Well, as threatened, I've pushed ahead with a comprehensive overhaul of my 1/535 scale New Jersey, circa late 1944/Leyte Gulf - aka, The Black Dragon:

Beginning with stripping off of practically every fiddly- and pointy bit (smaller than her Main Battery 16-inchers):


Click on Image to EnlargeThe parts "rake-off", though abundant (bottom), is comprised of larger items - Quad-40mms, Mk37 Directors and Twin-5inch turrets - all of which are immediately replaceable - to substantial improvement - with stock Matty's Models parts. Likewise, the many Shielded Single 20mms (pile in background) can all be redone infinitely better using (my extensive parts box of) Gold Medal Models and/or WEM PE. Removing all these did leave many spots rather torn-up (top), however nowhere that won't end up largely if not completely hidden under the new replacements. Indeed, the large holes originally bored for rotating bushings for the original 5-inchers will now prove ideal to accept little barbette-like bases to allow (even better) rotation of the Matty's Models upgrades (which will also now elevate, as well).

A second, major reason for this refit has undoubtedly also become readily apparent - in the (ridiculously) bright blue deck (top): not only 'way inaccurate but also not at all helping to shake off the toy-like provenance of this mold. But there is yet another reason still: numerous additional details, never even considered (in my pre-PE, pre-resin days) for the original build, can now be added in brass detail- and/or additional, Matty's Models prototype parts:


Click on Image to Enlarge
____FULL RES_____FULL RES______FULL RES_____FULL RES____


Click on Image to Enlarge
___FULL RES_____FULL RES_____FULL RES____In the above closeup pass along the portside, note the numerous tiny, wedge-shaped areas now chopped/scraped free of "Aztec stairs", and larger such areas where molded-in life rafts have been removed: preparatory to upgrading with PE stairs and resin rafts (and/or ship's boats), respectively. The pairs of small rafts molded into the 16-inch turrets were deemed (at least, for now) too difficult to f- with - lest it destroy these, which remain among the best features of the build. However the original aircraft crane, catapults and OS2U Kingfishers (none shown) were all popped off for upgrade via PE and/or Matty's Models prototypes.

This refit is my first in which the very first post includes not just the initial Destruction, stripping off the old, but also plunges straightaway into the Reconstruction - with painting (to at least begin) to correct the deck appearance:


Click on Image for FULL-RESWith the few critical spots masked (yellow tape) a hand-brushed wash of dull brown (left background) immediately knocked the deck color back into (at least) the right ballpark: now a less-intense blue color than the (Testors Intermediate Blue) hull-sides. The brown wash, actually slightly purple-tinged, was comprised of Testors Flat Red, -Euro-I Gray (a rather warm gray) and -Medium Green (that's right!), about half-thinned with mineral spirits (foreground).

At the same time, as the wash dried I stroked it extensively, to get some look/feel of deck planking:


Click on Image to Enlarge
FULL RESThis was somewhat successful (bottom), but not in the way desired: though starting to suggest planking all right, note the appearance is that their underlying, original color was the bright blue (as, in fact it was), when what I am after is exactly the opposite. (Indeed, note the earlier, bare plastic/scraped areas now, under the wash look more like underlying (dull, weathered) wood than the other areas.)

While probably already "Good Enough", the above (much of which, again will be completely covered - and with items far more eye-catching) will continue to receive scrutiny and further pondering on how possibly to further improve its appearance. The single, very thin wash already proved extremely effective - meanwhile, there isn't much, in Revell's raised deck "planking", to be lost anyway - so further washes and tweaking probably remain not only do-able but would prove highly worthwhile.

So, stay tuned to the following thread, which will straighten out not only the deck situation, but then address many a Fiddly- and, hopefully, interesting - Bit, which will put The Black Dragon back together again, Better than New...