Hi everybody.
Although no longer young, I'm on this forum.
I am a collector of metal planes (diecast or kit) at 1/144 scale.
And because I dreamed of a diorama, I launched the project to build a light carrier (Class Independence CVL), the
Bois Belleau (ie the
Belleau Wood when he was under the French flag especially during the Indochina War).
After finding the plans I discussed with my stepfather how to build it and his first reaction was to say: "
I think that's how we build the pirogues..." .
But he did not abandon me in adversity (and my error), and built the hull, the hangar and the flight deck.
Attachment:
BB 001.jpg [ 114.86 KiB | Viewed 7798 times ]
Since I added the bulges, dug the bridge to place the photoetched carrier deck tie downs and finally I represented the slats of the bridge, one by one... on more than one meter...
Attachment:
BB 002.jpg [ 184.36 KiB | Viewed 7798 times ]
Then I started painting the hull and the flight deck.
For painting it, I proceeded as follows : During the war, US aircraft carriers have the flight deck painted in blue and I thought this color was out when the timber bridge was blasted by the French.
So I spent several layers of Intermediate Blue, then I varnished.
After a random sandpaper passage but sometimes pronounced, I painted in layers of hues light oak and dark oak, with even passages with sandpaper in some places.
This is the result of the flight deck.
Attachment:
Ship BB 003.jpg [ 189.01 KiB | Viewed 7798 times ]
To compare :
Attachment:
Color Flight Deck.jpg [ 152.65 KiB | Viewed 7798 times ]
But now I would have to make the corbelled constructions.
But I have only few photos of underside of the deck, to see how are placed beams supporting the bridge and corbels.
Message to SliderCRO : Where do you find information to place the beams under the flight deck?
And what you have informations to the beams corbels?
Can you send me photos of your work ?
Meanwhile, I'll get back to work to place doors, windows, and to finish to paint the hull.
To follow
A please, be indulgent with my english...
PS : During my research about the Belleau Wood, I met a group of modelers in Mantes La Jolie (a town near Paris) who made the sister ship of Belleau Wood, the Lafayette (ex Langley) in
1/48 scale.
Yes, you read correctly, 1/48.A real monstrer.
You can see some pictures on my blog, at :
http://144airbattle.blogspot.fr/2014/01/surprise.htmlhttp://144airbattle.blogspot.fr/2014/01/porte-avions-la-fayette-la-fayette.htmlhttp://144airbattle.blogspot.fr/2014/01/surprise.htmlhttp://144airbattle.blogspot.fr/2014/01 ... yette.html