Carrier Builders Yard, whats on the Slipway

[JevJanson]

I got some of the interior section done today, but I gave up on the paper idea. I now have a headache and was about ready to throw out the ship hull when I stopped. I think I should try it all with balsa foam. Unless red has an idea on how I can build it with paper.

[nick]

I think I might try to do a full hull, but below the water line will be balsa foam. Everything above the waterline except for parts of the sponsons and the island are going to be paper. The island and sponson parts will be sheet plastic.

Actually, you can make all the parts with paper. IMHO, it's best for paper models to be built in a waterline fashion, but I bet its possible to make it full hull. By using different techniques and methods, all those curved areas can be made possible with paper. I did a USS Constellation CV-64 in 1/350 all in paper.

gtb made a generous contribution by sending part of a carrier bow for me to modify. At that time, I simply couldn't figure out how to make it. He's the expert in scratchbuilding these monsters!

Here's a recent photo of Connie...

I haven't touched this model for months now. I'm still finishing the Okie boat. I'm planning to rebuild her a third time


Nick

[Hippy Ed]

Jev, I have a thread going on my 1/350 Ranger. I'll be doing her up in the 1965/66 configuration since my uncle was KIA during that cruise, He was lost in the RA-5C Vigilante on 16 JAN 1966 during their 1st line period. There's plenty of pics of Ranger on there.

Eddie

[JevJanson]

Jev, I have a thread going on my 1/350 Ranger. I'll be doing her up in the 1965/66 configuration since my uncle was KIA during that cruise, He was lost in the RA-5C Vigilante on 16 JAN 1966 during their 1st line period. There's plenty of pics of Ranger on there.

Eddie

I'm sorry to hear that about your uncle.

As for the thread, I think that I'll scan through it and see if I can find something useful for my build. I feel I'm going to have to start over on my project. Also, does anyone know anything about the Mini Hobby Enterprise besides being cheap for a 1/350 scale kit? I found one on ebay for $45, so I'm slightly leery of the kit. I've heard it's a clone of the Tamiya Enterprise, but I am not sure.

[JevJanson]

Got a little joke for you all:

"The fact is, the impossible just happened." the chief of staff said to Admiral Langley.

This is going to be interesting. Langley thought. "What happened?" he asked.

The officer had a shocked look on his face. "Some damn idiotic terrorists just hijacked an aircraft carrier..."

"Sounds like something my men would try" Langley said as he got up and prepared to plan a strike to take back the carrier. "Idiotically brave, now that's what those people are..."

[roym2]

Hi all. Long time lurker on this forum, very occasional poster... I may have actually posted in this thread but it's so big I can't remember. (Forgive me if so... )

This thread's been a bit quiet, like my current carrier build, so I thought I'd try to revive both.

Bit of background first; I've been modelling since I can remember, have a huge interest in aircraft carriers and like our OP would love to do them all. Realistically, will try to get every one from CV-59 to CVN-78 (it will probably be finished before I am...) in 1/700/720 with a few diversions along the way (CV-6, 41, a couple of Dragon Essexes, and various Harrier Carriers).
I've got a few Italeri Nimitzes from my teen years (I'm now somewhere between 39 and older! ) but the standard of them is nowhere near where my current skills are, so these will have to be replaced/reworked at some point. Stash wise, I'm only missing a Ranger, and maybe a Coral Sea to do all the CV's from my chosen period. Built model count is a different story however.

I suppose I could list them, Italeri CV-60, 62,(both in serious need of repaint/rework) Italeri 63 (to be reworked as JFK), Italeri 64 (to be reworked as JFK after I screw up on the first attempt!), Revell 65 (25 year old model, have another in the stash, might convert this to current fit), Monogram 67, Italeris 68, 70 (in need of repaint), Italeri's first issue 71 (in need of rework to something resembling the actual ship) 73, 74, and a Kuznetsov for dessert..
Only Trumpy in the stash is the 2005 Nimitz, and I have 3 Italeri 76s lined up for Reagan, Bush and Ford.


Currently have an Italeri Forrestal and a Fujimi Kittyhawk on the go. The Forrestal is going to be OOB fit (late '70s I reckon) and the original plan for the KittyHawk was to have it finished before the real ship was decomissioned. As you may gather, that has not happened. So with several stalled builds on my workbench (including 6 1/72 aircraft, a 1/144 shuttle stack, a formula 1 car and 3 other non-carrier warships) I'm hoping that posting a few pics will get me back in the swing, and clear a few from the slipway.... Plan is to have at least half these cleared by Dec 31st!


So, to the shipyard. The Fujimi Kittyhawk is a lovely kit in many ways, a dog in others. The deck has no markings for the landing areas but Matchbox style trenches for the catapults and blast deflectors. So out with the filler...




Not entirely succesful...

[roym2]

Ooops. Double post...

anyway;
I figured I'd leave some bits as they were, otherwise I'd have no idea where to put the relevant decals. We'll see if this comes back to bite me....

[roym2]

This kit has an unusual (for me anyway) hull breakdown. Fore and aft are from waterline to flight deck, but the centre and extreme stern are separate parts. The sections containing the hangar deck doors and side sponsons have to be glued on, as does the stern. Some parts are due to the mould sharing for Kittyhawk and Constellation. Others baffle me. Anyway, they fit reasonably ok, with a small bit of prepping the joining faces, and light sanding.









Finally for now, in goes the ballast before the hangar deck is added. I don't know why those black parts are included, but I added them anyway as I thought it would help give the hangar walls something to glue on to...



Just to note, these are old pics, can't remember how old, but CV-63 was still in Japan when they were taken. So more pics on the way.....

[roym2]

In went the hangar deck, with fore and aft walls. the aft is part of the hangar deck piece, the fwd wall is part of a large bit that fits inside the bow section


I then spent many a happy week or 12 cutting off the moulded on rails on all the sponsons. Oh how we laughed. Oh what madness....

I then spent many a happy month or 6 forming the PE replacement rails from the GMM 1/720 set (used that cos I got 3 of them)...



Oh how we laughed. Oh, how we cried. Oh, how we drank......

[kidcurrie42]

Great work Roy i have been ill for over a month, but feeling fine at the moment, hopefully i will post my next build later today.

Looking forward to seeing more of your build.

Happy Modeling

John

[roym2]

Thanks John. I've a long way to go to get to your standards and level of output though...

So many moons later, we have a few more photos.

The hangar side walls were lined with some plastic card, white but unpainted. Having checked with the flight deck on, there is little point adding superdetail to this area, as even with the large openings, little can be seen unless it's lighted. I didn't bother to add the interior ovals to the hangar openings, as I'm incapable of cutting even and matched openings to the kit ones. How do you guys do it?



By this point I have also added the aft sponsons, and the aft bulkhead inside the stern/fantail area is PE steel from the kit. This was the deluxe edition, with the PE for radar, radar mast behind the island, JBDs, deck edge safety netting and the little brass liferaft canisters. I was so impressed with the detail of these over the kit plastic bits (especially the radar mast assembly) that I got a frend to order a second set for my Fujimi Constellation kit while he was on holiday in Japan.

Other side...



You can also see that the elevator guides have been added, and all visible joins cleaned up. These were to prove a problem later on...

[roym2]

Then begins the long journey of PE railings. The effort required is intense, but the results justify the means. Here we are starting at the stern area.



another view of where she's at...



It was about this time that after I got all the side decks glued on, after adding the PE beforehand, that the build drove me to drink, and worse, this........

[kidcurrie42]

looking good, i like the way that you got the PE cut and shaped early in the build, it is something i will be doing in the future.
I also have an addiction to the odd wingy thing now and again.

Great Progress

Happy Modeling

John

[kidcurrie42]

Well here is my next build, my eyes seem somewhat weak after my bout of illnesses, so i am going to tackle this.........




i have some GMM PE on the way, boxes of aircraft, CD number 6 from RDB, and i am going to see how feasible it is to use the GHQ weapons, already have Goffy flightdeck vehicles and personnel, Veteran CIWS and SRBOC, WEM PE, plenty of sheet styrene.

Still to order Starfighter decals, 1 set each of GMM/WEM PE, that should just about cover it.

Notice the base, it is from Grandpa's Cabinets, custom made, it is designed to take an acrylic cover which i will order nearer the build completion.

Here is the GHQ weapons.


Happy Modeling

John

[Guest]

Nice one, What era are you going for?

I've got the Tamiya Enterprise and Trumpy Nimitz in the stash. Kinda afraid of them! Will be doing the Nimitz as built/early 80s fit, Enterprise I dunno yet, will see what I'm comfortable with as to what I'll add. Got the GMM etch for both (only the first set for the Nimitz though, not sure I can do the catwalks...), decals and some extra aircraft.

Looked at the Revell 1/350 Iwo Jima in the local model shop last week. Wow!!!

if I didn't have the other two.. and 250 other models in the attic..
Best finish the Kittyhawk first.. How much was the base?

[kidcurrie42]

Roy, check out Page 8 and page 10 onwards, USS Kitty Hawk and Constellation pics, may help with detailing some areas.

My build will be a 1990/91 USS Theodore Roosevelt.

Final 6 Nimitz class CD came today

Happy Modeling

John

[Nektarios]

Well here is my next build, my eyes seem somewhat weak after my bout of illnesses, so i am going to tackle this.........
i have some GMM PE on the way, boxes of aircraft, CD number 6 from RDB, and i am going to see how feasible it is to use the GHQ weapons, already have Goffy flightdeck vehicles and personnel, Veteran CIWS and SRBOC, WEM PE, plenty of sheet styrene.
Still to order Starfighter decals, 1 set each of GMM/WEM PE, that should just about cover it.
Notice the base, it is from Grandpa's Cabinets, custom made, it is designed to take an acrylic cover which i will order nearer the build completion.


Happy Modeling

John

Looking forward to seeing it finished John.

[gtbred]

All right John!

[Hippy Ed]

John... she's a Big'un...

[kidcurrie42]

Guys,

Sorry to have to Break this News to you all.

But i recieved a letter from Immigration today..........................

Congratulations! Your request for removal of the conditional basis of your permanent resident status has been approved. You are deemed to be a Lawful Permanent Resident of the United States as of the date of your original admission or adjustment of status.

Sorry but have to put up with me for 10 years longer



Now that weight is lifted, On to Building with a Vengence.

Happy Modeling

John