Revell HMS Exeter (Type 42) 1/700

That's a nice model, Ajidica, I didn't even know Revell made that.  Without using putty, for a gap like the one you describe, I suggest you might try applying some PVA glue along it with a cocktail stick/toothpick, or similar, and wiping off the excess with a moistened cotton bud/Q-tip.  Work in small sections - an inch or so at a time - and reapply small amounts in any areas where you take too much off.  The PVA will fill the gap and it dries clear (leave it overnight).  If you find it has shrunk back, redo the affected bits, let it dry again, then paint.  Hope this helps.

I did not know Revell was boxing that either. It follows quite a few of the original Pit Road little ships that then were released by Dragon. Great to know they are still around. 

Bill

Hutch6390

That's a nice model, Ajidica, I didn't even know Revell made that.  Without using putty, for a gap like the one you describe, I suggest you might try applying some PVA glue along it with a cocktail stick/toothpick, or similar, and wiping off the excess with a moistened cotton bud/Q-tip.  Work in small sections - an inch or so at a time - and reapply small amounts in any areas where you take too much off.  The PVA will fill the gap and it dries clear (leave it overnight).  If you find it has shrunk back, redo the affected bits, let it dry again, then paint.  Hope this helps.

Thanks for the advice and kind words!

As far as the model, I'm pretty sure it is either a rebox of a Dragon/Pit Road kit or made using the same molds. When doing paint scheme research, I stumbled across a thread over on britmodeler of someone making a Pit Road version of the Type 42 HMS Exeter from a Dragon kit, and it appeared to feature the exact same molds. (The sprues definitely felt like a Pit Road Udaloy I have made. The Revell kit dates back to the 90s, another person made this version and noted it still had a price tag in Italian lira on it (pre-Euro). 

Being a rebox/mold purchase from Dragon would explain why the instructions were such a mess (and I had to do surgery on the parts to get a pre-refit version), and why the kit included a placard for the stand saying 'HMS Sheffield' despite the Sheffield never recieving the post-war refit (for obvious reasons) and the decals only being for the Exeter and Southampton. (Even though the kit included the smoke deflector 'elephant ears' fitted to the Sheffield.)