Thanks Marty, much appreciated!
At this point the gun may be considered completed. However, most Japanese Navy 25mm mounts after 1942 were also fitted with splinter shields such as those on Hatsuzuki’s sister destroyer Hanazuki:
Presumably Hatsuzuki was similarly equipped by the time of her loss in October, 1944.
These shields varied slightly in design (the Veteran kit comes with three different styles), but all were created specifically for the Type 96 mounts. I don’t know which of the shield types Hatsuzuki’s guns might have carried, so I simply chose one of them and attached the etched parts to the resin baseplate.
The shields look cool with their 110 degree rake – and they certainly enhance the functional, aggressive look of the Type 96 gun mounts!