Okay Folks:
Another update before I head into the usual stuff like boats, airplanes etc. I am calling the main mast finished except for more rigging and the ladders on each of the forelegs of the tripod as I don't want to deal with those when I am handling the mast to fix to the model.
I put the railings off the Eduard set for the mainmast on the upper triangular platform, the ladder and the opening safety railings. Due to the Pennsylvania structure being different I had to trim a little on each side of the triangular platform railings as the mating surface was narrower. The Arizona has a smaller platform above this one, haply, Pennsylvania doesn't. I made a mast/antenna out of a piece of brass rod and stiff wire, Bob's Buckles eyelets and tubes for the support structure and a piece of red streched sprue for the top aircraft warning light. The kit provided one was close and I was going to use it, but; I was challenged (read shamed)
by Chuck Bauer to attempt to duplicate the real one, so I did, I am pleased with the results.
I am not sure if the Pennsylvania had 4 or 3 .50's in the bird bath, so I went with the kit provided 4, I like the semitry of the four guns and the four lockers. I had a hatch off a spare GMM PE fret and used it for the entrance hatch to the Bird Bath.
Hank Strub, BB62VET, sent me some ladder rungs with a drilling template so I used those for the rungs on the main top. I also used some Plastruct for the corner supports of the top. For the Netting I used the appropriate pieces off the MKI set I got for the Arizona, they look pretty decent. The yards at the aft corners of the top that the kit provides are wrong, so I used stiff wire bent to the approximate angel and Gaspatch 1/48 Turnbuckles for the support turnbuckles. I think it looks rather convincing. Pennsylvania did retain the aft range clock during the time frame I am depicting which is about August 1941. For the aft antenna spreader supports I used the appropriate kit parts, when set, I drilled a hole, inserted an eyelet and rigged the supports using the MODELKASTEN .03MM Flexible line available from "Sprue Brothers."
The ladders I used were from the Eduard set for the mainmast and spares. I used Gator Grip Thick glue for attaching all the PE. I really like the stuff, it is strong but flexible and forgiving. If you bump a piece of PE, and who hasn't? The PE doesn't fly off, it stays put. I use CA glue for attaching the eyelets and the rigging once it run through the tube.
This was one tough structure to "scratch build." I am neither a draftsman nor an engineer and it took me quite a lot of trial and error to get it to this point. There is still some error, but; I am happy with it and I want to move on. I think once it is fixed to the model and the model is done it will look just fine.
One last note. The paint I am using for the 5-L Light Grey is a mixture I made using Tamiya Acrylics as recommended for the 3D superstructure. I sprayed some of it and some of the Colour Coats 5-L and it is a perfect match. I was quite pleased with that result as well.
Thanks for looking and checking out the build.
_________________
Mark
Master Gunnery Sergeant USMC (Ret.)
http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.htmlOn the bench:
1/200 USS Enterprise, CV-6
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