RGL

The gun platforms for the high angle 76mms and for the other triple 25mm's. I have dry fitted some sandbags around the flat platforms which house the 76mms. Also the amidships searchlight. Lots of small deck details to go. 

The gun platforms for the high angle 76mms and for the other triple 25mm's. I have dry fitted some sandbags around the flat platforms which house the 76mms. Also the amidships searchlight. Lots of small deck details to go. 

Weathering on the bridge is done, rust, grime and salt. I reckon I'll just leave it alone now as I'm tempting fate as I'll stuff it completely. 

There's some footage of one of this class of cruiser on Utube where the decks are covered in ice, that would be over rated with an open deck. 

Radio direction finder, tripod mast and mast placed. I have not glued it to the deck but it's the only way I can get it to align. A bit of touch up then weathering. 

Slowly layering up, I've added the housing and cupboards for this back deck from scratch, the added the MG controllers, the deck hatch and ladder, the hid it with the bridge deck. I've added the binnacle and ships wheel, binoculars and search lights. 

Shipyard Update
Fore & Mizzen Mast Futtock Shrouds:
Finished off the Futtock Shrouds to the top of the Fore and Mizzen Masts.
 
Fore Mast
I start by attaching the Futtock Stave either side to the mast shrouds.
I used 0.5mm black rope and seized with cotton this time(used brass rod for the main mast stave)

Then add in the Catharpins, attached to the middle 4 mast shrouds under the stave.
This leaves room for the Futtock shroud to loop under the stave, over the Catharpin, around the Futtock and back over the stave and down onto the main shroud.
Can get fairly busy with the trying cords. 

Making the ForeMast Futtock Shrouds.
  
Attached to the Fore Mast.

Mizzen Mast
Mizzen the same but 3 shrouds per side, attached to the 3 rear mast shrouds.

 
And we now have the tops and Futtock Shrouds on each mast.

I'm glad the Futtock's are out of the way.
Doing my eyes in.
 
I suppose it is onto the Ratings next ? or maybe not until I raise the runners ?
 
 
Dave R

They're not MG stands/brackets? I agree on too small, sometimes it's just a bit too gimmicky to produce a .1mm x .1mm thing and even expect it to stand out yet alone be able to be glued. 

The gun platforms for the high angle 76mms and for the other triple 25mm's. I have dry fitted some sandbags around the flat platforms which house the 76mms. Also the amidships searchlight. Lots of small deck details to go. 

They're not MG stands/brackets? I agree on too small, sometimes it's just a bit too gimmicky to produce a .1mm x .1mm thing and even expect it to stand out yet alone be able to be glued. 

Weathering on the bridge is done, rust, grime and salt. I reckon I'll just leave it alone now as I'm tempting fate as I'll stuff it completely. 

The gun platforms for the high angle 76mms and for the other triple 25mm's. I have dry fitted some sandbags around the flat platforms which house the 76mms. Also the amidships searchlight. Lots of small deck details to go. 

Weathering on the bridge is done, rust, grime and salt. I reckon I'll just leave it alone now as I'm tempting fate as I'll stuff it completely. 

I think they are supposed to represent binoculars, but not a very convincing replica IMHO. Will probably order some 3 dimensional ones rather than fool around with these.

They're not MG stands/brackets? I agree on too small, sometimes it's just a bit too gimmicky to produce a .1mm x .1mm thing and even expect it to stand out yet alone be able to be glued. 

The gun platforms for the high angle 76mms and for the other triple 25mm's. I have dry fitted some sandbags around the flat platforms which house the 76mms. Also the amidships searchlight. Lots of small deck details to go. 

Weathering on the bridge is done, rust, grime and salt. I reckon I'll just leave it alone now as I'm tempting fate as I'll stuff it completely. 

Yes Craig, they were cramped for sure. I am not aware that trey had height limits for the crew. My father was 1.95 meter tall and lanky, just like me, although I am only 5 ft 8 or 1.76 meter tall. A few years ago I visited the USS Cod in Cleveland, Ohio with my grandson. We got a private tour by the director of the submarine museum, very nice. That boat is close 98% seaworthy, according to the director. That is the sub that came to the rescue of my father's former sub, Hr. Ms. O19.
From the stories I have read about the O19 crew rescued by the Cod in July 10 of 1945, she was rather spacious, compared to the Cod that is. As a young lad of 6 my father took me on board of the O19 in 1940, just before his promotion and I was in total awe over all the gauges, knobs and wheels. Of course to a small boy everything seemed spacious.
 
Being small, lanky and light weight I have no problems fitting in the "driver's" seat of general aviation aircraft. I have flown most everything from a single seat home-build airplane to the Boeing 757. The Beech King Air is a nice airplane and have flown its bigger cousin, the model 99 and 1900. It almost seems that when I strap myself into an airplane I become part of it. Actually, the DC-9, MD 80 are cramped in the cockpit and so are other commercial airplanes. When I managed and partly owned an aircraft repair facility in New Jersey most of my customers asked me to test fly their airplanes, plenty of free airtime, I loved it.
 
And here I am building model ships - - - and loving it. I'm done designing, fixing and flying them.
 
Cheers,

Weathering on the bridge is done, rust, grime and salt. I reckon I'll just leave it alone now as I'm tempting fate as I'll stuff it completely. 

Radio direction finder, tripod mast and mast placed. I have not glued it to the deck but it's the only way I can get it to align. A bit of touch up then weathering. 

And the top deck plus radar, more binoculars and railings

Slowly layering up, I've added the housing and cupboards for this back deck from scratch, the added the MG controllers, the deck hatch and ladder, the hid it with the bridge deck. I've added the binnacle and ships wheel, binoculars and search lights. 

Mr Wako, they are from Alliance Modelworks but quite expensive so I am really going to have to figure out a way to make my own. 
 
I have added a neutral grey filter filter which appears to have worked as advertised. 
 
I then painted and washed the sisal bags bags and dry brushed them, and painted the dodgers white and gave them a brown wash and dry brushed white over it. 
 
Now ow I can start to thrown the bits and pieces on, and weather it when it's all togeather. 

Three shades of grey later, (the photo does not really show it), now I can paint the Lino decks and the wooden bridge floor grates. I'm hoping the filter will bring out some contrasts before pin washes then weathering. Let's see. 

About 60% of the deck fittings ready for the primer coat. It's amazing how all the detail gets away from you. Not included  (nor started), lots and lots of guns and vents, 3 stacks, davits, stanchions and awning stanchions, depth charge stuff. 
 
Airbrush comes out tomorrow......