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

[Jeff59]

The problem here is nobody seems to have the staf in the right position or configuration, here’s a photo or two to show how it actually was.

[Jeff59]

Ended up cutting the hand rails in the middle at back, then trimming till got suitable gap for staff to fit between them, and also trimmed the bottom plate to suit new position, then reduced the size of brazing, felt it was a bit heavy, used 0.3 wire in its place.  Also added the small piece of rigging helping to support the platform up. Well that finishes the stern deck details so put remaining photos up of work done and how it looks, that will be me starting on the front now, foredeck for everyone else. 😂 At least it’s a change of view for me. 🤪 Thanks that’s me for now. 👍

Edited February 8 by Jeff59

[Herby63]

Very nice and inspiring update.

[madtatt]

What a fantastic work. 🤩

I'll take a lot from your build report when I start my Mikasa.

[Jeff59]

On 2/9/2024 at 7:08 PM, Herby63 said:

Very nice and inspiring update.

Thanks Herby, it’s good when you get to the end of a problem, the journey to that point is sometimes frustrating, we soldier on. 🤛

[Jeff59]

On 2/10/2024 at 5:25 AM, madtatt said:

What a fantastic work. 🤩

I'll take a lot from your build report when I start my Mikasa.

Thanks Greets, at the end of my build l shall highlight what l think are the main corrections to help guys following with their builds. 🤛

[Jeff59]

A short update guys, hope you are all keeping well and happy because that’s important. Right, when l moved to the forward deck area my first task was to paint the mahogany rail onto the bridge superstructure, those not building the 1902 version can forget this detail, obviously this would have been easier done at an earlier stage than this, just a late change of mind on my part. But l was better painting  this before l put handrails in the way. Next was fabricating the rails then painting, finally tacking in place then touch ups with fine brush. Have to say l like adding the rails, it always brings the model to life. Post a few photos now 👍

Edited February 12 by Jeff59

[Jeff59]

Take care when doing these rails, no extra ones in the box, indeed l had made some of the rails here ages ago, one must have fallen on the floor and didn’t notice in time, Jacqueline came in and stood on it, didn’t tell her though, she turned it back to IKEA, flat pack with a few extra kinks, unsalvageable 😂second set to the rescue 🙄 Once the rails were bent up and before painting did dry fit up on model, one photo shows it needing slight adjustments, the second showing adjustments made, happy at this stage to paint them, just don’t knock them if you can🤞

[scrubbyj427]

Very impressive. 

[Jeff59]

Another thing l noticed when browsing through photos of Mikasa as she is today, were the two small hooks on side of superstructure, l am totally guessing on them being for the rail chains after the gun shields lowered for operation of the guns in action, well at least they are right height and position for this to work, totally my choice to do model this way, doesn’t mean it’s right but works for me. Had to mark and drill two holes through side of bridge to let wire pass through. 0.3 or less for 0.1 wire.

[Jeff59]

The part of railing removed for this then gave me the stanchions for folding down on side of ship. 👍 the 0.1 wire was cut about 16.5 mm and a very slight curve added, this was then fed through the small hole in superstructure and rested the other end on rail, added a touch of glue and then nudge wire into place. Plenty coats of paint till you think it matches the thickness of the etch railings 🤛 better than going to 0.2 wire and it looking heavy. 👍 still to finish painting these yet. Next part l have done is fitting an anchor and chain made ages ago, this is the spare anchor that is not connected to the capstans, bit of a blind one on this part of build, no photos or references to go on, so again this is just my solution, feasible though, you would just swap the chains over the capstan next to it, think that would work. Even the ship today doesn’t show this or indeed the heavy bosses further forward, bit of a dark horse this one. Last photo shows Mikasa at anchor, used this image as reference for the chains on the side. 

Edited February 12 by Jeff59

[Jeff59]

[Jeff59]

That’s me for a bit, have to back track and see what l did with the anchors earlier in build and do the next two. 👍 take care guys, shall return when l have some more progress. 🤛

[Jeff59]

On 2/4/2024 at 10:44 PM, Herby63 said:

I am not planning on doing extensive research on the differences between the 1902 and the 1905 version, but I am going for the black and white (light grey) paint sceme, in order not to have a house full of grey hulls.  😀

Bad news for you Herby, it’s two shades of grey 😂 well one is Tyre Black but really a dark steel grey. But I know exactly what you mean. 🤛

[Jeff59]

On 2/11/2024 at 10:07 PM, scrubbyj427 said:

Very impressive. 

Thanks, had a look at your project, awesome, know how much work goes into works like that 🤛 have a laugh, here’s one I started in 1982, Le hussard, promise to finish it some day 😂 

[Jeff59]

I am so impressed with your Portland project, could l offer to put my name down for first one of you produce 👍  Do have a model of knorsk Love to build in my collection, a rather nice two decker and also like Joe Tika’s model of HMS Victory, so not adverse to biting of more than I can chew. That does look awesome though. Well done, like that enough to take it on. 🤛

[Jeff59]

Short update on progress guys, seems a lot of work with not much difference, just about there with forward deck area details.  Finished reworking the anchors, good to get that out of way, that let me paint and fit to model with chains.

[Jeff59]

Fitted these to model before doing the railings around the anchor mounting points, these railings aren’t as straightforward as you would think so take care here, keep checking when you’re bending them , they do fit spot on eventually.

[Jeff59]

Could see from previous builds that the bow rail number 1 was an issue with the jackstaff same as stern so opted to this before handrail, worked out well 👍 also noticed how it’s strange when the brass etch is on the model it looks larger before painted, seems to look more delicate after paint applied.

[Jeff59]

Also tied in the rigging from here up to mast, used 0.2 wire on the heavier cable at lower point but after painting wasn’t happy, looked too heavy so removed it and used 0.1 wire instead, this worked for me, reason for wire rather than lycra was the wire gives a slight sag when you get it the right length, again a lot of care needed as it’s easy to knock and damage things at this stage, which is what l did 😡 more of that French language, once calmness resumed fixed everything and happy again. 😂 used my trick with using photo etch on ends of wire and Lycra again, ok.

[Jeff59]

Finished the jackstaff using finer tube and bracing wire, bit more to scale when you compare to photos of ship. 👍 even got the chrysanthemum painted and fitted, it’s now a Japanese warship 😂  finally l am trying to add small chain for securing the anchors, 42 links to the inch smallest l could find so kind of works 50 links to inch would be better if you can find it ? This is a lot more fiddly than l was expecting, worth it ? Done one and dragging my feet to do the other two. That’s me for the moment, shall push myself forward 🤛

[madtatt]

Fantastic solution Jeff. 👍
I'm also thinking about this little detail as I'm currently studying this picture.

 

 

 

[scrubbyj427]

On 2/19/2024 at 4:09 AM, Jeff59 said:

I am so impressed with your Portland project, could l offer to put my name down for first one of you produce 👍  Do have a model of knorsk Love to build in my collection, a rather nice two decker and also like Joe Tika’s model of HMS Victory, so not adverse to biting of more than I can chew. That does look awesome though. Well done, like that enough to take it on. 🤛

Hi Jeff, I have just saw this reply. Thank you for looking in on Portland. I will send you a PM on the project if you are interested.

[Jeff59]

1 hour ago, scrubbyj427 said:

Hi Jeff, I have just saw this reply. Thank you for looking in on Portland. I will send you a PM on the project if you are interested.

Would like that please. 🤛

[Jeff59]

Hi guys, short up date on progress, got the anchor securing chains finished, then started the anchor davits, these parts from the kit weren’t to bad, just needing cleaning up, did manage to add a bit of fuse wire to make it more interesting, looks convincing , best l can do for something quarter mile away. 

[Jeff59]

Also stuck on the draught line marks, she has a draught of 27ft waterline to keel, this is vertical , if you’re following the curved surface at stern this becomes more than this because sloping size. Put them at proper positions according to photos of ship. Pontos instructions as to position bit vague, plus you’re not 27ft at this point at bow, at stern it lines up with A Frame on propeller shaft, so have done my best here, don’t know if this looks ok or not, opinions welcome? Pontos draught decals no instructions as to what to do, l thought they were water slide  decals till l put them in water and they just looked at me as if l was daft 😂 said sod this and bought some from this company 

[Jeff59]

Self adhesive, still don’t know what these are.

[Jeff59]

[Jeff59]

Starting to look at torpedo netting now, this is going to be fun. 🙄

[Jeff59]

Morning guys, putting four photos up of Mikasa to show my reference points for draught markings and anchor davits, also noticed two other minor points, my chrysanthemum is lying about 5 degrees out at top , should be sitting vertical, think shall have to ease it of and trim this part to correct it , also noticed another small difference at waterline were the draught mark is at bow, rib running along hull is closer to bow at this time as a-posed to later photos, you can see this in the four photos just putting up, also all those notches to the underside of this rib are for shoring whilst in dry dock. 👍