Anyhow, here is my belated update. Ok, first off, this is the OLD kit of the ISE, and it really needed help. Add to it my total lack of any info or building technique do to the fact I have not built a ship model for over 20 years just adds to the problem. Thank goodness for the internet.
I started by reworking the Bow for only two chains instead of three. Next, I tackled adding some detail to the front tower and drilling up into the sub-assembly for hte two "legs". This is VERY HARD and I messed up my angles, but at this point, I do not care. It looks good enough to me for my first ship.
I next tackled the turrets. While the shape and general look is good compared to my references, the rear "range finders?" of the B and C (I think I got that right) turrets were too high and looked weird, so I filed slots intot he turrets to sit them correctly and then scratchbuilt the front openings. I have to add the PE ladders yet. I also have to work onthe AAA decking, another fun task.
The funnel and its associated metal work looked really bad, so using the GMM set I had, I looked it over and scratchbuilt a new funnel based ont he size of the old one. Not too bad. To keep the interior from looking too bare, I added two "pipes" that are probably not real, but add interest to a big darn hole int he ship everyone willbe looking in!
I need to add the "grille" that goes over this. The last main part is adding thinner, more detailed splinter shields (as I call them) to various parts of the ship using .010 x .020 evergreen stock. Fun fun. #:-) 
And then there is the flight deck. Sigh. There is very little actual info that I could turn up on the flight deck or hanger bay...while there are drawings, they just don't agree on details. I know I could have gone further and tried to get officical blueprints and such, but I am on a deadline here, and I wanted this to remain fun. What a concept.
Anyhow, first thing I did was replace all the splinter shielding around the aft AAA housings, and then the shielding around the "port and starboard aft gun galleries (?)" In need of mental medical attention, but trapped doing detail work, I decided, in my stupidity, to try to make the deck look less toy-like...yeesh. I drilled out all the turntables to accept new ones punched from styrene. After scraping off all the "rails" ont he deck, i scribed them in. Then I found out they should indeed be above deck rails. Oh the horror. But I will live with it and I added a bit of detail with a ordinance lift at the bow of the flight deck.
Below the flight deck was as much fun. Many simplifications and a need for detail. So I started cutting and filing away. Then, back to the Evergreen styrene for more detail material. Now those "Gun galleries" have nice supports, wether they are prototypical or not!
Now the underside of the flight deck, and the rear of the elevator, needed some detail just because they looked so darn plain. So I used my imagination and added ribbing under the deck and a small set of hanger-style doors and some watertight doors for the back, with a upper railing for interest. This area still needs to have railings installed and some other supprts put up, but so far so good.
And to top off the madness, I started detailing the support craft on board. Looks good, but I have to lay off the fumes.
All kidding aside, it has been a real pleasure so far to build a ship. Frustrating as all get out, but what a new adventure that seems to be coming out all right.!
