1/200 Pre dreadnought battleship IJN Mikasa after 1905

[Joelle]

Thank you very much, Martin.

Not a real problem on my large scale.
And one more small update on Sunday morning: the two starboard chains are also installed.

[JIM BAUMANN]

die anchors have a feeling of weight -that you managed to convey very well!

Bravo
MGF
JIMB

[Joelle]

Thanks, Jim.
You put it nicely, that the heavy anchors convey weight.

I've put the build on hold for a bit while I consider my next steps.
I don't want to continue working on the bow section at the moment. I plan to attach the chains and davit later, and the lifeboats at the stern won't be installed. So I think it's time to focus on the torpedo net supports and the casemate hatches.
To do this, I've taken the model out of its assembly stand, as I want to modify it a little for the next steps in the hull construction.

I took this opportunity to take a few photos of the almost finished model on its final stand.



I also had a very nice name tag made by the company ModelMonkey, which was even attached for a test fit.



There's still quite a bit to do on the outside of the hull. I'm already dreading installing the gallery at the stern.



Man, the silhouette of that ship is really great.



I especially like Mikasa from the front. As if she wanted to impale her opponent.



So, dear community, I'm just adjusting my assembly stand now, and then I'll take a short break because I have some personal matters to attend to.

But after that, I'll be back with my little construction report.

[Joelle]

Hello fellow model builders.

I’m back at the workbench. The short break is over, and I’m excited to begin the final phase.

First up are the remaining details on the outer hull. To make this easier, I’ve modified and expanded my assembly stand a bit.


I will frequently need to open it from one side in the near future to attach components to the hull. For this purpose, I acquired sleeve nuts and glued them into the stand in place of the regular nuts. This makes opening it much easier, as I no longer need to tighten the nuts against each other.



Furthermore, I’ve enhanced the protection. The installation of the torpedo nets and their supports is next. These extend quite far back, especially at the stern. Therefore, I’ve mounted an additional bracket to protect them.



But let’s get to the model.

First, I assembled the small anchors in their holders. To do this, I attached the photo-etched parts to a piece of adhesive tape and inserted the anchor into the holders. This makes it easier, as gravity helps. Then I attached the locking mechanisms on top and let it dry.



The same system applies when attaching the anchor to the hull. If the model is lying on its side, the acrylic adhesive sets beautifully because gravity holds the component in place.



And now he’s where he’s supposed to be.



The side covers of the upper casemate guns were still missing. Here too, it helps immensely if the model is lying on its side so that the covers can be aligned at leisure.



This completes the port side, and I can easily and quickly close the side again using the new sleeve nuts and install the same on the starboard side.



The re-entry is therefore complete.

[Joelle]

A quick Sunday update.

Opening and closing my work stand works very well, as expected, and thanks to the sleeve nuts, it's now very quick too.



This makes it incredibly easy to simply switch sides and lay the model on its side for easier lid installation.



It simplifies things so much. Especially since I don’t need to use superglue, as the acrylic adhesive has time to bond due to gravity.



More and more of the covers on the casemate guns are taking their place.



I can only attach the lids that open downwards once the support with the torpedo net is secured, since they rest on the net.



The lid with the radius on the upper, outer round casemate will be added later. It’s too prone to being torn off. And I need to check the space available between the net and the lid on the lower round casemate first.



And just like a pit stop in Formula 1, I simply closed the dry dock and switched sides. Great.



And the Mikasa was laid on its side again.



The anchor is now in place on the starboard side as well.



Great, that worked well. The torpedo net can be installed.

[SG1]

Very clever and handy solution. Admiration continues
Looking forward to see the crafting of torpedo nets, fascinating elements

[Joelle]

Thank you so much.

I really wouldn't want to be without the assembly stand anymore. It gives me more confidence during construction and is a great help.

I'll definitely make another one for my next project, the CV-6 Enterprise.

[Joelle]

On to the next hull detail.

The torpedo net supports need to be attached. It’s a delicate job, requiring great care not to bend the finely detailed components.
And this task, too, is made easier by my assembly stand.



Once again, I can use Mig’s acrylic adhesive to attach the components and don’t need to use superglue. Diluted with water, it flows beautifully into every gap.



And it leaves absolutely no residue.



The result is mesh supports that run perfectly parallel to the structures on the hull.



Clean and without adhesive residue.



Now the supports can be attached.



I’ll take care of that tomorrow.

[MartinJQuinn]

Beautiful, precise work! Those look outstanding.

[Joelle]

Thank you very much, Martin.

Let’s continue with the torpedo net mountings.
They have now received their supports.



In addition, the eyelets for the spars have been mounted.



Everything has aged.



And ready for the net.



That was another very tedious, fiddly job.



In another forum, a user asked whether the arrangement for the spars actually works. On the Pontos model, they extend very deep into the cradles.



That probably isn’t quite right. I have a picture here of HMS Magnificent, which is quite similar to my Mikasa. It shows that the spars were secured further forward—ahead of the supports and the nets.



To this end, they were likely seated primarily in their mounts and secured with a steel cable—as seen here on the SMS Goeben.



I think that is exactly how I will do it.
Let’s move on to the material I am using for the nets. These are to be represented using tulle fabric.



I think the mesh size should be fine for 1:200 scale. I ran a quick test and laid them loosely onto the supports. Once painted to look like steel, I’m actually quite pleased with them.



I’ll have to roll a sausage long enough to be able to show the mesh continuously. But I’m already very pleased with the first test run.



But next up, it’s the other side’s turn for the overlay.

[JIM BAUMANN]

Weiterhin schoene arbeit! !!

more excellent works !!

[Willie]

Hi there, Joelle and all

Let’s move on to the material I am using for the nets. These are to be represented using tulle fabric.

Why, even though all your work is awesome, this is the physical EVIDENCE that big problems can actually have the easiest solutions. Has off to you, sir. Simply fantastic. Your solution is not the imitation of a steel net: this is a net by itself.

Best regards from this side,

Willie.

[wieslaw_ffw]

Nice work, really like the paint job. I think I might’ve seen your build on Facebook somewhere. Congrats again!

[Joelle]

Thank you all for the kind words.—und das auch noch in Deutsch, Jim!

Exactly, Willie. Often the simple solutions are the best—you just have to think of them. I saw this tulle fabric at a friend's place and immediately thought, "Give it to me—that's my solution for the torpedo nets!"

And a special thank you to you as well, Wieslaw—your paintwork on the *Fuso* is also outstanding. And yes, you're spot on about Facebook; plus, we're both members of the Britmodeller forum as well.

[SG1]

Let’s move on to the material I am using for the nets. These are to be represented using tulle fabric.

There goes a beautiful Bullivant net. The pattern of the mesh resembles the Bullivants' and sausage-rolled it looks pretty much the same.

Question about the AK acrylic glue: do you apply the glue with a brush? water consistency-dilution i suppose?

Great Great result, bravissimo

[Joelle]

I'm glad you liked it—thanks, SG1.

Exactly: the acrylic glue dilutes beautifully with water. I use it at a consistency similar to buttermilk.



When applied to the joint with a fine brush, it is drawn into the gap via capillary action. Afterward, use a clean, damp brush—wiped off on a paper towel—to pick up the excess glue; you will then see no visible glue residue. Here, too, the capillary effect ensures that the brush absorbs the glue.
On top of that, it dries with a matte finish.

I wouldn't want to be without it; I consider this glue one of the best new products to hit the market in recent years.

[wefalck]

For those, who can read either French or German, there was an article on the torpedo-nets and their operation by Patrice Dencencière in NEPTUNIA a few years ago, which I translated for the German LOGBUCH with some additions on German practices. The article shows how such nets were rigged and stowed.

[Joelle]

Wow, that’s really cool, Eberhard.
Is it possible to view the article? I can't find anything about the nets in the LOGBUCH archive.

[Timmy C]

If you have 5 EUR, you can purchase Issue 300 of Neptunia, which has the article "Les filets « Bullivant »" by Decencière that I assume Wefalck is referring to: https://boutique.aamm.fr/neptunia/neptunia-300

Article description: Le développement des armes sous-marines (mines, torpilles) mit en évidence la vulnérabilité des carènes des navires de combats. Pour y remédier, les Marines européennes mirent au point des systèmes de filets métalliques tendus tout autour de leurs bâtiments. exclusivement tournée vers la mer et les navires.

[SG1]

Thx Joelle, Eberhard and Timmy. Kudos to everyone