Of all the features on a model ship the just do not look right in plastic, watertight doors are probably the worst. The basic shape is there and some times the locking systems are crudely molded, but they just do not look right.
Another problem is not every door from the real ship is represented. The solution, sand off the old doors and replace them with PE doors. This allos allows you to add the correct door in the correct place.
The PE...
This fret holds many different styles of watertight doors, deck hatch covers, and coal shutter covers. The doors used on IJN ships are different from those used by other Navies from World War II.
You will find some doors represented by single piece door and frame pieces. Just cut these off and replace those from your kit. Others include the frame and door which you need to fold together to replicate the door. This also allows you to leave the doors open inf you wish.
There are even doors with portholes and center hand wheels. All of the doors have the "dogs" etched around the edges of the doors. These are what lock the doors down when the handle is pulled all the way down into lock position.
The deck hatches and coal shutters help to give those blank squares on the deck more definition. The coal shutters can also be displayed open or closed as well.
In case you are curious. A hatch goes through a deck. A watertight door goes through a bulkhead.
The Instructions...
The instructions are on a single small sheet. The help you out by showing you how to fold the multiple parts doors. The only thing I would liek to have seen was maybe some location info for the different style doors.
Impressions...
Another good detail set to add to your parts box. I would rank doors almost as easy as ladders to add to your project. They will add another level of detail with little effort. Just make sure to check your reference material to make sure the right door goes in the right place.
SUMMARY
Highs: Nice fine details on the doors to make you project POP!Lows:Verdict: Great way to add another level of detail to your next IJN project.
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Sometimes there's a small instruction sheet as described by Jim, showing the different types and how you'd bend these, for my money are the instructions showing you what these actually look like once correctly in place on your ship of choice, a photo of some grey model with many bright brass photoetch pieces in place, how often do you buy a full PE set only to find 20% of etch parts not on the instruction sheet ? For myself, I'd like to see both, the item showing in its correct final shape and another photo showing where these would be used. Not really thinking to hard about it, but Jim struck a note by adding where a hatch or watertight door goes, does 100% of people that build model ships know that ? I never gave it any thought until now, but looking at it, its actually makes perfect sense.
Good review.
A hatch goes through a deck(floor) a watertight door goes through a bulkhead(wall).
Hope that helps out some.
I will get the rest of your question later today!
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