The Ship Model Forum

Airwing completed. CAG-14.

Finished the deck vehicles.

Finally attached the mast. Just some minor things to do (i.e., Flag box covers)

For the Tilley I used Swordfish Models 1/350 3D Printed Tilley but instead of using their crane I substituted Tom's Modelworks PE crane. Looks alot better and more realistic.

Primed and done. I won't add these to the model until the flight deck is on and finished and all PE has been added. They aren't perfect but they're a pretty good amateur attempt to make the project as realistic as possible.

Finally bit the bullet and started scratch building the URR-13 Phasor 90 structures for the four corners of CVA-12 in 1957. I've put this off for 3 years hoping someone would produce them.

do you mean this? CVA-9 USS Essex Booklet of General Plans (1960) https://archive.org/details/cva9bogp1960

Great project. My dad was on CVA-9 USS Essex, on her first cruise after SCB-125 mod. The first modern carriers of the jet age. You are doing justice to the type.
Good stuff.

The project is a life-long dream to build a 1/350th CVA-12 USS Hornet as she was in her 1957 Westpac cruise (my uncle was with VA-146 for the cruise. My dad just missed it.

Interesting airgroup. One hardly see any of this period being built.

Working on the aircraft for now. Can't find any 1/350 AD-5N aircraft so I'm having to scratch built some. I need for for the project. I started by clipping of the extra bits on the rear elevators of the AD-5W aircraft I have. The large bulbous attachment under the belly is a separate piece so removing that was not needed. I then took some old L'Arsenal 1/350 F9F-8 first generation aircraft and cut them down so that I could form the radar pods for the AD-5N. Not perfect but acceptable.

Finished painting the Twin 3" and single 5" guns.

More work on Jan 23rd. Work on the 5" and twin 3" guns. I'm using the Bunker Studio 1/350th USN 5"/38 Single Gun (Open Mount) set unmodified. I used the Veteran Model 1/350th 3"/50 Mk 22 Twin Guns (Open Mount)(VTM35001) set modified by using the brass barrels from the Veryfire Twin Mount set (USS18)or a much better appearance. I followed the instructions from the Veteran Model but then carefully cut-off the barrels. I then used my xacto knife and drilled a small hole into each gun and then placed the Veryfire barrels into them. Looks MUCH better. I scratch built the Antenna Mount for the fantail starboard side gun since of course the kit doesn't provide that..

More work completed on 22 Jan 2025. More work on the mast.

Got some work done on the mast the last couple of days. Mostly all scratch built since 57 Hornet's mast was far different from the Intrepid kit's mast. Radars are mostly cottage industry products. Placed the Captain's Barge on the starboard side rear as seen in her 57 cruisebook. Boat is cottage industry as well as the lower boat dolly (Swordfish Models)

26 ft Whale Boat hung on port side.

Finally back to work of her. Freakin' cold here in Chicagoland! Placed engine crates, storage crates, boxes, oil cans, etc around the ship. Added the 26 ft Whale Boat to the portside. Placed the Direction finders around the ship. Added yardarms to the mast (pictures to follow later) and the ladders leading up to the URN 3 Radar.

Nicely done so far. I love cutting up a kit and doing a rebuild to a sister or near sister ship. Plan on doing Oriskany one day. She had some special blisters added to her blisters.

Well I finally got my work station set-up upstairs and lots of drawers for storage and organization. Made some repairs to the island structure and a couple of radars. Work finally has begun again.

Well the move has taken alot of my time. I haven't had much time at all to spend on her. Hopefully after the holidays I can get back to some work station time. Happy holidays and let's pray 2025 is a good year!