NMBROOK

Thank you,the chains were supplied in the kit,rough guesstimation around 25 links per inch.This would give a link around 400mm long in reality which I thought would be about right for a vessel of this size Nigel

As part of this subassembly I have also been working on the foredeck.It is my intention to paint the deck and superstructure section separately then glue them together as a unit for fitting later in the build. The deck has been extended for where there are two open doors in the superstructure.Bollards have been replaced with Alliance items and the linoleum strips have been scraped off as I have some Flyhawk brass strips to replace these after painting Kind Regards Nigel

Thank you very much indeed,it means a lot as I was a complete photoetch novice when I started this build.Perhaps I am in at the deep end and should of started with an easier subject but had a massive desire to build this particular kit. Kind Regards Nigel

Ahh that explains it and lucky you,my wife would never buy me a kit,all I get is "what do you need another model for ?" when I buy myself one Kind Regards Nigel

Great work Beefy,I seemed to have developed a fondness for these smaller Trumpeter kits,having recently added HMS Roberts and Tsesarevich 1904 to my stash Kind Regards Nigel

Handrails and gussets (Alliance modelworks) added to the next deck down Nigel

Hi Bitzer I look forward to following along.I have a fascination with Japanese vessels and have the Anatomy of the ship book on this vessel and a couple of others.I fancy building this kit,but have resisted due to a rather large stash and anticipate working on Akagi for at least another twelve months. May I ask why you chose WE photoetch over Aoshima's? Kind Regards Nigel

Thank you very much! I decided to pause for a second and take a few pics before I got too carried away.After reading further on the German forum of possible alignment issues with the under deck brass work,my gameplan changed considerably from the instructions.I have built the front section complete with the flight deck attached.This has been trial assembled with the hull several times ( hull halves only taped together at this point) to ensure everything lines up including the middle section of deck.An additional plasticard brace has been added to hold the ends in the correct position. Of interest is the fact that aside from filling the moulded ridges and ejector marks on the underneath of the deck,I ended up filling the location holes for the brasswork.Thelocation tabs on the photoetch were also removed.I managed to get everything to line up perfectly but the location holes were the best part of 1mm out ! Work on this section will now continue inverted working from flight deck upwards.The 'ceiling' of the raised superstructure has been lifted to allow for proper perforated beams and also so that I could drill all the holes out in the lower edge of this piece. Happy New year Nigel l

Thankyou,the downside is I had to fit the signal lights to fit the bracings.The long one has now broken off for the third time!!I will repair it much later on to avoid it happening again. I was in the mood for a bit of a photo etch frenzy this weekend.Firstly the rest of the jackstays were fitted below the AA platform.All but one of the doors have been fitted,these have been depicted open,cutting out and thinning the hull where necessary.The last of my 0.18mm drills snapped whilst drilling some more ladder rung holes hence the drilling jig taped in position until replacements arrive. I have found a 103 page build of this kit on a German forum.The majority of this covers the etchwork on the underside of the flight deck.The builder goes into great detail of the trials and tribulations of getting everything to line up.He did end up with a 0.5mm gap between the middle and front section of the flight deck despite all the pins on the bulkheads lining up. This will result in me taking a different approach so not to'box myself into a corner'.The first change from the instructions is the framework above the funnel.Building this on the deck and getting it all to slot in place does not inspire me with confidence.I made up the complete assembly on the bench as a separate unit,filing down the location tabs that line up with holes in the deck.The unit was then glued into position in the hull section.The other hull half placed in position to ensure the top is true and flush using a straightedge. Apologies for the poor pics and the fact the model is covered in plastic dust,a fact I didn't notice until I took the pics. Kind Regards Nigel

Wow,your seascape really sets the model off!I have never attempted water myself but have a 1/700 Shinano in my stash ( along with the Five star models bonkers detail up set) that is crying out to be depicted amongst waves. Kind Regards Nigel

Super sharp work!

Work is progressing rather slowly on the starboard hull side,not least because any more than a couple of hours concentration sends my eyes into meltdown.I am sort of working from the stern forward.Portholes have Eduard surrounds added.All the moulded reinforcement ribs have been removed and replaced with something more convincing scratchbuilt out of 0.3mm styrene.Also holes have been drilled for the ladder rungs and I have made a start on the jackstays.There is still many more ribs and jackstays to add in this area alone.You will notice I dropped a clanger.The first lot of ladder holes were out of position,I didn't allow enough space for the watertight door between the casemate guns.These were filled and redrilled. Kind Regards Nigel

Thank you Jockster I am hoping to get some pics up at the weekend of the work on the starboard hull half.I have decided to do as much as possible before joining the two halves as it is easier to work without fear of damaging what is underneath when laid on it's side. Kind Regards Nigel

Very nice work Madhatter. They have had this kit in my local modelshop for a while and it tempts me every time I walk in.I look forward to seeing how the paint work looks with regard to the clear superstructure. Regards Nigel

Thankyou! After priming and a little fettling I sprayed the funnel Sasebo Grey then added the black topping.Took about an hour to mask off for the black due to the jackstays and a minute or two to spray! Kind Regards Nigel

Hello again Work is steadily progressing on the port side hull half but it is very slow going.Lots of details to add and limited time due to work.I have progressed with the funnel though to the painting stage.This is a project all on it's own and have treated it as such.All the molded detail had been removed and the holes in the support bracket drilled out after thinning this down from the inside.The many jackstays have been added using the taller version in the Hasegawa set.These were designed to be double folded on the legs but after fitting as wasn't keen on the look so ripped them off and redid them bending just the bottom fold to provide the mounting 'foot'. I have fitted individual ladder steps by north star as well.In all this has been a bit of a 'baptism by fire' due to my previously limited photoetch experience. Kind Regards Nigel

Thank you very much.Yes I agree these carriers are rather chunky unmajestic hunks of steel.However I find something rather appealing in there almost Blackpool tower like construction style Small update in that the section has had the detail added.The bollards are Alliance modelworks turned brass and certainly looked the part more than the plain plastic kit ones.I chose to add a section to the rear of the door simply so it appears to lead somewhere when looked through.There is a lip at the rear of the section to take a section of internal hanger deck.This will be fitted much later and I haven't fully assessed exactly how many of the plastic bulkheads will be cut down to provide the internal detail I need due to opening up the blanked off openings dotted around the hull. Finally I finished the part with Tamiya fine surface primer then TS-67 Sasebo grey from a rattle can.IMHO very little of the decks are linoleum covered,apart from the main decks,the majority are plain steel. Kind Regards Nigel

Oh and I forgot three sets of Hasegawa aircraft Anyway,on with the build.I have drilled out the portholes in the hull halves.Concentrating on one side at the time,I have subjected the moulding to a weight loss program with the Proxxon and a rotary burr.All areas where there is an open edge,e.g.portholes doors and exposed plating edges have been thinned right down.I still have more work to do on this side,notably at the stern where the boat hanger is.The small square hatches have also been cut out to be replaced with photoetch. All the moulded detail has nearly been removed and also the mould joint lines at each end of the bilge keel.I had had a go at rescribing the plating but was less than impressed hence the filling.I have also had to do some remedial work where I removed the moulded jackstay at the top of the torpedo bulge.It was tight in the corner and a sod to remove. I have remade the little section in plasticard that sits inside the hull.This had blanked in hole detail and IMHO was too long.It ran behind portholes which seemed wrong.I made a simple 'cassette' for this to slide into to enable this to be slid in later in the build to allow separate painting.Waiting on some 0.25mm plasticard for the bollard base then this can be detailed and painted then put to one side for later on. Kind Regards Nigel

Thanks again and actually yes I do have the Master brass barrels,just forgot to mention them and take a pic,I also forgot to mention the North star individual ladder rungs That many bits and bobs,Only thing I didn't get was the G Factor props.now Hannants don't list them Kind Regards Nigel

Thanks everyone Now the weekend has arrived I can try get my head around posting images.Opening an account with photobucket and uploading images was easy,linking to them here is confusing for me,but here goes. Some pics of the goodies I have bought so far.I have left any armament upgrades until they are required.There are so many different manufactures of these I need to look at what appeals the most.I have added titles to each pic on photobucket but here is a list as this is all new,I am not sure if that will appear on here. Obviously the basic kit Hasegawa photoetch sets A,B and C Hasegawa Superdetail set Hasegawa wood deck 3 packs Hasegawa jackstays.(most probably too many,but will come in for future plans) Eduards Akagi set Eduards back column set Eduard IJN portholes and watertight doors Alliance modelworks perforated gussets and beams Tamiya Degaussing set Alliance modelworks bollards Kind Regards Nigel

Thanks Colin,I agree these kits with all the options are quite an intimidating project.I plan on trying to break things down into stages and subassemblies as much as possible.I hope this will then stop me feeling overwhelmed. Kind Regards Nigel

Hi all,I am new to the forum and my first build log is going to be that of Hasegawa's Akagi.There are two excellent builds on here already of this model so feel the bar has been set very high. As well as the basic kit,I have amassed all Hasegawa's option packs plus quite a few others as well.In my next post I shall show all the 'goodies' I have collected.These purchases have been over a few years as the total cost is quite frightening.My intention is to take the kit about as far as is practical. Kind Regards Nigel