1/200 Pre dreadnought battleship IJN Mikasa after 1905

[MartinJQuinn]

WOW!! That stern walk is fantastic! Love how you beautifully soldered it together. It really pops!

[marijn van gils]

That looks fantastic!

It looks like the PE was designed very well too; it seems to fit very well around the hull.

[GewoonWouter]

What a great thread this is. And a very fine ship you are building there, sir! That stern walk is an amazing feat btw, very nice work!

[Joelle]

Guys, thank you very much. I’m honored by your praise and really appreciate it.

That’s true, Marjin. There’s a reason I prefer working with Pontos products. Sometimes there are minor errors in their research, but the quality is simply among the best on the market.

That’s also why their parts are so easy to solder, Martin.

Before I can turn my attention to the masts, I have to attend to a mundane but necessary task.
The model still needs protection against dust, as it will be several weeks before I finish the *Mikasa*.
Up to now, it has been sitting under a simple, custom-cut cardboard cover. For a project spanning over two years, this is essential.



Now that the masts are to be installed, more vertical clearance is required. So, I got a second piece of cardboard, cut both to size, and joined them together. Everything is held in place and reinforced with duct tape.



Of course, it is important to measure everything precisely beforehand—to avoid any contact between the masts and the cardboard later on. I’ve marked the positions on both the model and the tabletop using a permanent marker. This ensures the model is in the right spot when I slide the dust cover over it.



As you can see in the following picture, the ship’s layout isn't perfectly symmetrical. That explains the markings and the generous cutout in the cardboard. This way, there shouldn't be any issues once the masts are fully installed.



And so, I believe the model is well-protected against the looming threat of dust bunnies while it awaits completion.
Image 109d

[marijn van gils]

That's a great way of storing your in-progress build!
(Of course as long as you don't have a cat or small children in the house... )

Very clever how you can just shove the box sideways over the model; much less risk of damage compared to having to drop it over the model from above! And I love how you decorated the box

[Joelle]

Thank goodness I have a home free of pets and children.

When I think about how long I’ve been working on this model (though I’m preaching to the choir here—right, Marjin?), I’d end up with a nice coat of fur on the paintwork if I didn't have this box.

That's right, I made a little collage on the box, just like we learned to do in elementary school. I'm glad you like it.