I had made it my task for the summer to upgrade my old Aoshima IJN Yamashiro with better AA guns, gun directors, better lifeboats and railings. The kit’s major letdown, as with all BBs at this scale are the cheap sticker-like windows I’m supposed to use for the bridge. Not really in the market for PE parts as they’re too expensive. What would be a good alternative to have a better looking bridge if I’m not going to use the kit provided stickers?
Incidentally, after the Yamashiro, I’ll be fixing and upgrading other IJN BBs like Mutsu, Nagato, Ise and Hyuga. All of which have sticker windows.
Any help/advice would be great!
I know you said you didn’t want to do photoetch as it is expensive, but if you’re going to up grade all those kits p.e. is the way to go. I have used the 1/700 straight ladder for bridge windows, it works well, just turn it sideways and presto…windows. A P.E. set of ladders and another of railing would get you a long way toward your goal.
G.L.
You might want to try this trick. Draw two pencil lines to locate the top and bottom of the row of windows. Paint the space between the lines with glossy black or dark blue paint. Let it dry completely, then paint a series of fine vertical lines in the flat grey that you’re using for the surrounding superstructure.
To the eye, especially at a reasonable distance, the gloss paint on the “window panes” will go a long way toward suggesting that they’re made out of glass. Probably not as effective as glweeks’s suggestion, but pretty effective if done carefully.
Thanks. I’ll try the PE ladders suggestion and see if it works.