That's incredible, Donny - even if given a whole week to work "between paint coats", I wouldn't have gotten all that built! Topped, as always, by your superb ability to merge together such multi-media, and do it so well. Not to mention economically - using WalMart (they're actually pretty good) supplies, to build a $150 project for under $20. It's a great writeup - including hilarious "hobby shop pricing" reference (ain't it the truth!).

I was surprised at the rake in your T-2 bows - I had thought they had a (near-) vertical stem; were they given new, "clipper"-type bows when modernized/jumbo-ized? I'd love to post whatever plans you may be working from.

Also, a question: I see you adding tiny PE ladders and railings before painting - which I know you like to do with brushed-on acrylics; how do you keep from gumming up all their fine detail, with brush-painting?

It's remarkable that nobody makes a(n injection-plastic) 700-scale Leander-class FFG. You know, Airfix popped scads of them - with a pretty nice hull, too - in 1:600. Which, actually your SkyWave "1:700" weapons would fit perfectly - as we've measured several of them to be exactly 1:600 scale!

Will look forward to seeing more of these, especially when completed. (That also goes for your 350-scale T-2 build - can't recall her name, at the moment - which I've always wanted to post more pics of.)

Excellent submission - THANKS, buddy!

Cheers,

-Matt