Calling all USS Enterprise CVN-65 fans

[Cliffy B]

Modern USN colors are as follows and should be good for The Vietnam era:

MM Neutral Gray (FS 36270) - Vertical surfaces
MM Gunship gray (FS 36118) - Decks
MM Engine Gray (FS 35076) - Flight Decks

MM makes or at least used to make an "Anti-Fouling Red" in their Marine line but I don't know if they brought it back with the rest of the line yet or not. I honestly always just used regular old Flat Red as it looked close enough to me but I haven't done a full hull model in ages so I really don't know.

If Kinsey's book (Detail and Scale right?) shows it a certain way and has it dated for your time frame then use it!

She's looking good man, keep it up!

-Mike

[DWD]

Does anyone have a good photo of the port side modern RHIB platform ceiling? I have some photos of the platform itself, but I can't tell if the ceiling has beam structure like some of the other openings in the hull. I've got Still Motion's CVN-65 photo CD and what seems like several hundred other photos, but I still haven't found what I am looking for. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[warreni62]

Hi Everyone.
Well, against all the 'advice' on this forum (that I hadn't read before) I bought a Mini Hobby 1/350 U.S.S. Enterprise CNV-65, for the massive total of $38, brand new off a friendly Ebay dealer. Yes, you read that right just $38. I opened it up and it even comes with a motorising kit for those who want their Big E to propel itself in the water, complete with a four way gearbox so that all the screws turn.
After almost finishing the Revell 1/350 Modernised U.S.S. New Jersey today I feel I can build just about anything now. And only spending $38 means I can go the full monty on PE etc.
Will keep all informed on how good or bad I think the kit is.. mainly if it was worth the $38 I paid for it.. :)
Cheers
Warren

[EX_Birdgunner]

Hi Everyone.
Well, against all the 'advice' on this forum (that I hadn't read before) I bought a Mini Hobby 1/350 U.S.S. Enterprise CNV-65, for the massive total of $38, brand new off a friendly Ebay dealer. Yes, you read that right just $38. I opened it up and it even comes with a motorising kit for those who want their Big E to propel itself in the water, complete with a four way gearbox so that all the screws turn.
After almost finishing the Revell 1/350 Modernised U.S.S. New Jersey today I feel I can build just about anything now. And only spending $38 means I can go the full monty on PE etc.
Will keep all informed on how good or bad I think the kit is.. mainly if it was worth the $38 I paid for it..
Cheers
Warren

Hey I got a Mini Hobby 1/350 U.S.S. Enterprise for christmas from wifey! Which one did you get the pre- or post-1980 refit version?

I got the Post-Refit one.

I plan to build her as she was for her final deployment. Will be starting after I move this summer to Tacoma. This will give me time to start gathering up all the PE and resin goodies.

On initial inspection it looks like an OK kit and when compared to the price of the Tamiya one I think is a good start as this is the first 1/350 ship for me. Please put a WIP page up when you start her. I look forward to watching your work.

Happy Modelling!

Denis

[rtwpsom2]

Hey, I'm in Gig Harbor, and work in Tacoma. If you need some help with references, let me know.

[EX_Birdgunner]

Hey, I'm in Gig Harbor, and work in Tacoma. If you need some help with references, let me know.

Awesome, thanks for the offer.

I already started looking online and noticed that there is an IPMS chapter in Tacoma and some Hobby Shops. Coming from an area that has no hobby shop let alone a club so I am quite excited to move there.

Denis

[Jeffcsr]

I just got the 1/600 Kangnam CVN 65, it looks pretty good just peeking in the box, looks like a miniature Tamiya 1/350 kit.

[youngtiger1]

Boy, its good to see this thread is still alive. I'm going to start my 1/350 Enterprise soon and a lot of info/photos here are going to play a big part in my reference for it.

Mike

[DWD]

There are several videos on youtube of CVN-65 at her decommissioning, if anyone is interested. There are two in particular which give some really good footage of obscure places that there are not any photos of. There are two parts and they are called "Tour of the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) PT1 and PT2". Some of the music is horrible so I muted when I watched it.


(www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dux62xNbgUU)
(www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fl_9bvl2a5M)

[Subhunter1]

Working on my 1/350 Tamyia build, and looking at some of the drawings posted for the hangar bay I think I may be losing my mind. My memory serves me that the Enterprise had two conflagration doors, not the one depicted on the drawing done by Rob McCune.

[rtwpsom2]

You mean these blast doors? They were built this way when the ship was new. The reverse side has a huge mural depicting all the ships that were ever named Enterprise.

Edit: The photo was taken aft of the fire doors.

[wvtomcat65]

-Here's a pic of the mural. Was taken on Nov. 29th, 2012 on my tour of CVN-65 during Inactivation Week. I have a few pics taken in hanger bay #1. HB #2 was closed to the public, cause it was being used to store items for the Inactivation Ceremony & for shipyard contractors to use. The pics we took in HB #1 are standing in the fore part, looking aft. It shows the doors in the closed position, but they are in the background of the pic, so not a lot of detail. I'll share if you would like...

Thomas

[subhunter1]

Yes. In my day those were called conflagration doors, and used to compartmentalize the hanger bay in the event of fire. I was with VS-37 for the 82-83 cruise, and either my memory is starting to go, or I am thinking of one of the other carriers I flew off of. As I said, for some reason I am remembering two sets of Conflag doors.

[subhunter1]

Guess I better do a proper introduction.

My wife knew that the first ship I deployed on was the Enterprise when she came out of the yards in 1982. I did a cruise on the Connie, but the Big-E will always be the one I remember. She was home and kept us alive against the mistress that is the sea. There was nothing more relieving than feeling the "yank" on your harness on a night landing AS it let you know that you were going to see another sunrise. I was a SENSO (sensor operator) for VS-37 flying the S-3A Viking on the 82-83 cruise.

For a Christmas present my wife game me a choice.... an all expense paid trip to the decommissioning, or the Tamyia 1/350 model. She didn't know that I was pretty good as a kid at model building, and I decided that the latter would be something I would have for a lifetime. (It will most likely cost more in the long run as well!!!) Knowing what was coming, I built a good work table with excellent lighting, and I took the time to purchase or fabricate better tools than I ever had as a kid. While my eyesight is not as good as it was when I was younger, my hands are as good or better, and my patients is way off scale better. I also have spent 25 or so years around in the injection molding industry. With that I understand the parts that I am working with better than most which is knowledge I can't put a price tag on.

As a warm-up, I built two inexpensive 1:72 Revell tanks with "4" raitings and I was impressed (as are others) in the quality of the builds. I'm learning about acrylics by doing, which is a new media I need to master as is the PE associated with the Enterprise build. I have extensively read the material here on this site about working with PE, have found that I am very much up to the challenge. Steady hands help when working the brass, but patience is what is giving me the results I want.

As far as the build goes, I spent two weeks reviewing the parts, the instructions, searching the net for information/photos and writing up my own instructions. My hull had some warp on the starboard amid-ship details at the 01-03 levels that had to be corrected. With that done, I have the support structure for the hangar bay installed, and the deck of the hangar bay fit.

My target for this build is museum quality. I'm sure I won't achieve it, but this will be a labor of love falling short of that goal. She will be mine, and I will be proud of her everyday forward until I finally slip her under glass a couple of years down the road.

This is a wonderful site, with plenty of help. I also have a couple of methods to working with PE I may add to the list.

One of the individuals posting earlier indicated to "lose the trash chutes" on the Aft sponsons. With all due respect, they are there (both port and starboard), and are on a photo taken from astern when we were pulling into Subic Bay!

If I can figure out how to post photos I will do so, and will answer any questions to those that I might help with my answers.

[Charles Landrum]

Enterprise was only a two bay ship and so there was only one set of divisional doors to segregate the hangar bay. Elevators 1 and 2 open into the forward bay and Elevators 3 and 4 open into the after bay. The division is in the vicinity of the base of the island. I provided the location of the doors to Rob McCune and they are based on my time onboard and drawings I had access to when I was onboard in the 1990s as the First Lieutenant.

[subhunter1]

That's enough confirm my faulty memory.... One set of conflag doors it is. I need to find the owner of the photo which has the mural painted on the doors, as well as the smaller mural that was on the port-side structure adjacent to the doors. I know I have seen it posted here on this string somewhere.

Sounds like you were with either DC, or Deck Division, and took her out of Bremerton after her overhaul Lt.

[subhunter1]

I have sent at a minimum, three emails to both Ray D. Bean, and Still Motion Photography in an attempt to purchase a copy of the Enterprise photo CD that is offered at:

http://www.stillmotionsphotographics.co ... C02B4434DF

I think my first attempted contact was at the beginning of last month and I've not heard from them, nor do I see any way of ordering from the aforementioned site. Anybody have any suggestions on how to purchase said product?

[rtwpsom2]

Ray has been having some health issues and isn't always able to answer right away, just be persistent and he will get back to you when he has the energy. Also, be careful. I think the mural on the doors has been changed in the last couple years. It used to span all six doors but for some reason wvtomcat65's recent image shows it spanning only the two center doors.

[Guest]

Hmmmm..... My cruise book from "82" has all six doors with the mural. I may just end up building the bay with the Conflag. doors retracted.

[boomstick68]

I have sent at a minimum, three emails to both Ray D. Bean, and Still Motion Photography in an attempt to purchase a copy of the Enterprise photo CD that is offered at:

http://www.stillmotionsphotographics.co ... C02B4434DF

I think my first attempted contact was at the beginning of last month and I've not heard from them, nor do I see any way of ordering from the aforementioned site. Anybody have any suggestions on how to purchase said product?

I too have been trying for about a month to contact Roy about an order I placed. I am aware of his health issues so I am in no hurry. I am sure when he is able, he'll respond.