The Ship Model Forum

Thanks, I presume it's original location was not satisfactory? Maybe when the phalanx fired the excessive vibration damaged or badly affected the instruments on the bridge above it?

I'm pretty sure the photo above is just after Nimitz got back from the shipyard. Work is continuing onboard and the platform shown is still being worked on.
I think this because the CIWS isn't actually installed yet and the box structure beside the CIWS hasn't been added yet,

The history I have indicates that the platform was in this position for just over a year. See below.
Because of the short duration, there aren't many photos. during this time period.

However, she did deploy once and the cruise book is available online, providing a couple of pics that should help you. Also see below for links.

The changes I've listed during the overhauls are only what I have found so far comparing photos.

May 20, 1983 Nimitz returned to Naval Station Norfolk following a six-month deployment to the U.S. 4th and 6th Fleet Areas of Responsibility.

June 17, 1983 Started 13-month Complex Overhaul (COH) at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, her Fifth overhaul/refit.
� SPS-43A replaced with SPS-49
� CIWS Port bow sponson was added, similar size and shape as stbd one.
� CIWS Platform added to stbd side, fwd edge of island
� CIWS Platform added to stern
� Aft stbd Sea Sparrow MK25 Launcher removed, reducing total from 3 to 2.
� Sea Sparrow MK25 Launchers replaced with newer MK29�s.
� Sea Sparrow director pltfm moved from SPS43A(now SPS-49) tower to stbd side of island, aft of other director.
� MK71 Sea Sparrow directors replaced with MK91 directors
� 2 Sea Sparrow MK91 director platforms added beside aft port launcher. Increasing number from 2 to 4.
� ULQ-6 ECM replaced with SLQ-17 ECM
� SMQ-6 Weather radar on mast replaced with 2 SMQ-10�s on port and stbd flight deck edges, midships, and a SMQ-6D on mast.
� Liferafts replaced with newer style with horizontal black bands around center.
Jul.22, 1984 Nimitz Completed 13-month Complex Overhaul COH at Newport News
July 23, 1984 Nimitz departed for initial sea trials.

September 11, 1984 Nimitz emergency sortied from Naval Station Norfolk to avoid the approaching Hurricane Diana.

Aug 1984 and Feb 1985 Nimitz Performed multiple training, Carrier Quals, and readiness exercises.

March 8, 1985 Nimitz departed Norfolk for its sixth Mediterranean deployment.
� March 15-27, Readiness Exercise 1-85 followed by an operational readiness evaluation, in the Caribbean Sea.
� March 28 through April 12, Nimitz steamed off the eastern coast of Central America for "U.S. Naval Presence Operations," due to heightened tensions resulting from fighting against Marxist rebels.
� April 21, Nimitz arrived in the Med.
October 4, 1985 Nimitz returned to Norfolk after a seven-month deployment.

Photos in Nimitz (CVN 68) Mediterranean Cruise Book 1985
https://www.navysite.de/cruisebooks/cvn68-85/001.htm
https://www.navysite.de/cruisebooks/cvn68-85/008.htm
https://www.navysite.de/cruisebooks/cvn68-85/128.htm (The island number is hidden in the page fold)
https://www.navysite.de/cruisebooks/cvn68-85/338.htm

November 1, 1985 Nimitz entered Norfolk Naval Shipyard for a four-month Selected Restricted Availability (SRA). (Sixth overhaul/refit)
� Port bow sponson was enlarged/thickened.
� CWIS Platform on stbd side of island modified and moved to aft edge.
� Stern CIWS Platform enlarged and moved toward center of ship.
March 4, 1986 Nimitz departed for sea trials.

.

The image you posted is from 1986 and thus shows the final configuration of the Phalanx Platform.

But at first when it was installed it was located where the numbers are painted.
Here this 1985 photo shows that it was located more forward:
[img]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/03/Islands_of_US_Navy_carriers_at_Norfolk_in_1985.JPEG[/img]

Middle of the page here has some, a couple good closer up.
[url]https://www.seaforces.org/usnships/cvn/CVN-68-USS-Nimitz-3.htm[/url]

[img]https://www.seaforces.org/usnships/cvn/CVN-68_DAT/CVN-68-USS-Nimitz-050.jpg[/img]

Does anybody have photos of the Bridge island or part of it which shows the original 3rd Phalanx location, on the forward part of the island structure? Between late 1983 and early 1985? Before it was moved to the aft part of the superstructure?

Thanks and great shots so look like metal with a brownish tinge (rust?) i think i can work with that well may need to mix a custome colour for fun

Here are some pics from different carriers. Some cleaner than others. Some rusty, others no so much.
The end plates appear to be painted, while some of the middle plates look like they have a coating of some sort, like anodized or galvanized.
Lots of dirt and rubber from tires.

[img]http://www.resinshipyard.com/pictures/Catapults/CVN65%20Enterprise%202010%20DSC_4152.JPG[/img]
[img]http://www.resinshipyard.com/pictures/Catapults/CVN65%20Enterprise%202010%20DSC_4174.JPG[/img]
[img]http://www.resinshipyard.com/pictures/Catapults/CVN65%20Enterprise%202010%20DSC_4217.JPG[/img]
[img]http://www.resinshipyard.com/pictures/Catapults/CVN65%20Enterprise%202010%20DSC_4306.JPG[/img]
[img]http://www.resinshipyard.com/pictures/Catapults/CVN68%20Nimitz%202004%20File7770.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.resinshipyard.com/pictures/Catapults/CVN68%20Nimitz%202004%20File7771.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.resinshipyard.com/pictures/Catapults/CVN68%20Nimitz%202004%20File7772.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.resinshipyard.com/pictures/Catapults/CVN68%20Nimitz%202004%20File7780.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.resinshipyard.com/pictures/Catapults/CVN68%20Nimitz%202004%20File7781.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.resinshipyard.com/pictures/Catapults/CVN68%20Nimitz%202004%20File7783.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.resinshipyard.com/pictures/Catapults/CVN69%20Eisenhower%202008%20100_5984.JPG[/img]
[img]http://www.resinshipyard.com/pictures/Catapults/CVN69%20Eisenhower%202008%20100_5985.JPG[/img]
[img]http://www.resinshipyard.com/pictures/Catapults/CVN69%20Eisenhower%202008%20100_7121.JPG[/img]
[img]http://www.resinshipyard.com/pictures/Catapults/CVN76%20Reagan%202003%20File0792.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.resinshipyard.com/pictures/Catapults/CVN76%20Reagan%202003%20File0961.jpg[/img]

Greetings,

They are bare metal on the ship. Gun Metal Gray seems like it would be a good fit. I can't remember if Testor's did a "Metallizer Gun Metal Spray" but that would be perfect, I think. You could buff it out that way to get the metal finish. So, they are a similar color as the non-skid paint on the deck but a different material which is why you don't get much contrast.

Good luck,

Mark

I have a question on the colour of the catapult rails on a US carrier Working on my Stennis build -- Looking at photos, but can't get a good close up to look at color that the rail lins are - They appear to be a grey / brown not the deck grey
Anyone got an idea of best color match

D

Excellent, thank you.

From measurements taken off photos, the pipe is 8" diameter and the rubber fender is just over 5 foot diam, and 10 feet long.

Looking for the actual measurement thickness and length of Nimitz class stern dock frame bars, as well as the rubber bumper size.
Need to scratch build for 1/800 ARII kit for the TR.
I can estimate the location of the unit, but would like close to scale frame.
Guesstimating .25 to .3mm would be close, assuming 8 inch diameter steel.

Alignment marks make sense, you can see some pics where they match tire location for different type aircraft.

Shadows... thanks. Looking closer at a couple of my NOB pictures, I can see the same thing on the forward part of the port side, too. Wasn't sure if there was some kind of gasket/seal for vibration or not.

Interesting catch on those white lines. I've never noticed them before!! They look like alignment marks for various aircraft wheels, but that's just a guess.

Regarding the gaps. I think what you are seeing is the shadow where the metal is perpendicular to the hull for a few inches. Not all sponsons have this, so I couldn't tell you which ones do.

Here's the best examples I could find that show what I'm talking about.

[img]http://www.resinshipyard.com/pictures/Carriers/STBD%20Deck%20Sponson.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.resinshipyard.com/pictures/Carriers/STBD%20QTR%20RAM%20Platform.jpg[/img]

The only 'Gaps' I know of on Nimitz class carriers are where the Port Deck Extension is 'Hung' onto the ship.
And YES, you can see down to the water through the gap!!

[img]http://www.resinshipyard.com/pictures/Carriers/CVN65%20Port%20Deck%20overhang.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.resinshipyard.com/pictures/Carriers/Abraham%20Lincoln%20(CVN%2072)%20Port%20Deck%20Extension.jpg[/img]

Im doing a 1/800 ARII USS Theodore Roosevelt.
1.The starboard two forward sponsons have a gap noticeable in photos, where the port does not. Any information about which sponsons have some gap? Rear ones look to be flush/welded.
2. Next to the aft part of the catapults are three or four white lines painted on the deck. What are they? Also painted at the inboard area of the front cats.

[img]https://static.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20170309&t=2&i=1175473819&r=LYNXMPED280T2&w=800[/img]
[img]https://www.defenceprocurementinternational.com/Content/News/Images/theodore-roosevelt-inside.jpg[/img]

[quote="denders"]My apologies, first post and not sure exactly where it should go.

USS Nimitz moved from the east coast to the west coast 1986/1987, around Cape Horn. What I'm looking for is how to find out her escorts. In particular those that would be the plane guard.

Thank you
Dave[/quote]


USS South Carolina (CGN 37)
USS Josephus Daniels (CG 27)
USS Richard E. Byrd (DDG 23)
USS Kalamazoo (AOR 6)
USS Nitro (AE 23)

I rode Nimitz on the '91 cruise. Our escort ships were:

USS Chancellorsville (CG 62)
USS Texas (CGN 39)
USS Rentz (FFG 46)
USS Harold E. Holt (FF 1074)
USS Stein (FF 1065)
USS Camden (AOE 2)

Might have been the same for the '88/'89 cruise. Probably not for the around the horn but a place to start.

Mark

My apologies, first post and not sure exactly where it should go.

USS Nimitz moved from the east coast to the west coast 1986/1987, around Cape Horn. What I'm looking for is how to find out her escorts. In particular those that would be the plane guard.

Thank you
Dave

L'Arsenal is releasing a 3D-printed and PE hangar for the Trumpeter 1/350 Nimitzes: http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=376822

Hello,

Floating drydock has plans for Nimitz 1975. Here is a link. Scroll about halfway down and you will see it. I have bought many of these plans and I find them to be great references.

https://floatingdrydock.com/G.htm


Good luck,

Mark