1/350 Aoshima IJN Kongo (WIP)

I usually install then paint the PE.I love hand painting.It is a bit difficult at times.With a good brush and properly thinned paint,tedious details such as deck greeblies really aren't a problem.I'll get back to the bench this weekend.Those turret railings really p*ssed me off! I knew those were going to be a PITA!

Speaking of turrets, I noticed that there is a Japanese 14" turret kit in 1/144 scale on freetime hobbies. I am thinking of picking it up, as it would be an interesting and unusual subject. It's from Voyager and is the #1 turret from IJN Fuso.

Go for it.

TD4438

I usually install then paint the PE.I love hand painting.It is a bit difficult at times.With a good brush and properly thinned paint,tedious details such as deck greeblies really aren't a problem.I'll get back to the bench this weekend.Those turret railings really p*ssed me off! I knew those were going to be a PITA!

Two down,maybe two to go.I'll not guarantee the installation of the other two PITA safety railings.

TD,

The railings came out great, even if they were a PITA to install.  What are you using for the blast bags though?  I am trying to figure out the best and most realistic method for adding the blast bags on the metal barrels I have for the Dreadnought build I'll be doing this summer.

Thanks,

Steve

Thanks.The blast bags are part of the barrel.Molded right on.

The pictures of the Dreadnought I have seen don't show any blast bags, just a curtain around the barrel inside the turret.

The drawings from the Kagero 3D book on Dreadnought don't show any blast bags, but they also say that all illustrations are for Dreadnought as she appeared in 1907. It is possible that she had them later in her career, but if you are doing the Trumpeter 1907 model, you can go without them.

They may not be perfect or totally accurate,but they are there.I'm glad this is done.

I seen pictures of her taken in 1919 before decommissioning and their are no blast bags that I can see. I not saying she didn't have them, I can't find any pictures of her with them.

Those turrets look great! At some point, I will probably plunk down the money to pick up one of the Japanese BBs. I think I'd go for the Fuso, as I really love that towering pagoda superstructure and the 6 turrets. Now, if only someone would come out with an affordable Agincourt in 1/350! Seven turrets, baby!

For me personally, it's a real struggle of the perfect as the enemy of the good. The work you are doing is great, and the only critic you have to satisfy is yourself. There is no "perfect" model, because even the real things had imperfections. In the end, the whole purpose of modeling is to enjoy the process as much, if not more, than the end product. If you can look at what you are doing and say that you are having fun, then that is all that is important. When it stops being fun, it becomes work, except you aren't getting paid. That is certainly not a worthy pursuit. So enjoy what you are doing.

Fun is first and foremost,but all modelers are rivet counters at times concerning their own work.

TD,

The floatplanes are awesome, well done.  Were they clear plastic and you primed them or were they opaque plastic?  Whichever, they came out great.  I'd love to see a shot of the entire ship in progress if you get a chance to post one.

Thanks,

Steve

Thanks.The planes were molded in grey.They are a bit rough.I'm hoping some touch ups and decals will tighten them up a bit.

PITA,but I'm determined to use as much PE as possible.

It would have been a lot more convenient if the instructions had you install these while building the hull.I had to hold the ship like a beer bottle to paint around the chrysanthemum.

Nice work on the railings TD.  Are you using regular CA or something else to attach them to the deck?

Steve

Thanks.There are a few screw-ups.I'm using superglue.I might give white glue a try on this one.It worked well for the turret railings.

Almost done with these damn railings.