writes:The next section was the modeling of the two main gun barrels, which are plastic rod sanded to a slight taper, and glued into holes drilled in the turrets. I also drilled out a section of gun barrel (which shows up once painted).
The tail/rudder section was plasticard sanded to a wing section and cut to shape.
Now at this stage, I put the model aside as I was not happy with the size and height of the twin tail/rudders.
That night, I studied pictures of USS Kersarge and realised that the twin rudders were too big and mounted too high on the model (the propellers would not have lined up with the forward section of the rudders properly). The next morning, I cut the old rudders off and remade a new pair, slightly smaller, and then attached them lower down on the tail.
I have always believed that in modeling, when we occasionally have a situation where something just doesn't look right, we have two options – to leave it and always be aware of the shortfall, or as in this case, to change it as soon as you recognise it. I would always recommend the latter. In addition, I have read that it is better to model what 'looks right rather than what is right!' Again, I agree.