I've finally got the little 'Hik' back on the bench after 15 months of languishing in a cupboard. Turns out I can't work on two projects at once, had to wait to finish my last boat before I could get back onto this one.
Didn't take too long to get back up to speed, once I had figured out what was left to finish. I started working through the 'box of bits', glueing on the last remaining items, and re-aquainting myself with the model. The ventilators were printed at Shapeways - turned out alright.
This is where I'm at now. I had forgotten what nice lines the boat has. It really is a good looking hull design.
Still need to rig the derrick, install the wire railings, and the fenders are looming as a major task. I had initially thought that they were rubber but on closer inspection of the the old photos, they are rope. There are several places that sell model rope fenders but not small enough for 1/50. I experimented with a couple of ways of representing them but nothing looked even remotely decent. Looks like I'll have to make them in the traditional way – thousands of tiny hitches.
That should push the eyesight to the limit.