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Topic review - Calling all USS Gerald R. Ford class CVN fans
Author Message
  Post subject:  Re: Calling all USS Gerald R. Ford class CVN fans  Reply with quote
Finished! The Magic Factory kit is a superb build. Highly recommended. But be aware, if you plan to add railings, you'll need a lot of them! Sure didn't seem like it at first glance.
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- Sean F.
Post Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2024 1:21 am
  Post subject:  Re: Calling all USS Gerald R. Ford class CVN fans  Reply with quote
I got the kits I pre-ordered from Squadron yesterday and started building. This kit... is really nice. I built up all the sponsons, the hangar, and the lower portion of the island over a 3-hour build party session last night. Good fit, sturdy parts with well-placed sprue connection points... a real joy, the kind of assembly that makes you want to just keep going. Had to stop myself to keep some parts accessible for easier painting and just a tiny bit of cleanup. My praise may all change once I start affixing the sponsons to the hull (kept them off last night - in part to facilitate some detail painting, but mostly to keep using the kit's snug hull and deck packaging for just a little bit longer) - but it's been great so far so I doubt they'll drop the ball at that critical point.

Agreed, the deck detail is heavy-handed, and at first glance inside the box I was thinking this kit looked very toy-like, but no - assembly is most definitely that of a true model. I may let the paint flow a bit thick on the flight deck to tone it down a bit... and once the decals are on over the scribed marking it ought to look a bit better.

Personally I find the Ford to be a pug-ugly ship and I figured I'd build it grudgingly just for its place in my carrier collection, but this kit has really got me having fun. Well done, Magic Factory.

- Sean F.
Post Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2024 9:05 pm
  Post subject:  Re: Calling all USS Gerald R. Ford class CVN fans  Reply with quote
I watched that Magic Factory video for the 1/700 scale Gerald Ford carrier model.
I'm sure it's a nice kit and all. But I'll pass on buying it. 1/700 scale is too small for my eyesight.
I even passed on buying the 3D Wild 1/350 scale Ford carrier as that is too expensive for me to buy.
Since there's nobody else coming out with a 1/350 plastic Gerald Ford carrier kit, I decided to make my own by heavily converting a TAMIYA Enterprise carrier kit. It's not going to be an exact copy of the Ford class, but I'd rather think of it as a future what if "Flight II" version circa timeframe of 2045 or so.
I even scratch built a more stealthy island superstructure for my carrier. ;)

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Post Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2024 4:20 pm
  Post subject:  Re: Calling all USS Gerald R. Ford class CVN fans  Reply with quote
Thanks, 'Timmy C'...... I must have gotten that model the Same time it was posted here....as I have done a video of an " Unboxing " of the kit...with commentary about the kit itself and how it was packaged ( a VERY interesting and understanding way of protecting the ~Little chutes for un-explosive weaps).

But unless there is a need for a "second opinion", I won't post it here, but you can see it on YT.

Moe
Post Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2024 11:57 pm
  Post subject:  Re: Calling all USS Gerald R. Ford class CVN fans  Reply with quote
Timmy,

Thank you for posting the open box video. Nice looking kit. But the deck decals look exaggerated. Mr. Surfacer and some sanding to make those tie downs smaller.
Post Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2024 11:10 am
  Post subject:  Re: Calling all USS Gerald R. Ford class CVN fans  Reply with quote
An unboxing of the Magic Factory 1/700 Ford kit has been uploaded:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l40lorW28ao



Nice to see hangar bulkhead detailing! The decision to mould the entire port sponson separately should improve the chances for more accurate depictions of other ships of the class in the future.
Post Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2024 1:00 pm
  Post subject:  Re: Calling all USS Gerald R. Ford class CVN fans  Reply with quote
The SLQ-32(V)6 that Ford is equipped with looks simply like rectangular panels. Fairly certain they're installed embedded onto the top of the mast on that faceted structure.
Post Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2024 10:12 pm
  Post subject:  Re: Calling all USS Gerald R. Ford class CVN fans  Reply with quote
Since I can't afford to buy the 3-D Wild 1/350 scale Gerald Ford carrier model, I've taken the liberty of trying to build my own by heavily modifying a TAMIYA Enterprise carrier kit. One issue I have is the following:
I can't find the following systems on the Gerald Ford carrier. I've looked at dozens of pictures, but can't see these systems anywhere on the ship. Does the Gerald Ford not carry them? But if it does carry them, what locations are they in on the ship?
SLQ-32 electronic countermeasures system
Mk.36 SRBOC chaff/flare launchers
NULKA active missile decoy launchers
Post Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2024 9:04 am
  Post subject:  Re: Calling all USS Gerald R. Ford class CVN fans  Reply with quote
An interesting project would be to build a 1/350 Conventionally powered Ford or a new build KFJ with modern sensors and weapons.
Post Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2023 7:56 pm
  Post subject:  Re: Calling all USS Gerald R. Ford class CVN fans  Reply with quote
Maybe in 1/700, advertised by Free Time Hobbies/Squadron.


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Post Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2023 12:14 pm
  Post subject:  Re: Calling all USS Gerald R. Ford class CVN fans  Reply with quote
ADebroux wrote:
As part of their series Carriers at War, the Smithsonian Channel will have an episode focusing on the Gerald Ford (CVN 78) tonight at 8PM Eastern time.

https://www.smithsonianchannel.com/show ... ar/1005309


How frustrating when there is no way to watch a show due to where you live. Don't have Smithsonian Channel in Australia and cannot purchase the episodes as they are only available in the USA. :Mad_6:
Post Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2018 2:39 am
  Post subject:  Re: Calling all USS Gerald R. Ford class CVN fans  Reply with quote
Last year I spent two weeks at Norfolk VA and had ample time to photo graph her stem to stern and I now
have a DVD out on her ..... available by direct mail at stillmo@shaw.ca
Ray in Canada ..
Post Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2018 10:34 pm
  Post subject:  Re: Calling all USS Gerald R. Ford class CVN fans  Reply with quote
As part of their series Carriers at War, the Smithsonian Channel will have an episode focusing on the Gerald Ford (CVN 78) tonight at 8PM Eastern time.

https://www.smithsonianchannel.com/show ... ar/1005309
Post Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2018 3:43 pm
  Post subject:  Re: Calling all USS Gerald R. Ford class CVN fans  Reply with quote
warspite63 wrote:
'Ford also has a crease about half way down on the hull running parallel to the water line' - I know I read somewhere that the forward hull has a distinct change in angle between the waterline and the flight deck. This allowed the use of flat plates - cheaper and easier to fabricate - as opposed to the gently sloping curve used on all US super-carriers



OK, that makes sense. Thanks for the clarification.
Post Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2017 5:22 am
  Post subject:  Re: Calling all USS Gerald R. Ford class CVN fans  Reply with quote
It's a "crease", Bob. Warspite63 is correct - Chris Cavas of DefenseNews covered this back in 2013: http://intercepts.defensenews.com/2013/ ... t-carrier/

Relevant quote:
Quote:
The forward section of the Ford features a large underwater bulbous bow – a feature similar to that fitted on the last two carriers of the preceding Nimitz class. But the Ford also shows a pronounced inward knuckle at the level of the hangar deck – a feature, according to program officials, intended to reduce costs by making the hull simpler to construct.


The rest of the photos in that article should prove beyond a doubt that any differences in tone is due to shadowing from the physical construction, not paint.
Post Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2017 11:57 pm
  Post subject:  Re: Calling all USS Gerald R. Ford class CVN fans  Reply with quote
..
Post Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2017 8:05 pm
  Post subject:  Re: Calling all USS Gerald R. Ford class CVN fans  Reply with quote
'Ford also has a crease about half way down on the hull running parallel to the water line' - I know I read somewhere that the forward hull has a distinct change in angle between the waterline and the flight deck. This allowed the use of flat plates - cheaper and easier to fabricate - as opposed to the gently sloping curve used on all US super-carriers
Post Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2017 7:42 pm
  Post subject:  Re: Calling all USS Gerald R. Ford class CVN fans  Reply with quote
I was able to see the Ford last week in Norfolk when I took a drive down the piers. The island and mast are noticeably shorter than the Nimitz Class. Bush was tied up on the other side of the pier so it was a good comparison. Ford also has a crease about half way down on the hull running parallel to the water line. It looked like it has a two gray paint job or it might have been the shadow. I could not tell.
Post Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2017 7:32 pm
  Post subject:  Re: Calling all Ford class fans!  Reply with quote
Like Timmy C said, announced in 2012... Actually it was announced on Dec 1, 2012 at the inactivation ceremony of USS Enterprise CVN-65... I was there that day... And it was an just an awesome moment when SECNAV made the announcement by video. There may have been only about 8000-9000 in attendance. But the cheer when the announcement was made CVN-80 would be Enterprise. I'd say it rivaled cheers at major sporting events, and I've been to many...

Thomas
Post Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2015 9:27 am
  Post subject:  Re: Calling all Ford class fans!  Reply with quote
Confirmed by order of the SecNav himself back in 2012 http://www.defense.gov/releases/release ... seid=15708
Post Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2015 9:18 am

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