--Originally Posted 1/25/09--

After extending the lower wintergarten aft I returned forward, to work on the conning tower:


Click on Image to EnlargeAt left and center, note a heavy (white) plastic block was laid in as a foundation for extending the conning tower aft (and raking it forward slightly). The "V"-groove plasticard extending from underneath and ahead of it was just inserted to complete the last bits of lower wintergarten planking; I am getting down to my last scraps of this stock, and didn't want to cut out any more than absolutely needed. Likewise, the desired expansion of the upper wintergarten platform was cobbled together as a fringing prosthetic, seen only dry-fitted here. Note how well the coarse "V"-groove approximates the planking texture of the kit platforms.

At right, plating for the conning tower's new aft end was laid in first by tacking thin plasticard with superglue, bending and securing it into position, as shown on the shadowed side, and then back-filling with putty, as on the lighted side, at top. The aft peak was then trimmed and shaped slightly to finish it. Again, the upper wintergarten platform extension (bottom) was still not yet glued down. At the same time, note extraneous holes are being puttied; for later smoothing.

The new conning tower aft end can also be seen very well in this next pic, of continuing work:


Click on Image to EnlargeExtension of the conning tower shielding aft - likewise to be (later) given a slight rake, similar to that of the aft end of the tower, just below.

Following which, correction of the boxy, side-housing was begun:


Click on Image to EnlargeThe bigger part of which is simply installing the large (white plastic) slab, as you can see - but then the chest at the top is a bit more complex, so I'm laying in thinner plasticard and putty to initiate a decent construction/sculpting of it.

This may all look quite straightforward - as I suppose it was - but still very time-consuming to mate everything as much as possible with the Nichimo platforms, as well as simply to plan for each step in the right order. In fact I realized it would have been (slightly) easier, actually, to have converted straight from the earlier-style conning tower - however by now I have plans for that assembly, exactly as-is, which I will be posting shortly. So, I am very happy with how this is all proceeding.

I also got in a little more work on the deck - but no pics, pending completion of a little more which I can show you...


Cheers,

-Matty