The Enemy Below DE 181 - June 11, 2020

Welcome back!  As we approach Father's Day and (hopeful) Phase 4 here in Illinois (so we can get our complex pool open), I have returned to the work bench aka dining room table.  I have made some painful progress as you will see.

This shows the additional PE for the stack platform (a real bugger) and ladder.

Installation of PE railings begins on the upper deck.  I tried painting the inside of the railing before installing - my success I consider mixed.

We are now officially the movie DE -181, USS Haynes.  I used the kit supplied decals, cutting the D and the E and using the verticals for "1s", then the number 3 and touched in white paint to close the 3 into an 8.

The two piece mast is an easy install, but I did use the xacto to cut in a slot in the top to seat the PE radar (instead of using the solid kit part).

Mast is now painted after I added the PE ladder.  As with all of the additional PE I kept studying historical photos and the opening credits of the movie which provides good views of the Buckley Class USS Whitehurst aka USS Haynes.

Bow railing, Port side - again, study of the movie credits revealed the use of this type of railing forward.

Now begins the insanity that I have  been dreading.  This rigging is easy to pick out of all photos.  I tied four lengths of monofil. in a knot and glued the knot to the rear of the bridge deck.  I tied the eight individual strands to the mast arm.  While these are not supposed to be taut it is impossible (for me at least) to have the monofil. to appear to be stretching aft with the wind.  Oh well!!  Still the monofilament thread has it's own laws of physics that can lead to modeler insanity if not careful.  Plus and minus charges exhibit themselves causing it to act in ways contrary to what the modeler wishes.  rotation and entanglement abound and this is after quite a bit of experience with this material - enough about that, but be warned!

Additional rigging continues from much study of fuzzy distant historical photos which show far too much confusion and wire everywhere that I can't possible duplicate at this scale.  So I go with what I see, what seems to make sense and what can be practically be accomplished.  The plastic mast is too flexible to allow for taut looking rigging.  I wish manufactures would include brass masts in the kits.

Port side railings are painted as my research of  the movie continues both Fore...

....and aft.

Back to the work bench now to complete the starboard railing and finish up  the rigging.  When this blog continues I hope to have figured out the ocean diorama.  Good luck to ME!