I finally got the nerve to assemble the YM PE SK-2 radar for my Trump 1/350th USS North Carolina. I followed the instructions to assemble the support braces first and then put on the rings. Yuck, lousy fit and look.
Into the acetone bath it went and I tried again, this time with a different approach. I assembled the two main braces and put the rings on working from the outermost in. After getting them reasonably set, I added the remaining braces to the back of the assembly. Got a much better fit and look, but still pretty amateurish.
So I still have a lot to learn! I spent three nights getting this done!
I finally finished my North Carolina last month using 2 GMM sets and a L Arsenal Mk51 director set plus alot of scrathbuilding. Fifteen months and I figure almost 1700 parts later Im happy with it. I took it over to my LHS for the guys there to see the results and was asked by the owner if I would let it be put on display there. If I can ever take some decent pics of it I’ll submit them to Reader Gallery. As far as the frustration level goes, I empathize. Try reworking all the 20MM gus using .006 wire for the barrels like I did. Savor the satisfaction when you get it done. It was worth all the trouble for me. Hope to see it here soon.
Welcome to Hell, cruichin … I mean, to the wonderful world of photoetch radar screens. My personal bugaboo is the SPS-49 found on modern US Navy ships, with the nastly little curve of the main screen and the tricky bending and gluing of the back brace. And then the bazillion times I manage to knock it apart while doing something else …
That said, I think PE radar antennas are one of the things that really sets a model apart, and makes it look more like a miniature version of the real thing as opposed to a pool toy.
And yes, acetone is one of my best friends now as well!
Here is what I did in assembling my SK-2 on the Mo.
I assembled the cross braces directly on the outer ring, without removing the outer ring from the brass frett. I removed all the inner rings except the outermost. I then but the cross braces into place in the sequence as directed by the instructions. and lastly when all the cross pieces are in place I glued them to the outer ring. In this way the outer ring while attached to the brass fret acts as a template. It really is easy this way. Next after attaching the rmainder of the rings, I removed the assempled SK-2 off the fret.