Feeling very pleased, not to say relaxed and very zen ! Managed to put in no less than 10 hours work this weekend, and believe have a few things to show for it...at long last there is a marked difference compared to the previous general outlook - nothing to spur one on s seeing marked progress and the result of one's work !
So, in chronological order: finally completed the anti-fouling bottom hull section (need to re-do one particular stretch where there was still a tiny little blemish), so was subsequently also able to add the black boot topping - this immediately makes a very big difference I find, she slowly is becoming a proper warship, even if the grey is still to be sprayed .....
Something rarely seen on most models but I thought I'd have a go at it nonetheless: added the 4 cathodes and was particularly fortunate at having been given the exact dimensions by someone-in-the-know (thanks again Nigel). Two were sitting above the propeller shaft exists, on either beam, whereas the front ones are slightly more 'guesstimated', but believed to be near the front end of the bilge keels. So don't take my advice for these ones, but the fact is that the Leanders had 4 cathodes strips for sure. (And I believe is the case for most frigates and destroyers in HM's Navy). Still need to give them a coat of paint.
Something else which is very often lacking on most warship models are the diving lines - again photographs are patchy and there appear to be some variations amongst the various Leanders, but have added one line already using self-adhesive white tape. The only area where I was struggling with this were the curved ends of the bilge keels, where the tape could not be bent nor did it hold in place.
I will be adding the remained later, and again this is an area where some artistic freedom will used, especially in the rear section amongst the propellers and rudders, where the lines are somewhat zigzagging it appears.
It also appears that whilst most of the times these diving lines are white, ocassionally they are also black (as seen in a photograph of a dry-docked type 23)
Also sprayed the sonar domes, these appeared to be off-white in the 1970's before it became more commonplace to have them in the same anti-fouling red. Thought it also added a splash of contrast at the same time.
Then moved on to do some work on the forecastle: added the front bollards, anchor chain plates, hawsepipes, rear breakwater, spurn water, capstan plates, capstan operating wheel, emergency escape hatch....
All good progress, only need to add two rolling fairleads, anchor chain stopping points, fire hose reel connections, breakwater supports and all the various vents behind the breakwater and that will be the forecastle completed.
Since I needed to give the deck in the VDS and Limbo wells a splash of green before being able to fix my rear deck in place, I emptied the paint remaining in the airbrush jar and used it on the forecastle deck - an immediate changeover and wonderful look I thought...
Lastly, added some minor details to the bridge front and also fitted the skylight housings all round the superstructure.
All in all a very good weekend I say !
Enjoy the pics
E