Well, here is this months update on my build.
Issue 75: Details for the upper Deck.

We begin by adding another hull piece. This time it's a piece for the lower port side. It hooks into the three screw posts, and is screwed into place.

Next we get to adorn the Upper Deck assembly we started in Issue 18 .
Making sure that the gear housing is supported and avoiding any potential damage, we glue the four bollards into place behind the breakwater, two on either side. The roller fairleads sit aft of the bollards, and are glued into place in the holes two rows of planking behind said bollards.

The next part, which looks like a ribbed box, sits in the recess on the deck between the gun barrels and nearest the turret.

We are provided with three hatches, and these are situated into the recesses on the deck, one in front of the turret, and two behind.

To get the positioning for the next deck parts, we need to rotate the gun turret by refitting the battery pack and switch. If you turn the gun to port and starboard in turn, the parts are easily mounted. The remaining two parts are fitted to the rear of the barbette, again by rotating the forward gun to gain access.

This completes Issue 75.

Thanks for looking in Del
Looking at the next few issues, there’s plenty more fiddly details to follow

Thanks for the heads up, Mick, I’ll have to have a look into that

Oh dear this is not boding well for my “Collect and build later ploy”.

Only been having a quick look at the packs without opening any of them.

Only issue i did have was on the early main gun edition were the gun barrels on mine appeared to be designed to shoot around corners - nice and bent.

No expert but does anyone think the reversed wiring might be To do with port And starboard guns and the direction they will turn - just a thought.

Tony

Apologies, it's been a while since I last updated this diary. Had a lot happening on the home front. Anyway, back to the build!

Issue 76 sees us adding the Rope reels and funnel details. Firstly, we assemble the 4 larger reels, which is just a matter of gluing the two halves of the reel together. Once assembled, rope is added and wound around the drum of the reel, with a drop of glue holding it in place. The six smaller reels are made up exactly the same way, just a bit more fiddly because of their size.

The larger reels are fitted to the recesses on the sides of the upper deck section, with 4 of the smaller ones fitted into the recesses around turret Bruno. The last two smaller reels are fixed centrally in front of the bridge superstructure.

The four ladders are created by bending the tabs at right angles. The two long ladders also need bending outward slightly around the area of the lower set of pegs. These are then fitted to the funnel.

Lastly for this issue, we attach the radar antenna to the forward superstructure.

That just leaves assembling the two halves of the hull supports and gluing them to the hull base support.

Hi gray great to see you back on this, looking good by the way,if I could offer bit of advice it be this ,when you have built the aircraft hangars, don't glue them in till you done issue 86,as there are some small vents and handrails fitted in this issue and the overhanging boat cradles on these make it difficult to fit these ,got some bad language from me fitting these with hangers in the way,cheers mick.

Issue 77. Hull section and funnel details.

The first job is attaching the next starboard hull section. Simple enough, as we have done it many times before

Next comes the part that Mogwai has previously mentioned: the fitting of the railings! The first railing sits between the two cranes on the crane platform. Two strut bracings are then fitted between the railing and a recess on the underside of the crane platform and glued in place.

The next railing needs to be shaped to the contour of the front of the funnel. Easier said than done! I bent mine around a paint can of roughly the same diameter. Once happy with the shape, glue is then applied to the three locating pegs and fitted in place.

The ends of the railing for the front of the funnel assembly requires bending at right angles, and then glued in place.

Lastly, for this issue, we need to cut and form one of the railing platforms. This is tricky because you have to bend the two outer edges to right angles, then fold the front of the platform upwards. Thank heaven for duck-nosed pliers

Issue 78, part 2.
Metal parts for the funnel. If you thought the last couple of issues had fiddly etch, well this issue takes it up a notch!

First job is to remove the two supports (B1) from the etch sprue and bend them to form a pyramid shape. The next two supports (B2 & B3) then need to have their edges bent at right angles, but noting their orientation (one of their edges is open, the other is filled in).

Taking the searchlight brackets supplied, the 'pyramids' fit into the horizontal slots, and glued into place. Supports B3 then need to sit over the pyramid into the slots on the underside of the searchlight bracket, with the 'open' edge towards the middle, so it straddles the pyramid. Fit the other B3 bracket and glue in place. These steps need repeating for the second searchlight bracket.

These then attach to the funnel, underneath the searchlight platform. They don't seem to follow the contours of the funnel very well, but that is how they are supposed to be.

Left me ‘reeling’ too
Thanks for looking in Mark