Slow going! Despite a lot of time spent on the Arizona, not a lot of visible progress. Most of the time spent has been on studying drawings and photos trying to figure things out. It is amazing how many times you have studied a particular photo, and not until the umpteenth time do you discover that so very obvious feature that just has to be included on the model!
Since last time I have lined the edges of the main deck and level 01 deck with .010 x .040 (0.25 x 1.0 mm) strips. This has highlighted yet another error in the kit. Both at the bow and at the stern the two sides are different! Compare the radius of the curves over the previous hull casemate gun positions and how they differ between port and starboard...

Well, I have resigned when it comes to the shape of the hull. There is nothing I can do about it other than scratchbuild a new hull, and I've come too far to start all over again. Besides I also excuse myself by trying to convince myself that when the model eventually is finished, people will look more on everything above deck level, rather than what's below it, and hopefully not notice all the inaccuracies on the hull. Please, promise not to tell anyone so I can get away with it.
I have also added new mooring bits and widened the edge with short pieces of .010 x .020 (0.25 x 0.5 mm) strips, where the fairleads will be fitted later. Also that small nicely curved piece of bulkhead, made from .010 (0.25 mm) PC, has been added on each side at the step in deck levels, replacing the way too thick kit parts removed earlier. Five skylights have been scratched and added to the 02 level (My inability as a photographer unfortunately prevents the details on them to be seen.

)
Both sides of the 01 level bulkheads have now been completed with portholes drilled and PE doors added. Cutting the openings for the 5" guns, and installing these, will have to wait untill the wooden deck is painted. The bridge is anything but completed and is just dry fitted.
The different bridge houses, here the emergency bridge and the navigation bridge, are PE from Eduard. Although a 200% improvment over the kit parts, they are not completely accurate. I have had to move a few doors and portholes and rebuild the side bulkheads of the emergency bridge slightly.
A few weeks ago I thought that I was getting close to putting the first coat of paint on the hull. But I have since discovered a lot more details that have to be added before I can start painting.

Slow going! Despite a lot of time spent on the Arizona, not a lot of visible progress. Most of the time spent has been on studying drawings and photos trying to figure things out. It is amazing how many times you have studied a particular photo, and not until the umpteenth time do you discover that so very obvious feature that just has to be included on the model! :doh_1:
[img]http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af261/stenek/USS%20Arizona/Arizona26.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af261/stenek/USS%20Arizona/Arizona25.jpg[/img]
Since last time I have lined the edges of the main deck and level 01 deck with .010 x .040 (0.25 x 1.0 mm) strips. This has highlighted yet another error in the kit. Both at the bow and at the stern the two sides are different! Compare the radius of the curves over the previous hull casemate gun positions and how they differ between port and starboard... :mad_1: :censored_2: Well, I have resigned when it comes to the shape of the hull. There is nothing I can do about it other than scratchbuild a new hull, and I've come too far to start all over again. Besides I also excuse myself by trying to convince myself that when the model eventually is finished, people will look more on everything above deck level, rather than what's below it, and hopefully not notice all the inaccuracies on the hull. Please, promise not to tell anyone so I can get away with it. :nod_2: :thanks:
[img]http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af261/stenek/USS%20Arizona/Arizona27.jpg[/img]
I have also added new mooring bits and widened the edge with short pieces of .010 x .020 (0.25 x 0.5 mm) strips, where the fairleads will be fitted later. Also that small nicely curved piece of bulkhead, made from .010 (0.25 mm) PC, has been added on each side at the step in deck levels, replacing the way too thick kit parts removed earlier. Five skylights have been scratched and added to the 02 level (My inability as a photographer unfortunately prevents the details on them to be seen. :oops: )
[img]http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af261/stenek/USS%20Arizona/Arizona28.jpg[/img]
Both sides of the 01 level bulkheads have now been completed with portholes drilled and PE doors added. Cutting the openings for the 5" guns, and installing these, will have to wait untill the wooden deck is painted. The bridge is anything but completed and is just dry fitted.
[img]http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af261/stenek/USS%20Arizona/Arizona29.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af261/stenek/USS%20Arizona/Arizona30.jpg[/img]
The different bridge houses, here the emergency bridge and the navigation bridge, are PE from Eduard. Although a 200% improvment over the kit parts, they are not completely accurate. I have had to move a few doors and portholes and rebuild the side bulkheads of the emergency bridge slightly.
A few weeks ago I thought that I was getting close to putting the first coat of paint on the hull. But I have since discovered a lot more details that have to be added before I can start painting. :eyes_spinning: