Although really the time I should be painting the hull, a crucial color (Testors Flat Gull Gray) ran out, both here and at (both of) my local hobby shop(s) - so I've been stuck working up increasingly delicate island details - some of them really well ahead of what the build is actually ready for.

But not before I finished the last of the resin upgrade pieces (purple):


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FULL RES---------FULL RESActually, not nearly all the resin which will go on the island - there will be resin gun directors (3 types) and quad-40s, as well - but here all the "integral" resin additions have been secured and faired into place. Note also the mods to the uppermost tub - the (roughly) pentagonal one - where Boxer (in the mid-'50s) had raised shielding, topped by a windscreen, on the leading edge. The tiny stainless-steel PE framing of the latter - as well as the heavier, brass framing of the "pri-fly" station, directly below it - will both be "glazed"-in with white glue, after they can be painted.

As of last weekend, however, the needed paint was still unavailable, prompting me to move on to construction of the mast:


Click on Image to EnlargeLike so much else about Boxer in the mid-'50s, the mast is clearly recognizeable as a transitional phase between the original, WWII-style tripod- and the heavy, single-pole mast of the later Essex fits (including Boxer's own). Accordingly, it was both satisfying and straightforward to (basically) chop up and reassemble mast parts of the Revell SCB-27 and Lindberg WWII Essex kits (left) into exactly what was needed. That, plus a quite substantial assist from additional PE, of course (right). Of which much more - and more delicate - ratlines and radar antennae are yet to come, but the build is still far too early for that. (In fact, you can see where I've accidentally bent up some of this PE already!)

Even so, when dry-fitted, the mast really helps the appearance of the island to "pop", now:


As you may have noticed, however, the superglue-work on this PE is really lousy - clumsy and messy - and I am sorely tempted to redo (at least part of) the mast, which I know I can execute so much better.

Meantime, following the skyrocketing prices of gold and sliver lately, I was able to amuse myself, using a couple coins I picked up over the years:


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Click for FULL RES---Click for FULL RESWould either of these make a cool header for ModelFleet one of these days - any thoughts?

Now, finally new paint supplies have arrived at the yard, so I think I'll go back to schedule and finish off the hull - which will also give me time for another look (and to think about) whether or not the above mast should be redone, or accepted as good enough...

Cheers,

-Matty