HIJMS MIKASA 1902 by Jeff59 - FINISHED - HobbyBoss - 1/200 - PLASTIC

[Jeff59]

Hello to all modelling fans, hope you had a You had a nice Xmas and all the best for 2022. I think I got locked in the modelling room and told to stay out of the way 😂, result I actually progressed with the Mikasa. Finned adding almost all the etch down the port side, then came up with some daft ideas on detailing the stern walkway. Once finished it was then going to masking of the lower hull, done it right this time, fed up with scraping overspray off 😂 Shall put some photos up to show this stage of build.

[Jeff59]

The small beads are the discovery of Jaqueline, my lovely wife who help me find this for the top rail on stern walk, Don’t know if this is right for period but hope it looks okay, easy to remove if not liked. Believe it or not for decoration of female finger nails. 😂 the bag has thousands in it, so get plenty shots. 🤪.

[Jeff59]

Started masking of hull, the paint has had about six months to dry so shouldn’t peel off on removal of tape. 🤞 Next was the painting of hull, did try various shades to try for some shading effects, but didn’t work this time because I don’t know what I’m doing, did say lm a novice with air brush, first shot, learn by mistakes, I hope. Time to put on the etch camouflage. 😳

[Jeff59]

[Jeff59]

[Jeff59]

Started with the Tire black, here’s where we find out if the colours work, fingers crossed.

[Jeff59]

[Jeff59]

Finally removing the masking to see if it looks okay, just some minor bits needing touched up also got the forward and aft decks fixed down, so no going back now. Feel at last I have turned a corner. The forward bridge structure got some minor corrections in the port hole positions, the ones on the front didn’t match the side port holes in height, so filled and repositioned them using actual ship as reference. 

[Jeff59]

[Jeff59]

[Jeff59]

[Jeff59]

[Jeff59]

Well that brings me about up too speed with my build , it’s going to take a while to progress from here, so I hope you all have a good year in front of you. Regards Jeff. 🤛 

[Boydie]

First time reading your build log. Amazing job so far, along with your Arizona. 

[Jeff59]

On 1/5/2022 at 10:57 PM, Boydie said:

First time reading your build log. Amazing job so far, along with your Arizona. 

Thanks Boydie, still got a lot to do but trying to keep it progressing, regarding the Arizona was one of builds that I decided not to paint the photo Etch to highlight all the work involved in building a ship, think the only thing I will do with her is paint the lower hull and possibly the main gun barrels, just to make it look slightly more complete.  The Mikasa shall be the first model I will have finished in over thirty years 😳 here’s hoping, thanks for liking it. 🤛

[Jeff59]

Hello again, it’s time to try and show some progress, just seems to be taking forever, even to me. Shall start with the port and starboard superstructure on main deck, the way the build works on the model you have to complete this , and the 12 pounder guns before you can progress to fitting the bridge structures. 

[Jeff59]

This rather heavy approach to sorting the portholes in the doors on the side works, you don’t see this from the outside anyway, plus I scraped away some of the plastic moulding on the outside, it was a little too heavy for me, just have to be careful and don’t take too much off, all works from the outside. 👍 also done that tedious job of filling up the attachment points for the plastic kit shielding, done the usual plastic stock with liquid cement, then when dry, trim and scrape it all away, plus remove some surface details for ladder rungs. Fitted some of photo etch, but not it all yet.

[Jeff59]

[Jeff59]

On the 12 pounder guns, can’t achieve what CDW did with these, taking me hours to do one gun, the first part forming or rolling the etch to fit around the breach end of gun is a patience game for sure, found the best way for me so far is to form it around a small drill held in a bit  with just the shank protruding.

[Jeff59]

Part 789 the guilty one, there is no easy way to form this into a rolling, at least not for me, I think rolling or forming the outer edges on both sides first then try to form it round drill closing it together, the tighter you get this fitting on barrel the better it will go further on.

[Jeff59]

[Jeff59]

Sometimes looking at photos of guns on the actual ship can give you ideas what you are trying to copy, although you have to use your own discretion as to what is appropriate for the model you are building, shall show you a picture of Ka models etch instructions for different eras.

[Jeff59]

Shall try again tomorrow guys, can’t get my photos working just now. 🤛

[Landlubber Mike]

Looking great Jeff.  Building guns from PE is a real pain for sure.

[Jeff59]

Hi Mike, they certainly are, they do look good when done, but what a lot of work in such a small piece. Down side, there is sixteen in number, think I’ll try batches of four. Hopefully when I get to the last eight I will have sussed it out. 😂

[Jeff59]

[Jeff59]

Ah well, this seems to be working again, this is part of Ka build set instructions showing the different set ups for different periods of Mikasa’s history. This is were I need to make gun shields for my 12 pounder and  3 pounder guns for the 1902 period. Joy. 👀

[Jeff59]

[Jeff59]

K

[Jeff59]

This is the first gun, still have to make a gun shield and mount in position, bet this is going to be frustrating. Just going to have to take my time, imagine me, being able to go slower. 🙄