The Enemy Below - Continued

I am actually taking a break from severe Photo Etch frustration.  I consciously chose to use more PE for additional detail (I did need ladders and railings) but the little bits for the 20MM guns are getting to me.  I actually thought of replacing barrels with after market brass, but Bob warned me not to go down that "Rabbit Hole".  Thanks for that advice bro.!  

As you will see later the purchase of an additional after market installation paid off in many ways.  The rather sad two piece 1.1 mount that comes with the kit just is not satisfactory (in my opinion) so I laid out  the extra bucks.  You can make six of the twin 40MM Bofors mount with this kit, that is as long as little bits of PE are not constantly flying off into space from the end of your tweezers.  From a kit of six if figure I could maybe get three.  I'm glad I only need one.

 

One page on the instructions give you some idea of the fiddliness of this construct.  Fourteen pieces for the mount and three more for the accompanying Fire Director (which I was glad of as you will see later).

Here is the twin 40MM.  Two brass barrels into the resin block.

The mount in the tub.  Notice the 3 piece Fire Director in the tub immediately behind.

Twin gun is ready for installation.

Here is the completed Twin Bofors prior to final paint.  Next you will see what this replaced and understand why I bought this extra kit.

YUCK.

I used another Fire Director for the torpedo launcher (as seen in historical photos).  I used one more for the forward FD for the 3" guns.

This shows one of the 20MM with the fiddly PE parts unpainted.  There are ten of these and my tweezers have ejected several of these parts such that I am further glad of the purchase of the Bofors kit.  I am able to replicate the pieces I have lost such that I am hopeful to complete all ten 20MM.  The closeup accentuates the out of scale thickness of the barrel, which is why I thought of brass replacement.  They don't look so bad to the naked eye though, so thanks again my brother for taking me out of it.

Look what else arrived at my doorstep.  I feel a Diorama coming on!

Stay tuned for the next chapter of The Enemy Below.