First primer coat This will show up flaws to fill in and give a sense of more completion. I have a few bits left from the Creole Queen I can use and some more bits I can make from scrap styrene. Biggest deal is rudder n screw parts. Then I can put motor n servos in. Watchin tv and building is a good calming evening.

Adding ASROC crane n ladder rails Also safety rail on MACK dome platforms Bits n pieces until I get doors n radars I might make gun turn n radar too

Added crane and more stair rails. Redid the nose for hawser cable. Studying the drydock photos fir painting.

Waiting to buy rudder n prop shaft. I saw the side stabilizer fins n stakes that are cast.

Decided to add some paint. Waiting on guns, torpedo, doors, radars and bits to come.

While waiting on parts I played with making a remote controlled DASH heli

I further cut the shaft n played with it so it can fit into hanger. I may make one from scratch a tad bit smaller. The hanger can hold two of these drones we also had an airplane looking target drone. I saw it fly twice. Only one didn’t crash. Now with todays Rc I’m sure our pilot could have gotten practice in and done better. This was in mid 60’s and true proportional RC was 10 years later. I had the first Kraft, HealthKit and futaba. Decades later Spektrum systems. On Garcia it was not small or easy to fly.

Added life rafts above hanger and a movable walkway. I expect the rudder soon. I built a raised platform under heli deck. It will house the rudder Servo, receiver and ESC. The motor is about mid ship and battery tray will go forward of the motor. Access is midship removable section. I’ll use a liPo battery and have switch in the midship section. Still waiting on the call back as to the doors. I got 20 posts to try for the railings. I’m hoping to get etched railings with netting on the lower section for the main deck. All I need to order is radars, guns and torpedo launchers. My daughter says she has anchor chain at jewelry shop she owns. I ran out of CA glue. So railing will wait.

I will add microwave n cabling to cable tray next. Started on railings and adding more ladders.
My grandson will lend me his 3 D printer to make the parts I need. That will be fun.

I did the red first. I got the rudder in the mail today and epoxied it in place.

My daughter gave me 2 mm black chain. It looks perfect as anchor chain. I have the motor coupling too.

Painted the lower two areas. Haze gray is next. Disappointed that masking tape pulled some red paint. I used Tamaya low tack tape. I’ll touch it up. I coated over paint with dull coat thinking it would help keep tape from pulling paint. Any way it’s looking better. Still need doors, guns xm, radar n torpedoes. Maybe 3 D printer will help. Or I’ll buy cast parts.
Added ASROC access doors

Painted sonar dome see pic of real one.