Now on to my own project. I'm done with the MAin guns and 5"/38 mounts and started on the superstructure. I am filling the bulkhead joins and going to add the PE. The guns are not attached either.

Looking great Steve. Thanks for the dio advice. Went back and extended the wakes and added a flare to them as they go back from the smaller boats. 

MONGOOSE and STEVE: your builds are looking impressive. I hope you are enjoying this GB as much as I am. 

Well I think it is time for a small update of my own, this time the large cranes for hoisting the boats. 

The kits plastic parts consist of 4 pieces and do not compare in any way to the Eduard PE parts. In contrast, each PE crane consists of 13 pieces. The first step on converting the plastic parts into a PE assembly is to remove the crane boom and sidewall tub from the crane platform. When you are done it is nothing more that a flat disc with a small approximately 0.5mm hollow shaft in the center. Next the flat PE side body with upper handrails is bent into a cylinder shape, connected together at the seam (ensure it is glued flat and flush), and then attached to the top of the plastic crane platform. Next two PE disc's are joined together and inserted through the top of the PE crane body to make a ceiling/floor for the second level. Great care is needed to ensure its seam is level and hidden within the PE crane body. Here is the completed sub-assembly with the top section of the crane post attached.  



Next is the assembly of the crane boom/arm. It consists of three main PE parts. The main boom is the largest piece and requires multi folds to make the finished box assembly. Be careful when bending this part as nearly every fold has some sort of taper involved. Also care is needed to ensure you do not fold any bend past the 90 degree angle as this will cause it to go out of square (not a good thing). Once it is done there is a second side panel to the boom which also has a handrail on it. One thing I noticed on the PE is the handrail is all on one side, but according to ships data / photos, the bottom half of the hand rail is on the right and the top or front portion is on the left. The top support beam is one PE simply folded over atop itself. Here they are unfolded and waiting assembly.

Take care when attaching the crane arm to the crane post as it has to be at a certian angle to properly mate up with the top support arm. After several dry fits I found that if you attach the crane boom to the post with the front portion of the arm parallel to the deck it will make the attaching of the support arm much easier (see the second photo below). Once you get your crane pole, platform, arm, and support assembled it does not get any easier.

There is also a small platform above the crane tower that is a one piece platform and handrail combination. With the handrail being very fragile yet difficult to bend, I removed it before bending it to conform with the small platform. Once satisfied with the two parts I attached it to the upper crane post (it is not completely clear, but they should go to the outside of the crane pole as it is oriented facing front). Next are the three ladders to add to the lower crane post, and the hook to the end of the boom, then it is done. I left the kits main crane part beneath the completed assembly for a comparison. 





While validating the accuracy of my build through ships drawings I noticed that some doors and portholes were not molded into the vertices on the superstructure deck level. While fixing those issues I also decided to add the doors to the various PE components of the entire superstructure. In one of my earlier posts I built walls within most of my PE replacement parts that make up the superstructure so I could have some of the doors open. The photo above shows all of those corrections and doors on the superstructures first level. The photo below a closer shot. my goal is to add just a little detail inside the open doors to make it more convincing when done.



I'm glad I dedicated a full day to complete the two crane assemblies. If you decide to build a similar pair and you build like me, you will need the extended time to complete the assembly. Well, till next update.... stay healthy, be smart, and take care of your loved ones.

Ben

Ben, Mongoose, Steve,

You guys have some awesome work here.  Mongoose, the wave shadows are a cool effect.  Ben, the cranes are nice kits by themselves, you are doing a great job.  Steve, you are making great strides on all that camo.

Scott

Thanks Ben, Scott and Mongoose.

Ben, you did a bang up job on that crane. Do you know what you're going to use for the cables?

Mongoose, I'll be it looks better to your eye, more natural.

Now that the filler has dried, it's time to get to sanding and adding the PE, which means ladders, doors, various items attached to the tower and such. I wont add the rails until I'm completly done with the camo. I've found they are far too easy to ruin if I don't. I still need to build up the quad Bofors. 

Steve: Stellar progress on the North Carolina. It is quite impressive so far. Thanks for the wake reference shots. Those certainly give some nice clarity.

Ben: Nice! Just when I thought you had demonstrated the utmost in PE work you go and raise the bar. Beautiful work on the cranes.

Those look great guys!!! 

BTW: After trying to bend some PE into tubes I gave up and started just using small sections of brass tube instead. If you guys can bend the PE into tubes you're better guys than I! 

Gamera

Those look great guys!!! 

 

BTW: After trying to bend some PE into tubes I gave up and started just using small sections of brass tube instead. If you guys can bend the PE into tubes you're better guys than I!

I can't stand rolling PE into tubes, it never looks good. I like your idea Gam.

 

modelcrazy

 

 

Gamera

Those look great guys!!! 

 

BTW: After trying to bend some PE into tubes I gave up and started just using small sections of brass tube instead. If you guys can bend the PE into tubes you're better guys than I!

I can't stand rolling PE into tubes, it never looks good. I like your idea Gam.

 

 

 

 

 

I feel the same way, unless you have some sort of roller, its really hard to keep the sides equal and end up rolling the tube into a funnel.  I will use tubing anyday over flat PE.  

Thanks guys. I was wondering if I were the only one unable to roll PE into a decent looking tube. 

STEVE: I have this very thin high tinsel strength filiment liine made in Germany. I use it for most of my 1/350 line work, here is some on my last ship:

Gamera: Have you tried rolling it around a brass rod or wood dowel sized just larger than the desired diameter? Sometimes, like on this Eduard PE, it is more robust and requires several rollong wraps around successively smaller rods until the ends are close to connecting. Times I also find that I have to use my bending tweasers to finish the end bends as this is usually the hardest area to continue or complete the curve. What makes things more difficult is when there is a fragile part attached to the solid flat piece of PE, like handrails. 

Today I am going to focus on finishing much of the square folds that are left, like the ammo boxes, etc. 

Thanks for the kind words everyone and sorry for not showing much in the painting stage. I just want ot get stuff ready for one big spray, then we can move forward. One thing I can say is when I chose this kit I knew it would require some rework with PE, but I never was quite prepared for the sheer amount of it. 

Till next time...

Ben

A set of drill bits is useful here.

Thanks for the advice Ben and Bill! Yeah, I've tried using small rods, dowels, drill bits etc. And I guess I should specify I don't have that much of an issue as long as it's larger- like five mm or so. It's just the small stuff like two mm thick pipes for a tank in Bish's British GB that ended up with me screaming, tossing the PE parts at a wall, and pulling out some tiny brass tubing. 

Ben: That filiment looks fantastic! 

Not much to show for today except the primary platforms on the main mast. These are a single main piece folded over on itself and then numerous bracing that supports the suspended platform.

The larger searchlight platform (four leaf clover) totals 15 pieces, and the other platform (rear rangefinder) is only 9 pieces. Other than that I did finish up the ladders on the second crane assembly (shown behind them in the photo). I am not going to add the handrails until the platforms are mounted to the tripod main mast. 



Thanks everyone for your kind and motivating words. I'm sorry for not showing much in the painting stage. I just want to get stuff ready for one big spray, then I can move forward. 

I was not prepared for this much PE and modification. I suppose that is why I am building a little of it in each update, to avoid PE burnout. I've said it before and will say it again, those of you who are detailed ship builders have definitely earned my respect.

Till next time...

Ben

It's amazing just how much PE there is in a ship detail set. That's why they cost so much. I have a IJN Takao and IJN Akagi with 6+ sheets of PE each . Those will definitely take a while and test my patience.
Your PE work is exquisit Ben, clean bends and no glue to be seen.

Ben: No problem here with the motivation- that's simply beautiful work! 

Excellent progress and results Ben. So, how much more PE work do you have left to do?

Thanks everyone... how much more? Well I still have the better of 2 and 1/2 sheets left, not uncluding the three sheets of hand rails.

Just another little update, this time it involves the PE for the structural support beneath the fire control towers. To be honest, I have never seen anything like this being one part before. I guess that is why I am posting it separately. Here it is still attached to the PE tree.



And yes, you guessed it, each one of those shapes is a separate fold, or turn and fold (I believe there are 24 folds each). Eduard does not provide any guidance for this process, so here is how I chose to make it work. Keep in mind that the whole part when folded is no more than 1/2 inch (1.2 cm) and the legs holding the individual shapes together are about a hairs width. I found when working with the splinter shields the first time that they will fall off if slightly bent more than once, so great care is in order.

1) Fold the center supports up. They will be used to attach the main support beams and add strength.



2) Then fold one of the half beams to box in the center beams and add strength. During that process I also turned the triangular end supports 90 degrees and then folded them to the half beam. 



3) repeat that process for the two remaining main beams, ensuring the small parts remain aligned when gluing.



4) Then do the entire process again for the second control tower.



Actually, building both of these has help me in my understanding when building the new set of 5" splinter shields this second time around. Perhaps I will take them on tomorrow while this is still fresh in my mind.

Till next time.

Ben

Really mind boggling. Well done Ben. 

Whoa. Still a ways to go on the PE. Hang in there. you're doing fantastic.

Thanks Ben, still gives me a migrane to look at that much PE!

LOL, yeah Ben, ship PE is an excercise in spatial reasoning.

Beautiful work  Extraordinary patience and level of skill.

You are giving me inspiration to tackle the girder monstrosity on the Akagi. This is just one set out of several. The little blue box shows the other sets I needed to get minus the Akagi itself of course

Steve... that is beautiful! Beautiful in a sick mind bending sort of way....

Funny that you arer showing us this as I was just looking at the 1/200 version to purchase yesterday (wow $$$).

I do not know of any special counselers, but I'm sure you can find one near you when your done with that build. 

Send me a PM when you start this build as I want to be all in on it.

Ben

modelcrazy

LOL, yeah Ben, ship PE is an excercise in spatial reasoning.

Beautiful work  Extraordinary patience and level of skill.

You are giving me inspiration to tackle the girder monstrosity on the Akagi. This is just one set out of several. The little blue box shows the other sets I needed to get minus the Akagi itself of course

 

Looks alot like the PE on the Graff Z, and it has a huge radar array to boot

modelcrazy

LOL, yeah Ben, ship PE is an excercise in spatial reasoning.

Beautiful work  Extraordinary patience and level of skill.

You are giving me inspiration to tackle the girder monstrosity on the Akagi. This is just one set out of several. The little blue box shows the other sets I needed to get minus the Akagi itself of course

 

LMAO.....We all do, myself more than most.

goldhammer

LMAO.....We all do, myself more than most.

 

I understand what your all saying. I just told someone yesterday that their brain was a pork rind (deep fried pig fat bubbled into air).

I think that is exactly how my brain would end up if I tried the 1/200 Akagi with PE detail set. The cost alone would send me to the looney bin, and the work would fry my last brain cell....

Its good to have you other builders that I can watch and admire while you tackle something like that.

Ben 

JOE RIX

 

 

modelcrazy

LOL, yeah Ben, ship PE is an excercise in spatial reasoning.

Beautiful work  Extraordinary patience and level of skill.

You are giving me inspiration to tackle the girder monstrosity on the Akagi. This is just one set out of several. The little blue box shows the other sets I needed to get minus the Akagi itself of course

 

 

 

 

You need some serious counseling. 

Yes I do. especially since I'm looking forward to all that torture. In fact, I'm seriously conserering spending yet another $50 on a laser cut cardstock bracing set. Essentially a several sheet detail set from a guy in Korea, if I can ever find his blog again.

DRUMS01

Its good to have you other builders that I can watch and admire while you tackle something like that.

Ben 

Misery loves company

Thanks Steve... 

The PE Ben was working on gave me a migrane. That IJN Akagi would give me a heart attack...