I stopped working on these for a while, but just now ordered some 1/3000 aircrafts from shapeways.
For 1/3000 the details are quite good (especially the horizontal details) and they are the size that doesn't need spray painting so it's quite fun to build/paint quickly for a change.
All the ships planned for the base..
Musashi - because the AA arrangement is clearly a Leyte version but it's missing some other components such as directors/additional AAs, so I added some where appropriate (with mini rocket launchers
)
Rebuilt the main mast, crane tower, cut out the one piece catapults and replaced with properly shaped ones. Hollowed out the stack and added PE grille...yeah...
The 2 shiratsuyu classes, main issue is replace the moulded on main guns, and reshaped rear AA gun platform/mast
Shokaku - added radar as per 1944 setting, thinned the front flight deck to give space to add the AA platform at forecastle and the flight deck supports. Thinned the rear flight deck to give space to add in boat platform as well as adding the rear AA supports. The decal provided worked pretty well though. And soon I'll be able to add aircrafts to her (as well as possible float planes to the other ships!)
Takao - the kit doesn't come with main mast! Also cut out the torpedo openings, added radars, modified stack etc
Nagato - my least favourite outcome, the superstructure looks a bit chunky/off despite a lot of thinning/shaping. Main mast completely rebuilt as original kit part is one chunk together with the crane boom
Oyodo -
The dock with ships placed..
I'm considering design/etch some face plates for the buildings as well as replacing all the cranes for a proper finish...