-- Originally Posted 9/22/07 --

I bit the bullet on a problem I'd been thinking about for a long time; I fixed the flag (lower) bridge on the island:


Click on Image to EnlargeNote, especially from the lefthand pic, both the flag and captain's (upper) bridge windows are angled out over the flight deck. Originally, I had angled the flag bridge out more than the Captain's, but better reference pictures showed that this was wrong. So I ground down the face of the flag bridge to the more correct (almost vertical) angle. In the process of course, all of its window-framing was lost, so, after polishing the windows until they were clear again I glued on PE window framing - actually bridge window frames from the 1/240 Buckley/Bligh DD set made by Gold Medal Models. Note the new appearance is much better - actually this new framing has better definition than the original, as retained on the captain's bridge. The pic at right shows the island back-lit, with 5" turrets dry-fitted to spruce up the appearance.

And speaking of which, I also added a lot of detail to the rest of the island:


Click on Image to EnlargeNote on the portside (left picture) I've added watertight doors - 5 out of 7 being drilled open - and added several piping/conduit lines; removing almost all the Lindberg OOB detail, which was wrong - at least, wrong for Boxer, in 1957. I also had to drill out the three prominent portholes at the aft end.

Likewise on the starboard side (right pic); almost all the original Lindberg detail was removed in favor of the piping, doors and the couple of very prominent ports you see here. This is only the most prominent piping which I am depicting here; a super-detailer could go nuts with fine rod or wire to show every last conduit and pipe. This is the beauty of 1/500 scale: you can add significant detail and get a very intricate appearance, yet not have to all the details - as you would in a larger scale.

Note also at this stage I am not yet adding ladders or railings. I feel these end up being better if painted separately (particularly the way I paint) and then attached after painting the whole assembly, if not the entire ship.

And speaking of which, the entire ship now needs to have the above type of details added:


Click on Image to EnlargeHere I've made the barest start; another open door and some portholes on the port bow. Again, extensive OOB details were removed as incorrect - note the large areas of scraped-off paint. (Actually makes it look like my pics of the real thing, in drydock for refit!)

This is all time-consuming, but actually is progressing faster than when I was constantly interrupting the build to take molds of everything I'd just done. I have all the PE needed, and will soon have the last of the required detail accessories - Mk37 and Mk56 directors, as well as quad-40mm mounts - so all I need to do is keep putting it the f- together!

Cheers,

-Matty