Hornet update: Started adding the rafts. Found out that, shockingly, Trumpeter got the number and locations wrong on most of them. Also found they wouldn’t attach, because the PE that represents the center “mesh” portion of the raft is higher then the bottom of the raft. Had to cut small pieces of styrene strip, glue those to the rafts and then use those as attachment points to glue to the hull. First, I added PE paddles to each raft.
When the rafts were done, I added the remaining gun tubs to the deck. Had to rip up a crash barrier as it would have ended up under a tub. That was re-positioned later.
Started putting the PE gun barrels on the 20mm. Very tedious and frustrating process. These L’Arsenal 20mm are difficult to build. And a goodly number of them came out cock-eyed, where the shield drooped when drying. Since I had these versions, I wanted to use them, and not buy 3D printed versions. (The 1.1inch guns are also from L'Arsenal).
Then, I found that the Mk44 directors from Veteran Models won’t fit in the deck edge tubs. The tubs are too small/narrow, as trumpeter incorrectly scaled them for the smaller Mk51 directors. Thankfully, I was chatting with a buddy during the weekend, and he whipped me up a pair of brass replacement tubs that he’s mailing me. Those are scaled to fit the directors.
Everything but ships boats, the island and flight deck crane are attached permanently to the model. Those items need to be weathered - and the masts on the island rigged - before final assembly. Then i have to finish and mount the aircraft. Final step will be painting and adding the crew. So, she’ll be finished in early 2021? Maybe?
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The island is just dry fit here. After these pics were taken, it - along with some other parts - got an light oil wash with Payne's Grey.
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Certainly not my best work, but it's starting to look like Hornet.
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Martin"Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday." John Wayne
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