I had planned on painting the superstructure, but while watching a Youtube video I didscovered Micro Master 3D who produce details parts for model ships. So Idecided to get some for the Pola. These need a little preparation before painting.
The gun turrets come on a support platform with seperate gun barrels.
The turrets are well detailed with open range finders. Number 3 turret has some makers lettering on the sides.
The turret rooves have seperate panels. And the number 2 and 3 turrets have addition range finders.
I also got some Italian life rafts which are missing from the kit. Should be enough for the Pola and possibly another ship.
And why I bought the replacements. The kit turrets are totally wrong and completely lack detail. The replacement gun barrels are a little flimsy. I could recover the brass from the kit turrets but due to the blast bags will be aout 8mm too long.
The turret sit on top of the barbettes.
The only real issue with the turrets is the bases are completely open with no way to secure them to the barbette.
The solution is some 3D printing. I designed an insert with a 2mm prong out the top (bottom) and after a couple of iterationsm I printed four.
The new bases were glued into place with some superglue.
With the glue set, a test fit. Doesn't look mch different but they won't fall off if the model is nudged.
The next thing might be to actual paint the superstructure. It's been stated before but it will eventually happen!