Thanks gentlemen...and you are all correct...it IS getting difficult to pick up or move! The only place I can get a grip on it now is the hull. I do have the proverbial modellers nightmare of dropping the thing, but I try to be careful.

I will be mounting the ship soon...I have to go buy a nice big peice of birdseye maple or oak (I want the mounting board to be slightly longer and wider than the model itself, which is pretty big) and to find some appropriate brass pedestals.

I have been working on some of the smaller details (gluing the planes in place, adding some bomb carts, adding a couple of access ladders, etc) which makes for not such great new pics, but anyway:






Its almost time to put this baby on display! Comments and suggestions most welcome on this thread. Cheers, Tim

Tim,

Absolutely beautiful. Words escape me at the moment!!!

Great work

Great build Tim,

Superb build, am totally inspired to build this ship, although I think I would like to build a couple more carriers first.

Thanks for sharing I have totally enjoyed following your progess.

Si

Hi Tim!

Yep, definitely time to mount your masterpiece for its own safety.

Once mounted handling becomes so much easier. Then you just have the question of where to display her!

Russ

Fantastic, looks so good, thanks for sharing such an inspiring process and finished product.

Bryan

A stunning project and a great build log to go with it. I have this kit as well and am looking forward to the day I start her.

I saw a recent announcement that CV Kaga is going to be available at some point, I think from Fujimi? Any plans to build her as well? I always think of them as Sister ships even though that isn't the case.

Regards,

Joseph

Absolutely fantastic and inspiring work Tim!! All the little details you continue to add, this is really one masterpiece!!
I really don't find the right words...just in awe every time I watch your build log...thanks for sharing this and the great pictures!!

Cheers ,

Jan

Gentlemen, thank-you very much for your kind words of encouragement! Its appreciated for sure!

My health hasn't been quite up to snuff lately, but I did manage to get a couple more small things done. Its funny isn't it... its the small things that take the time. Anyway:

Started a couple utility boats for adding to the bottom of the accommodation ladders, note the pe cabin next to the kit cabin in the middle of the pic, but I only had one of the photoetch cabins avail:


Mounted at bottom of accommodation ladder:


Couple of details added on the bow:


And another shot of the finished and attached utility boat: (oops, I see a ladder on the left that must have gotten bumbed and needs to put vertical again..but no worries )


The show I am entering this in is in 2 weeks, so its time to test the LED lighting and get this thing mounted on a nice board! Look for a final update on Akagi soon! Thanks for viewing and your comments and suggestions are, as always, most appreciated. Cheers and good health to all -Tim

Fantastic work as always Tim! I'm saddened to see this one come to an end soon...been a fun ride following along! Best of luck to you in the show!! This is sure to be a real show stopper!

Great little boat there tim, What is holding it where it is?

Bryan

Hi Todd! Thanks for your sentiments pal!

And Bryan, the boat is attached by CA at the bottom of the accomodation ladder...its the only attachment point. If you look closely at the pics above, you can see that the port railing on the boat is glued to the railing on the ladder, and its also glued just below that. But the ladder is the only attachment point...thx for your question!

Wow Tim!

Can't believe you were able to get the boat to hang off the ladder like that-had it been me, my butter fingers would have knocked it off within 2 seconds at my house

Looking great though!

Russ

Tim,

Simply amazing work. You have definitely completed a work of art and brought what was a once proud ship to life again.

Inspiring work.

Dave

Thats amazing work, hard to find words for !

Thanks very much Bernd, Daver and Russ! Your encouragement is most appreciated!

Anyway, here's a couple pics of the mount... brazilian walnut with spar varnish and 4 brass lamp finials:



Come back tomorrow and I will have it mounted with its brass plate attached too!
Cheers to all and thanks for your support! - Tim

After seeing this,I don't even want to take mine out of the box.Congrats on a great build.Itcwas great to follow.

Absolutely Stunning!



Cheers,
Joe

Hi Tim,

Really classy base for a really classy build.

Fantastic job, looking forward to seeing her mounted on it.

Cheers,

Si

That is a thing of beauty Tim...and it is not even mounted yet!! Woo Hoo...rounding 3rd and heading for home!!!

Most excellent, Tim!

The base will put the finishing touches on a masterpiece!

Russ

Hello,

I don't normally comment outside the Tank forum but your build is probably one of the finest I have ever seen

Inspirational commitment to detail

S