Ok did some more work on the Nagara 1st thing I did was replace the kit supplied float plane with one from the spares bin that came with my Chitose kit that was of better quality.

The kit is coming together nicely

the hinamaru on the float plane is hand painted and it is also painted White Ensign Models Mitsubishi Gray and the cowling is Gunze Sanyo Cowling color.

AA guns are also courtesy of my parts bin and are a better quality than the kit part.

I am working on the superstructure right now and am hoping to have it painted after I make some windows for it and the fighting tops out of spare railing that I have.

I got the bridge windows done and got some other things done still need to do the middle compartment of the fighting top but all in all I am looking pretty good. I even got all of the 25mm guns painted hull color and gunmetal and I am waiting on the Skywave neo set three for the 140mm guns which from the preview pics look awesome.

Critiques would be appreciated and any ideas on painting the anchor chains would be appreciated too.

I did touch up the paint on the deck on this update got the torpedo tubes painted and installed topside and aft underdeck. Need to start working on the stacks at some point so that those can be painted and installed as well but so far it is shaping up.

The tough part is the davits for the ships boats I had to turn them to get them to fit the holes in the deck and still be able to hold the boat. I still have 2 more pairs of davits and boats to install and all of the davits and the ships boats are also from my parts bin and the paint does need to be touched up to be done with those.

Looks pretty good, you might want to address what looks like molding flash on the masts and yards. The camera can be cruel sometimes.

Lee

Coming together very nicely.  That's a tiny plane, isn't it?

I can see some flash too, still nice work. I'm impressed by anyone who can build something that small.

Not a problem Lee I was planning to get rid of the flash on both masts anyways and both are supposed to be painted black I'll do that when I am done with the fighting tops . I'm just hoping Fujimi makes new mold light cruisers like they did with their Heavy Cruisers Battleships and Carriers. I do have a Heavy Cruiser coming in in the next few days. Yes that is a tiny plane it is the Alf seaplane and it is definitely way more detailed than the original kit plane and it comes with the Heavy vessel ordinance set that was put out by Fujimi Tamiya and Aoshima and actually does help with filling out the parts bin with the goodies not used.

And Gamera if you want impressive you should check out the flight deck of my Chuyo aircraft carrier the masking work for the camo pattern was done freehand.

Is Alf the company that made the model, or is it the actual plane name?  I'm not familiar with Japanese equipment.

I usually replace the kit aircraft with Trumpeter offerings.  They are pretty good.

Trumpeter doesn't make 1/700 scale Japanese aircraft especially float planes your best bet would either be these sets or finding the new mold Fujimi aircraft sets that came out early this decade coinciding with the release of Fujimi's new mold 1/700 scale ships. And BTW there will be a new mold Soryu aircraft carrier that will be out sometime in the next month or so.

And Alf is the Allied reporting name for type 94 E7K2 reconnaissance seaplane  while the E8N1 Type 95 is called Dave the E13A1 Type 0 is called Jake and the F1M2 Type 0 is called Pete.

Now on the other hand if you were building the American carriers of WWII then you would definitely be free to use the Trumpeter sets to replace those aircraft.                      

checkmateking02

Is Alf the company that made the model, or is it the actual plane name?  I'm not familiar with Japanese equipment.

I usually replace the kit aircraft with Trumpeter offerings.  They are pretty good.

I see; never thought about it being the Allied code name!  Thanks, Mikeym.  I have only built US ships, so I hadn't investigated Japanese things.  Currently finishing up the Alabama for the 1943 GB (Hasegawa); using Trumpeter's Kingfishers.  I used Fujimi's Iowa as the basis for Wisconsin in Force of Nature GB last summer.  Fujimi makes a nice ship model.

I look forward to seeing the finished Nagara.

Good news everyone I have fixed the masts so they don't look "Flashy". LOL

I also did get started on the Funnels and have them rigged just need to work on the 3rd funnel.

for the rigging I am using Trilene 2lb ice fishing line which is actually the thinnest line I believe is available and does look good for 1/700 scale rigging.

I always find rigging to be frustrating.  Can you describe your method of doing it?  I've only ever used stretched sprue, and the stuff you're using might make the job easier.

Well plainly put I use a pin vise to drill holes into the deck and the funnels to accept the fishing line. Use a bit that is about the same diameter as the line your using first and foremost then put a knot at one end of the line you are using that will be the the line that is fed inside the funnel and the knot has to be larger than the hole the line is going through so as not to accidentally pull it out. Then you feed the rest of the line through the hole in the deck then pull it through then pull taught then use superglue on the hole on the underside so you secure the line and seal the hole once the superglue is cured you can trim the excess line. Now once you are done you will have a rigged funnel of course that really works more for ships like the USS Ward and other WWI era ships since those funnels are basically free standing and need the wire rigging to keep them from toppling over.

Now as for the mast rigging depends on the ship some might have 2 lines per side of each yard arm or some might have 1 per side with one in the center connecting each mast.

checkmateking02

I always find rigging to be frustrating.  Can you describe your method of doing it?  I've only ever used stretched sprue, and the stuff you're using might make the job easier.

Thanks, Mikeym.  You're getting good results with that technique.

Actually isn't the first time I rigged a boat I used the same method to rig a Revell of Germany 1/350 scale U-Boat Type VIID

checkmateking02

Thanks, Mikeym.  You're getting good results with that technique.

here is what I am talking about

That looks good, too.

All right I got the final funnel installed and rigged and painted and installed the aft jackstaff. Definitely starting to look like a Japanese light cruiser. Of course I did have to re glue the starboard Boat davits since I accidentally broke them off. (note to self leave those off fo last next time.)

Coming along very well.  

Got my guns in a couple of weeks ago

You need two sets to get all 7 guns built so I have 1 extra 140mm gun left but these are well detailed for their size and I made the right decision when I opted for these instead of continuing on with the kit supplied guns.

do note in the foreground I have the kit supplied guns which show the size difference between the kit supplied guns and the Pit-Road NeoGrade 140mm guns. And the Neograde guns just look right and I didn't have to alter the mounting holes in the deck as they fit perfectly.

I am 99.9% done with this and am going to paint and install the spare pontoons and finish the rigging the masts. Superstructure is installed nice and straight unlike the other pictures and stairs were added along with the mast which looks perfect. I have pics showing these just haven't uploaded them to photobucket yet I'll get to it in a few days.

checkmateking02

Coming along very well.  

Very nice.  Looking forward to the last .1%!

here are the pics of my start on the rigging on the masts.