The best way to start this model is to clip all the parts and mark them with the call out number as not all the columns are the same. Some are taller and others are shaped differently. Then clean up all the molding lines and paint these parts. The painting is problematic as they call out some colors like Marble and ask you to mix the following colors Flat Skin Tone Warm, Flat light flesh and flat white. There are no percentages and then to top it off they say the Pentelic marble is an impeccable white with uniform, weak yellow coloration along with a photo of what the real marble looks like. I just painted the base a general white with a subdued dark wash to show the seams and slight textured surface of the base.
Speaking of the base, my sample was warped. I tried to use hot water to soften the plastic so I could get the base to lay flat on a level surface. That was not successful, so I tried hotter water, that was not successful, so I went to boiling water and that was so successful that the base was totally ruined as it became so soft that just sagged everywhere. So when a replacement base was obtained it too was warped, so I obtained a piece of Plexiglas and epoxied the base to it. That solved the warp problem.
The columns are supposed to be Press + Click. I found that it is better to clip off a small portion of the tab and glue the columns into them base after painting them.
The instructions has some painting suggestions using Testors paint only. But other than the marble color, the rest can be converted to whatever favorite paint you use.
The only real complaint that I have run across is the outer roof. It is depicted with horizontal strips, but the actual roof was made of vertical tiles. So there is room for improvement if you want to use your scratchbuilding skills. Also the ambitious builder could install some LED lights to illuminate the inner room with the Athena Statue.
Thanks to Italeri, Hobbico and IPMS for this review kit.
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