RGL

Pagoda tower glued down, and the tack dry fitted, I will not add any more details to this until it's glued to the hull and before the ships boats are done. 

You can see how huge huge this is even compared to Yamato. 

The base area under the main tower. Details added to the sides and deck stuck down. I had to trim it a little so the stanchion rails could work. 

Individual stanchions added, all the deck bits replaced; vents, paravanes, trestles, winches added as well. 

And welcome back 

If I may suggest an easy solution to the blast bags, use the plastic backed tin foil on Ferrero Rocher  chocolates. 

Cog or me? The rigging is a lot harder on this as it's so fragile. My endeavour made far more sense. 

The Pagoda tower, just needs a bit of weathering, 7 triple 25mm's and rangefinders, flag lanyards and flags. 

Carl,

Maybe after you finish Musashi?

I used a black primer (first time), then gradually got lighter shades of grey. I think I'll go even lighter once it's all joined up to blend it together better. 

I think that the whole monotonous grey kinda dumbs it down as at this scale you lose all perspective. Highlights on the angle show depth and the flash does not flatter. 

So, today I painted the tower, and have started throwing it together. I have forgotten to make up quite a few sets of ladders (no surprise really), and some gun directors. I'm still going have to order the triple 25mm's and warriors other stuff, I have used the kit supplied binoculars in the concealed areas. Three levels to go. 

The back veranda is done, this is probably all up the most complex part of the build as there are so many parts to put together you can't predict what must be done first. 

I think I might just paint the Pagoda and complete that just to give ale a break from PE. 

Nothing compared to rigging effort mate, I'm loving the ropes they look so real it's so bloody hard to rig properly at this scale. 

Thanks all, there are about 20 sets of ladders, 30 sets of binoculars, range finders, triple 25mm's, binacles, etc etc. it's a kit all by itself. 

Well, tower complete. There is a tripod mast I have to run through it yet and a LOT of detail to add but the basic skeleton is done. 

Two more levels today, 1 to go. The higher the more intricate. 

I didn't, the reason being the kit ones are fine, I have put a few on where there is no details. I usually shave off the plastic ones and glue on the PE.

I've discovered that ringols are only above the hole, there is a lot of PE that provides them as circles and I think it's incorrect. 

Danny, it's not glued down, the idea is do up the entire structure but not glue it. Too hard to paint. It aligns on a dry fit, trust me! 

2 more floors to the building 

I'm loving it. The handhold protection is great too, did you put CA on the inside to bond it as well? 

If if I ever do this kit I'll probably go for the black hull. 

Cog I think the Tamiya kit is far better engineered than the Ise. 

I don't know mate, it's nerve wracking as there is so much PE in the layer cake 

2 more levels, the enclosed bridge should have s lot of detail but it really will not be visible so I may just throw in some of the kit supplied binoculars etc to give some silhouette. Lots of guns and directors to be added much later. 

The Japanese ships had these huge Pagoda towers. Given they are so intricate I am going to try and construct it so it pulls apart for ease of painting and add the multitude of ladders afterwards. 

Im still awaiting drill bits so I can't progress the rear of the bus. 

So far, that's the first two stories of 9. 

And 80 individual railings later, back deck done for now. 

Next, back to the rear deck. There are 12 turntables, requiring me to buy 2 sets of Alliance model works railing sets. I've started on the railings and will probably use a hole punch to make up the last two turntables. Looks so much better than the kit "apathy", apparently aircraft could only fly off via the catapult anyway and the only way this would work is to use the traditional railing system. 

The deck itself was concrete, used as a counterweight as the rear two turrets were removed. Photos and video of the Ise show the blocks of cracked concrete and the railings. About a day's work to go on this then I'll flip it and continue with the underside.