Construction update - Painting, lots and lots of painting. As far as my progress goes, the last modification I had to do was to add new "ears" to the top of the superstructure. I dove back into the parts box and came up with a turret from an old Kongo class kit and cut off the front ends of both barrels and glued them to the stubs where the original parts were. Once the glue has had overnight to set, I will trim them down to size and paint them the same color as the rest of the ship, Model Master Euro 1 Gray. I have painted the blast bags on the main and secondary guns with Model Master Camouflage Gray. I still have to paint the markings on the float plane. (To paraphrase a classic film: "Decals!...decals!....we don't need no stinking decals!!!) Ok, it is only four red "meatballs" but it is probably easier than trying to place decals that small for me.
As promised, more photos, starting with the exploded view...note the huge new "ears"
Here is a test fit of the guns, stack and forward superstructure
Here is a shot that shows as much detail on the superstructure bracing as my camera can handle.
I should revise the title of this thread to say IJN Fuso (1942) because there is no way I can replicate all of the AA mounts added to the decks and turret tops by 1944. Maybe by the time I post the photos of the finished product GHQ will announce the upcoming release of an IJN Fuso (1944) kit. Stranger things have happened.
Enjoy! Questions welcomed.