IJN Fuso in 1:350

[Kym Knight]

I spent the day before the cyclone, waterlining the hull and adding the wood deck. Not a whole lot more I can do until I get my hands on some paint except assemble a couple of the superstructure sub-assemblies and add detail.

[pingjockey]

Glad to see more pics of your work posted Kym! I hope you made it through the cyclone OK. I know the area took quite a walloping.

[aleccap]

Actually looking forward to seeing this one, was there any reason why you're going with a wooden deck ? Only from what I understand the original plastic is detailed enough to be painted wood.

[Kym Knight]

I don't know about your expertise Alec, but my painting of wooden decks can never get the same result as the real thing. The real wood looks awesome!

[taskforce48]

Kym,

Glad to hear you didn't get swamped or blown away, I am survivor of many a Hurricane on the Atlantic coast and some of the weak ones to hit me were no fun let alone a monster like that. I am beginning to think that you are an agent for Fujimi, I have been trying to resist buying this kit at the moment, but then you keep posting these great photos and wow! That wooden deck might be the best looking one I've seen yet. Think I am really going to have to break the piggy bank for this one. Quick question, how hard was it to waterline? Did they have the groove on the inside like some kits or was it the ole' Mk.1 eyeball and a razor saw?

Eagerly awaiting updates!
Matt

[Kym Knight]

Thanks mate. We basically dodged 3 bullets in 2 weeks where I live, big floods a 100km to the south and 2 cyclones, 200kms to the north. Only got to a category 2 to 3 here of which I've had plenty of experience. I think our luck here could run out soon as there are 3 more cyclones expected this season.

Waterline was basically eyeball with the help of the profile pictures supplied. I just laid the hull onto the profile and marked the position front and back then eyeballed the waterline mark in comparison to the raised pieces on the hull. Then it was just a matter of laying Tamiya tape along that line. I cut the hull using my technique of drilling 1mm holes along that line and cutting, belt sanding and adding a base. The hull braces will have to be cut right up to the top position pins and all that is left is the position pins and the piece above that supports the deck.
Here I must add that I will revise my thoughts on Fujimi's P/E set. I said in another thread that it was satisfactory, but in reality, now that I'm working with it, it's excellent. It has everything that is needed for this ship.

These pictures are of the dry fitted superstructure. I started at the bottom with the detailing and am slowly working my way up, but having no paint means I can't really complete each section fully. Most of this is just the bare pieces sitting in place and looking at it, I sure would not have wanted the job of running down to the fridge to get the captain a beer every time he wanted one!

[Kym Knight]

Here's a little bit of progress. All 3 superstructures being worked on. The funnel section takes quite a lot of P/E and I still have a considerable amount to do. I found half a tin of Kure Grey in my cupboard, so I gave some of the subsections a light coat. All I can do now is go through the instruction manual and assemble as many sub sections as I can until the paint restock arrives.

[Dan K]

Looking great, Kym

[daro]

Excellent Kym, excellent !
Polish modellers like to see your models

[aleccap]

Beautiful Kym and by the look of that decking, I think you're spot on mate. Has there been any assembly problems with pieces, or trouble free ? Love the way you've done that stack.(smoker)

[gtbred]

you just do great work Kym!

[Jeff Rarick]

Awesome! Please post more pics when you have a chance.

[Quincy]

Great work Kym!!





Bob Pink.

[mstazz62]

More pics, more pics, more pics, more pics!!!! Sorry, I got carried away! Anyway looks REAL nice and more pics!!
Mark

[Kym Knight]

I will be spending a bit of time on it over the next 3 days, so will post updates at the end of the weekend.

[MartinJQuinn]

I am really impressed with the PE around the funnel - excellent work.

[Kym Knight]

I am really impressed with the PE around the funnel - excellent work.

Actually Martin, there are P/E flutes for inside the funnel that I couldn't for the life of me, work out to fit. No problems in constructing the 7 or 8 pieces into the finished assembly, but fitting it into the funnel had me beat. I even split the already glued funnel halves apart to have a go and no luck. I ended up using the plastic part, modified so the flutes are opened. So if anyone using the dedicated Fujimi P/E set on their Fuso works out how to do it, take pictures and post them.

[J. Soca]

Nice Job Kym!! I'm looking forward to more updates.


Jose

[Kym Knight]

I really didn't know whether to put any photos up or not, because it's pretty hard to see where 12 hours of modeling has been done. The main guns alone take an hour each and though not all are in the pics, I've done 4 of the 6. By far the most time consuming was adding all the deck vents, ammo boxes and assorted other gear. Also there 10 little structures that are replaced by P/E which are mounted fore and aft of the main superstructures. Again, I definitely take back my earlier comment about the P/E set not being as comprehensive as, say Hasegawa's. My new comment is closer to 'one of the most comprehensive sets I've used'. Anyway, maybe you guys can spot the differences.

[trigrodge]

INCREDABLE

leigh