So back at the bench and wanted to start cleaning up O1 deck level to prep it for all the PE that will go in place. Sticking with the theme of having as many doors and hatches open to simulate how she would have been, I opened two of the three watertight doors on her starboard side. I decided to take some photos to show my process of opening doors in case anyone needed the info.

I am using both Eduards and Pontos photo etch sets to compliment the ship with parts I want to add more detailed depth. The Eduard doors all more detailed in that they fold giving both interior detail as well as the exterior. They also have the door framing so they can be modeled open or closed or ajar.

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First I removed the door from the fret and use blue painters tape for the low tack residue and position the open framed door in position. I then use a fine Sharpie to color in the frame where I want to open the bulkhead.

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At this point I drill out the four corners as close as possible to the black marked door location. I also drill out each side so cutting with an #11 exactly, I can have a clean door opening. Then using a tapered file, I clean up the lines so that they are flush and square. Afterwards, I run Tamiya extra thin along the cut edges which smooth out the opening edges so it looks very clean. When ready, the doors can be added.

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If need be, you can scratch in interior walls or details as needed. Next, the second starboard door...