RGL

So, the rearmost superstructure which will house the arial. 

The begining of a lot of trianglular gussets. 

Still getting my head around very poor instructions and forward planning as much as possible. But, one must make a start somewhere, so I added the 14 strengthening struts which all needed to be filed down (they don't fit without a hammer). 

I drilled out and filed out the hawser holes so I can use proper anchors and replace the anchor chain covers. 

Lots of gaps to fill and the supports for stand pedestals. 

You can see it's a big kit, and will be a lot more complex than Yamato. 

Holy hell that's good. There is going to be a big hole in your day now you've finished your Opus. 

Holy hell that's good. There is going to be a big hole in your day now you've finished your Opus. 

My next build is the Hybrid battleship Ise. Converted in 1943/44 to a carrier ship, and half sunk in 1945 in Kure Harbour, Japan.

The class after the Fuso so there are a lot of similarities which will allow me to use the AOTS Fuso for reference.

During the build of Isuzu, I decided to do something much more complicated, lots more features. I would like to do an Aircraft Carrier and I like all the underlying lattice of beams, but you pay a lot of money for a flat top.

The Fujimi Ise offers the best of both worlds. Flight deck and cannons plus pagoda tower.

The prices and additions vary widely on this kit. You can get it for nearly $900 on Ebay!! I ended up getting it from Japan for $200 and arrived in OZ in a couple of days. Included were two separate photo etch sheets from Fujimi which seem to sell for around $100 each so I'm ahead. The Fujimi wooden deck is a bargain at $600 just for the deck. I went for the thrifty Artwox version.

I got the flyhawk upgrade, which mainly focuses on support struts, barrels and 12.7mm guns and 2D 25mm's.

The rear deck needs rails and turntables (not in any of the PE), the decks need lots of vents and other dandyfunk, and around 30 triple 25mms.

Opening the box it's fairly strait forward, but It's going to suck up a LOT of aftermarket to bring it up to a decent standard. There are some video's of her on Utube.

It's amazing how you can work for days and think, I've got nothing to show. Then you get to the stage and go 'bugger, I'm finished it, what next?"

I was always awaiting Eric Bergerud's third volume which was supposed to cover the navies. His books on land and air forces were beyond magnificent. 

I'm only keeping you distracted from your build. 

It's pretty bloody complex (The Ise). 

Just noticed some idiot has not updated that; no, almost as big, more complex 

Thank you, I finally figured out how they do flags properly as well, so a win for me. 

Next ship is purchased. Bigger, much more complexity and still more aftermarket to buy. 

Um, finished. I really don't think I can add anymore detail. 

Smaller than Yamato, and parked up with the rest. 

Rigging up the davits and adding some rope coils, and trestles. 

I'm in 

Ships boats, prop booms, ships booms, another attempt at flags. 

Just fantastic 

And lastly for today, the Crysanteum crest, the ships name, folded awning stanchions and davits swung out. 

So, exactly 250 individual stanchions, so 500 eyelets threaded. 3 days but worth it. 

Yes Carl, you just have to, I generally buy a 10 pack of .3mm drill bits off Ebay per kit as they break so easily. 

Unfortunately the Tamiya Yamato was designed for individual stanchions with dimples where you drilled, no such luck on Isuzu. Still a pain in the butt to do and I can't go back to PE railing now. 

Enjoy the outdoors, it's winter here and nothing grows. 

I intentionally flogged her to death with weathering to try all the techniques as no one else seems to want to go so far. 

Thanks Pat. I just attached around 240 individual handrail stanchions. Rigging them will be even more painful

Thanks all, the anchor chains and stoppers all rusted up. 

Rigging complete, really very simple on this one. I have now replaced the three 12.7mm high altitude guns, these are so much nicer than the Flyhawk ones. I also threw in the 2 quad torpedo tubes. Coming together. 

I'm home. I did up the focsle deck equipment before I went away. The deck comes from Flyhawk but r ally offers nothing else. The Capstans, brakes hawser covers etch are all from Crysanthum, a very obscure Japanese company which has first rate resin and PE but I think has probably gone out of business as it's so hard to find. The anchors themselves are just stick on things that will do for the build. 

Weathering, then chain, chain stoppers and throw the anchors on. 

Well, 20cm less intestine, a few things ordered for my next build. Thanks for your support, I hope to be home in a few days where I will burn up some of my accumulated year of sick leave. Might do some ship modelling!