-- Originally Posted November 23, 2008 --

The added length of the hurricane bow correction necessitates at least some extension of the flight deck to accompany it. As a basis to begin developing this, I sawed out the following section of the Revell kit deck:


Click on Image to EnlargeAt bottom, the section is slid straight forward, giving an (exaggerated) idea of how the upgrade will bridge the additional length added by the hurricane bow correction. Meanwhile, the angles of all these joints - including those inboard of the deck sides - are not arbitrary chosen but set deliberately midway between surrounding features - mainly the grid of tiny bumps representing tie-down points - so that installation of the part - which will itself duplicate these textures from the kit deck - should be possible while completely preserving the surrounding features, as desired.

Note the section extends all the way back to, and includes the leading edge of the No.1 elevator well; with the cuts extending directly into its forward corners. The first and most general reason for this is that all the more recent repops of this Revell flight deck have long, lengthwise sink-marks in them - so the more of it which can be replaced, the better. But, more accute- and specifically, this will provide options to accurize for No.1 elevator variants of the various vessels, during various periods of their service. Although the total range of such variation has not yet been determined, the above design for the upgrade should prove able to accommodate most - and certainly the most prevalent ones - among them, if not all of them, as desired for a given build.

Cheers,

-Matty