As I worked on the sponsons, I diverted frequently from that task to building the rangefinders and lifeboats / cutters. Once again the AOTS Takao technical drawings were a godsend. The lifeboats were all made from pine. Cut and sanded to shape. The deck and upper works were then built with styrene. I was unhappy with the two small cutters that flanked the bridge and, as you will see later, I tried a different approach for completing them.

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The railings around the entire ship were completed. These weren't too hard as I was attaching styrene to styrene and the adhesion was quick. I had also predrilled post-holes into the sponsons edges and attached thin strips underneath. That way the railing posts had a place to grab onto and provided a bit more strength to the base of each post. It also meant that each post was of uniformed height every time. I used the same method where railing were located, but there were no sponsons (the bow, superstructure and stern), by predrilling post holes in a thin and narrow styrene strip and then glued that on top, along the edges. I admit there were mishaps, but overall it was satisfying to see the railings go up. They were made with .25" styrene rods for the posts and .20" styrene rods for the horizontals.