I've started my build of the Akitsu Maru and hopefully can make quick progress. This is my first blog so please bear with me

All the sprues laid out.

Drilled out the holes shown in step 2 for the braces for the weapon sponsons on both sides of the hull and for the large sponson that support the island (only one side shown). I also drilled out the holes at the stern for the stern mounted boat davits. The instructions show 1 more hole to be drilled out but i could not find in the instruction a part fot that location so I left it closed

The superstructure assembled and the main and lower deck and hull halves cleaned up and ready for assembly

I hope the hull goes together easily as I can see that being a pain otherwise. The hole that you cannot see a part for, I would put a mark where you can see it just in case

Good luck for your build. But are you sure Armorama is the right forum to post it?

Olivier

Good idea about marking the hole and you're right that autorama is the wrong place, so perhaps one of the nice moderators would kindly move it for me

The hull glued together. The large locating tabs on the deck and hull sides made getting everything aligned easy.

The rear hinge plate for the rear doors. After a quick no problem test fit I glued it on. You can put this part on upside down if you are not careful and it needs to go on before the bottom plate.

Been away because of family needs but the next step is to clean off and up all the ejector pins on the flight deck supports and other parts (examples shown). Given the recessed details on many parts they are probably needed.

finally getting this one done now that I'm really retired
cleaned up the flight deck supports

parts ready to paint

How about moving this thread/blog to Model Shipwrights instead?
Let me know (send PM) if you still want it moved.
Cheers / Robin

please and thank you

Done / Robin

Interesting little ship, will be watching this build.

Mark

Steve,

Welcome aboard, and thanks for coming in with a build log right out of the gate! This is an interesting and somewhat unusual subject - I'll be watching with interest.

Welcome aboard Steve!

an interesting kit-unusual to see one molded in green...

following with interest

The bottom plate is to narrow sop i glued .o2 evergreen strips on both sides and sanded to match the upper hull. I've seem to have lost those photos in my computer swap
I.m going to use this Lifecolor set to paint it

I painted the wood appearing decks deck tan
and then masked them with micro mark liquid mask in preparation for the next color

never used liquid masks for Decks before, so will be interested to see how it turns out

Me either I always masked with tape. It takes a while but will worth it.

Mark

The deck with the liquid mask removed. a few places need some touch up


The corners of the front lower deck needed to be removed to get the part to fit

Steve,

Looking sweet.

The areas that need touch up is it because the masking lifted the paint or just didn't cover paint enough?

Mark

I masked into areas that I didn't need or want to. When I've used liquid mask it's been over Tamiya paints. The next build I'm going to try my technique over Lifecolor paint to see if it will work for them

Steve,

welcome to MSW once again! I thought I had missed this until I saw that Robin moved your build log just a few days ago.

Very interesting ship and approach with the liquid mask, nice work so far!

I'm in and watching!

Cheers
Jan

Step 4 calls for the supports for the flight deck be glued to the flight deck and then the whole assembly be put to the hull. But because the girders go into pockets on the main deck, as is shown in the picture, and there are just holes in the bottom of the flight deck I put the supports to the main deck first to avoid any pocket/support misalignment
pockets

girder(s)

flight deck assembled to the hull, Tamiya gloss sprayed on and ready for the decals

An interesting Kit so will watch with Interest and a very nice job so far.....Cheers mark

Agree, very nice job so far.

Mark