SPA Modeler

Just a thought, but I’d go very light on any oil staining on the flight deck. Maintenance was all performed below in the hangar decks of Japanese carriers. The aircraft were only brought up to the flight deck for flight operations. At least that is my understanding of IJN carrier doctrine from reading Shattered Sword.

Looking at your before and after pics. Yeah... that's a bit too much staining. Maybe perhaps a much smaller spot would work?

I agree guys, I was just trying ideas out.
Stick, I thought that interesting as well. They probably thought we were nuts parking, spotting and launching aircraft on the runway. I also found it interesting that they would start a run for fifteen minutes or more warming up the engines. I'm sure we did the same but that struck me for some reason. That's why you see all the engines running on the pictures of the Pearl attack while the crew are getting a briefing.
I think getting the deck right is going to be the toughest part of this build.

Steve, the most important mark on that deck will be the Hinomaru on the foredeck that the SBD's used for a bullseye, right?

They had the Hinomaru at Midway but not Pearl. If I did put it on I'd paint it and trash the decals. I do want the Kaga at Midway a some point. Maybe someone will sell one for less than $200 at the Nats.

I worked a few night on the island. Now that everything is added I'll paint tonight then add crew on the bridge and lookout platforms.

This just gets better all the time. You are a wizard. A true wizard at this. Wow.

So small, yet so full of details!

I can't believe it's so small. It makes the Akagi look monstrous until you put it next to the Yorktown (A friend gave me his half build Yorktown), then it just look ridiculous.
After I paint it tonight I'll get Nagumo, Genda and a couple other guys on the bridge and several crew manning the binoculars on the platforms. There's a hell of a lot of binoculars on that island. I'll also get the stripes on the deck and stain it before attaching the island. I shouldn't need to anything else to the deck itself after that.
Getting close.

OK, guys,

Here is the work I did on the island Yesterday. I put the bridge crew on the bridge and added some window clear for the bridge windows. You can't see the crew but it doesn't matter, you a see something. I also sprayed a clear gloss coat on the deck to prepare it for stain and touched up the stern deck stripes. Tonight I'll add the deck stripes. I don't think I'll spray them and use the supplied the decals instead. We'll see how they look.