Update MidShip Models USS Arizona 1/700

Has anyone out there already built this model?  After looking thru the "At 'Em Arizona" thread and looking at pics of the new model at Pearl Harbor (Thanks Tracy for the links) and then looking at this model up close and personal, I think I am going to need a much bigger magnifying glass!  Tracy had asked about the Spud Locker.  Sorry, no overhang.  Solid all the way down to the quarterdeck.  No vent holes either.  There is a cast line about halfway down that could be used as a cutting guide, but that brings up the main problem.  The entire hull is a solid casting from the waterline up to the top of the 5"/25 splinter shields on the boat deck.  Ergo, if you want to cut out the bottom of the Spud Locker overhang, you will be taking out 2 solid chunks of resin about 1/8"H x 3/32" x 3/16".  I think it will be easier to paint the bottoms flat black and leave the outer corner grey or blue to match the other vertical surfaces so as to appear to be the support column for the overhang.  Anyone have another idea how this might be done?  As for my complaint about the Engineering hatches, well, that ain't gonna happen either.  At least not on this model.  To cut these out and replace them would entail cutting thru a 1/4" or more of resin.  Trying to sand them off is where the large magnifier would come in.  The deck boards are raised lines and appear to be nearly at scale.  Multiple dozens across the width of the deck.  Sanding would be very delicate.  The magnifier would also be needed on the 5"/37 casement guns.  These are cast as round surfaces (closed, without portholes) with no mounting hole for the barrels.  Oh, and cut your own barrels out of 0.035" tubing, 10 pieces, 0.1875" long.  From the picture on the instructions these look about the size of my insulin needles.  At least I have a good supply of those!  The only other problem I see right now is the Barbettes for the Main Turrets.  The are totally plain.  No cast features at all.  The rest of the hull and decks are beautifully cast.  MidShip Models also included enough extra parts to make this into a late war Pennsylvania.  All in all, I think this model is going to have to wait until I get new glasses and a LOT more practice with PE.  Oh well, time to start practicing on one of my 1/350's.  Hopefully less eyestrain!