I have always loved miniature ships, from the most distant memories of the bathtub, to maritime museums wherever I might find them around the world, to these tiny, patience-trying (but in the end ever so satisfying) models of my own. I still have several of the 1/700 Waterline Series ships I put together back in the ’70s, and even without paint, because the plastic was the proper dark gray, they looked fine just built out of the box — especially to a kid whose imagination could fill in all the blanks in a time before the oppressive thoroughness of the Internet.

But those days are gone, and now that I can see other folks’ incredible creations online, I’m afraid I too have come to the point where without some degree of railings and rigging, as well as a light wash and perhaps a bit of rust, I can’t be quite satisfied with a little ship anymore. Which brings me to this little gem, the seaplane tender Akitsushima. The Pit Road version is a terrific kit that brings together a handsome ship and a special airplane, the Kawanishi H8K “Emily” flying boat. I also like the unusual fact that the camouflage is provided in decals (though in the end I just couldn’t manage the smallest bits on the superstructure and crane, painting them fairly easily instead).

Though I do much more work to finish a ship than I used to, I still don’t even try to have every little line and oar that you’d have seen on the real thing; the extra suggestion of realism provided by a modicum of enhancements is enough for my eye. I really like how this one came out.