The Ship Model Forum

les wrote:My suggestion: remove all the molded on detail and correct the turret basic shape. Then add any details that need to be added. Make a mold and cast the turrets in resin. Add photo etch for ladders ect. (in that scale it would really look good).

First turret turned out better than I had hoped. I went 'all the way' and re-sculpted it entirely - I'll just get some photo-etch ladders to replace the ones I sculpted over. Will paint it this weekend and post some pics.....

les wrote:My suggestion: remove all the molded on detail and correct the turret basic shape. Then add any details that need to be added. Make a mold and cast the turrets in resin. Add photo etch for ladders ect. (in that scale it would really look good).

Nice suggestion - I considered it - but the logistics of moulding the turrets - including the openings (!) was too daunting a task. Instead I opted for option 'A'.

There is great overhead photo of the Yamato taken by a Navy pilot during the battle of Leyte Gulf - the sun is glistening on Turret #3, outlining its shape beautifully - I used that photo as a model for my re-sculpt. I've got the first turret done - just need to sand the 'curves' I added on the front corners (if you look at the turrets from above the front flares out in a semi-circle so much that its reminiscent of a turtle. No wonder each main turret weighed something like 4000 tons(!)

I'll post photos when I'm done with it and have painted it...there are a few other pieces of the Nichimo kit that need the same kind of re-sculpting...the main fire-control turret on top of the superstructure was circular, not rectangular, so that will also require the same 're-sculpting' when I get to it....but first, the guns....

My suggestion: remove all the molded on detail and correct the turret basic shape. Then add any details that need to be added. Make a mold and cast the turrets in resin. Add photo etch for ladders ect. (in that scale it would really look good).

Hello everybody.

Well, I am slowly starting on this project. I had previously heard that the main turrets on the Nichimo kit were under-sized.

After careful examination, the only problem I can see is that the real Yamato's turrets flared out more towards the bottom of the sides, giving them more of a semi-circular shape. The Nichimo kit turrets are more rectangular with not as much of a flair.

I may decide its not worth the trouble, but I've been thinking about several possible fixes;

Plan A would simply involve adding Quickplastick putty and moulding the correct shape to add a little bulk and semi-circular bottom to the sides of the turrets. This would involve covering over part of the engraved ladders, but if I moulded the sides of the turret and then cast them I could probably remove the part with the ladder etch and incorporate it into the putty while it was still pliable.

(Hey, I may have just struck on the right idea to try here!)

Alternative B, which I am not eager to try for obvious reasons, would be to heat the turret and try to see if the plastic could be expanded a bit. But this is not vinyl, where that technique WOULD work. Its hard plastic and I suspect that the danger of actually melting/misshaping the turret walls would be a real factor. So that kills plan B in its tracks.

So I guess I'll have to evaluate plan 'A' and after careful further examination of the pieces decide if its worth the trouble (yeah, I am a stickler for detail).

If anyone has any other ideas or thoughts I'd sure like to hear them.

Thanks!