount of small piecework to do. Putting a fence around the back veranda; I don’t know if the flight deck had railings, but I know the rear bit did as the video of the ship in 1945 shows it. I’ve added the 6 rocket launchers at the stern, the turntables and done up the 25mm’s. That is just back breaking work, 31 triple 25mm’s, each with individual barrels and magazines and 11 singles. Tomorrow I can start throwing them on. The baseboard was made up for me and is a beautiful bit of hardwood with Tung oil to season. 

Nice work, it’s a huge build 

Don’t give up on it, just get some generic PE (GMM still has that scale), then make it up, no one will ever know. 

The stack, or funnel. Horrible bit of kit as the PE really needs to be done up with the deck to get the alignment correct which if flat out impossible with the wooden stick on deck. Good enough for government work and weathered using black pastels for soot. 

This is the last main structure with only the mast to go and then lots of planes, boats and guns. 

The Pagoda has been lightly weathered with grime, rust and salt. The lugs that go into the deck were cut off and it sits almost perfectly snug without glue. I'll weather the funnel next, then once attached I can add the crane and it's rigging. You can see from the close up there is a lot of detail to add, and I still need to add 9 25mm's, and do up the remainder of the 13.7cm guns plus one barrel which has gone god knows where. 

Weight training is easier 

Railings at the front of the bus done, 2 days work and a cramp in my right trapezius. It doesn't seem much but threading the railing is a nightmare as the elastic catches on the paint in the tiny holes. 

Sweet ship, very nice. L'Arsenal probably have some French aftermarket for her. 

Im in. 

I probably should have (that's what it's called), but Yamato and Isuzu have metal focsle areas so did'nt need it.