Hi all! Guys, thanks for the nice comments, much appreciated!




@Budgie.
Don't worry, mate, and take your time. Just glad that you're still with us and the building!

@Steve.
Yeah, I definitely am now in the second half of the build.


.
Mind you, with these railings it is going to take a wee bit more time!
But we'll get there in the end.

@Derek.
How did you say it? Oh yeah, you ain't seen nothin' yet!

But see for yourself below and you'll see what I mean!

So without further ado let's get cracking!!!!!!!!!!
I finished yesterday with the fire contraol platform and base. I tidied up the platform and edge-painted the edge.

I then started with the connecting circle. As it was built up out of three layers, I couldn't stab it so I slithered off the card around the circle.

This was the first 'cut' leaving a little bit behind around the circle. When I had cleared away the surplus card, I cut the remainder off.
I then glued the three pieces together.

I didn't edge-paint the top circle because it was left white which means that you wouldn't be able to see it anyway.
But now that the base was completed, I worked on the next layer.

Another platform and the actual control centre. This centre housed the 'Hazemeyer' Fire Control system, which was quite ahead of its time and indeed taken over by the Royal Navy when a Dutch destoyer, which carried it, the HNLMS Isaac Sweers, was towed to England, having escaped from the Netherlands.
I also painted the railing for the circular platform ...

... as well as give the fences that were to go around the anti-aircraft deck a final coat.

But back to the control centre, this was scored and bent ...

... and glued together.

Then the support brackets were next.

They were cut out after doubling and edge-painted ...

... and glued in place.

The railing was then cut free ...

... and gave me a headache. They had to be shaped round and with their fragile shape, I was fearful that the shaping would break off the legs!
But with three assistants ...

... going from the largest diameter to the smallest, using it to roll the railing around, I got the shape down to this.

Not very circular, I hear you say?
And you'd be right! That's why I finished with my secret weapon after I glued the ring closed!

I used the syringe as end-shape and rolled it with the railing over the table, straightening the circle and keeping the legs in line.
I then put this aside and went back to the fire control centre, which still needed the range-finder 'horns'.
These were tightly rolled and topped with a cap ...

... before glueing them into place.

I then inserted the centre inside the railing ring (I was afraid that I couldn't get the centre fit inside it once the railing was glued in place) and glued then both to the base.

I had to add a few drips of glue to some of the legs because it was quite fiddly work and by the tme I had the parts in place, some of the glue on the legs had already dried up!
But here it is, glued to the deck.

Looks pretty good, I'm pleased to say.
As the fences needed another coat, I continued with the first skylight for the deck under the anti-aircraft deck.

It's made of a single piece of card with four detail parts added to give it depth.
The piece itself if, due to its size, fragile so I needed to use care when scoring, bending and glueing it.

Then the detail parts were glued on and the whole was glued to the deck.

I then glued the fencework to the top deck, starting at one side, clipping it off when a 90° bend was required and re-glueing it to the bit that was already in place. The curves were formed around the knife holder where needed. I must admit, the clipper made the work VERY easy! It cut through it square and quickly without disturbing the rest of the already glued on work.
But Derek? is this better, or better???? How about this being cardboard, eh??



I absolutely

that look!

I temporarily put the superstructure on the deck even though I was aching to glue it down!

Why didn't I glue it? There is another piece of railing to go around the lower deck and I want to do that when I have full access.
So one more skylight, two ventilation structures and another railing to go!
But that will have to be tomorrow!
Hope to see you then!
Happy building!
Adrie.
'Where to glue or where not to glue, that is the question'
Building: Hr. Ms. de Ruyter (card), Retourschip Batavia (Revell), HMS Surprise (De Agostini)
Built (and sunk): Too many to list