IJN Mikasa by CDW - Wave Models - 1:200 scale - PLASTIC

[CDW]

Spent some time, but it doesn't look like much done today. The front bridge requires cutting, filing, and sanding before adding photo etch details to build it. The entire deck gets replaced. Structural details, gussets, portholes and doors have to be added. Next will be a host of other bits and pieces including guns, before the bridge is done. This will take a few days before taking on the rear bridge which is nearly a clone of the front bridge. A little difference, but not a lot.

[CDW]

[CDW]

With some paint and a few more details added. 

Sorry, but my lighting and photography skills are awful.

Will build some small guns that go on the bridge next.

[CDW]

[Old Collingwood]

Very sharp - nice pin point precision.

 

OC.

[CDW]

One of the four 47mm guns that are mounted to the front bridge lower deck.

[CDW]

Keep whittlin' away at this thing...

[popeye the sailor]

coming along splendidly CDW...looks very clean and neat   

[src]

Getting caught up here finally, looks great CDW! I am constantly amazed by what is available for plastic today, you guys really set the bar up there for the rest of us.

Sam

[CDW]

Thank you, Sam. So glad to have you aboard.

[CDW]

1 hour ago, popeye the sailor said:

coming along splendidly CDW...looks very clean and neat   

Thanks Popeye.

In the particular paint scheme I am doing, I don't think the ship would have ever seen any combat yet, and not too much time at sea, either. So I don't intend to add much in the way of severe weathering or battle damage. 

I want to begin looking for some 1:200 sailors, maybe from Shapeways? Want to give it a somewhat busy look by adding some action figures. Maybe could add some guys shoveling coal into a few of those "coal chute covers" on deck. Gonna look to see what I can find that's close to being period correct. 

[Jack12477]

CDW, N-scale Model Railroad is 1:160 , might be close enough, if not, Z-scale is 1:220. You might find a set with Railroader workers.

[CDW]

10 minutes ago, Jack12477 said:

CDW, N-scale Model Railroad is 1:160 , might be close enough, if not, Z-scale is 1:220. You might find a set with Railroader workers.

Thanks, Jack.

I just found these 1:200 scale sailors at Shapeways, and ordered a set. I think I can make these work for me.

[Jack12477]

Those look even better than RR figure, CDW.

[CDW]

Come to think of it, certain areas on the deck of the ship, and it's probably safe to say around all the coal chutes, there would be coal dust/staining where the frequent resupply of coal would have taken place; regardless of how much combat the ship had been in. So I need to dirty up those areas a bit before everything is all said and done. I'll have to check the model railroad section at the hobby shop for some black ballast that might be a reasonable representation for coal in this scale. 

[lmagna]

47 minutes ago, CDW said:

there would be coal dust/staining where the frequent resupply of coal would have taken place;

You still may want to be a little careful even there CDW.

 

The Japanese were, (and are) noted for keeping very clean ships. As you intend to add people actually working at loading coal you could probably get away with it. But as soon as coaling was done I am almost certain that here would be crewmen with high pressure steam hoses and brooms cleaning everything in sight! Holy stoning the decks was also still quite common on these ships and would eliminate much of the staining that would otherwise possibly be present.

 

Super great Looking build!

[CDW]

No worries...my idea of weathering and stain is minimal at best. Remember, I worked as the operations chief for a major general and I know first hand the expectations of maintaining a high standard. Been there, done that, and got the tee shirt. Not on a ship, but nevertheless under a general officer. If that gentleman saw anything out of sorts, there was hell to pay...guaranteed.

[CDW]

I've been working off and on on this thing all day long, but it's one of those days where it seems like nothing much got done. Under this next level of superstructure and decks, there are details that were painted and added, but you can't see those with my pictures.

Just wanted to get some dry fit photos to see where we're headed with this model. Before this next level of decks are permanently added, a number of significant details must be added. Guns in particular. If I am to add any sailors to the gun deck, I need to wait for my figures to be delivered before adding the next deck level. Once added, it would be much more difficult to put any in sailors place there. 

[yvesvidal]

Absolutely beautiful!!! Your BLOG will be my reference when I decide to build the kit I have.

 

Yves

[popeye the sailor]

the paint work is awesome.........she's a fine looking model so far   

[CDW]

I think it's time for a sanity check.

Just spent close to 2 hours building this little 3" gun. There are a total of 16 of them to build. Sheesh. 😏

Besides that, I got some more painting and a little gluing of parts together today. Maybe I can move a little faster with the 3" guns now that I know the proper order of assembly. Pontos can be rather terrible at giving one a clue as to sequence/order of construction. I guess they figure, if you are a good enough modeler to tackle their update sets, you're good enough to figure out the best build sequence for your self. 

[src]

That is one nice looking gun!!

sam

[CDW]

8 minutes ago, src said:

That is one nice looking gun!!

sam

And I almost need an atomic microscope to see it, Sam. No joke, these macro photos are the best look I've had at what I actually built. I didn't even see those 'glue strings' until I saw my own pictures. 😄  

[lmagna]

51 minutes ago, CDW said:

I didn't even see those 'glue strings' until I saw my own pictures.

Micro spiders trying to mess up your fine work. Only 15 more to go so you should be done in about a week?

[bglithero]

Nice job.

[CDW]

My speed picked up a bit on these last two guns...got two done in an hour. But I doubt I'll get much faster than that. This leaves me with a solid six or seven hours to do the remainder of the 3" guns. And it says nothing of how long it will take to do the dozen or so remaining 47mm guns that need to be built. 

Stay tuned for more guns...🤐

[cog]

You've got quite some parts to build it up, mine were not so finely detailed ... though they were a lot smaller too 

[RGL]

Love them a lot. You are soo right about Pontos instructions but I keep going back. 

 

[knightyo]

Those guns are magnificent.

 

Alan

[src]

Its almost a shame to put paint on those they look so good.

As far as the glue strings, "Breach Ropes!"

Sam