1/700 Tamiya USS Yorktown CV-5 OOB Build Log

[Goodwood]

Well, I just picked her up today at the local crack house *AHEM* I mean hobby shop, a very nice place called Nankin Hobby where everybody knows my name, hee-hee. Though I've built plenty of models including aircraft, tanks and ships, this'll be my first go at a build log. I can't promise great shots when picture time comes, but the camera will be good at least and I've got a tripod to hold it steady.

Anyway, the purpose of this build is to show that an out-of-box build is entirely possible, because I can't really afford to drop the big bucks on photo etch, and let's be honest my skills in that medium are limited at best. I've had some practice recently with Tamiya's 1/700 HMS Nelson, which turned out surprisingly good. I'm also keen to put my airbrush to the test in this build, it'll certainly be better than brush-painting (I've had rather disappointing experiences with that method). Can't promise a very good air wing either, as my eyes are already quite handicapped.

In any case, wish me luck!

[kylewoody]

Nice! Ill watch this thread seeing as how I'm building CV10.

Kyle

[Goodwood]

Well, so much for OOB.

[kylewoody]

Cheater! Definitely gotta slide some styrene in there though with a fit like that- lookin good.

Kyle

[Goodwood]

Yeah, remember when I wanted to do this ship totally OOB?

(Apologies for my photography skills, or lack thereof.)

[JTninja]

Good correction for the 5/38 gun box. Looks like they put those in from the Hornet kit instead of the Enterprise kit.

I do have a question on that rear "vultures nest", mainly what you're trying to accomplish. As far as accuracy goes, the Yorktown didn't have one.

http://www.navsource.org/archives/02/020536.jpg
http://www.navsource.org/archives/02/020526c.jpg

So all you should really do is remove the lower part of the nest thats molded into the deck, place a piece of plastic styrene on the inside of the funnel, and putty over to fill the inside.

Keep going!

[Goodwood]

Funnily enough I already had the island fully-assembled and primed when you posted this, mate. Still, I went ahead and took up my carving tools and did my best to nix the "nest" without doing too much damage to the overall assembly. Photos to come; I've started work on the forward hull.

It's a good thing I learned to apply filler putty with a toothpick!

[Goodwood]

Well, as promised, here are some photos!

[Goodwood]

Finished assembling the main hull, including the corrected 5"/38 gun tubs plus the guns themselves. The hangar deck is closed off, none of the doors are open as there's really no point IMHO trying to fill out the hangar when I'm not going to be PE-ing it up with this kit.

Here's a general view with the flight deck and completed island dry-fitted, just for lulz:

[kylewoody]

Very nice attention to detail - looking sweet!

Kyle

[Goodwood]

Thanks, Kyle.

I read your in-progress build of Trumpeter's 1/350 CV-10 Yorktown a while back when I first got the kit (almost a year ago, I think), and really admire your craftsmanship in detailing her up. Let's hope that someday I can do something similar; this baby is as much a practice run for the bigger kit as anything.

[Goodwood]

Yet more adventures in modeling 1/700!

The story so far: I've thrown the first coat of primer onto the hull in the usual (well, so I've learned) check for gaps/imperfections/divots/rough patches. Naturally, a few of each were found, most notably at the back of the hull where the forward 5"/38 gun tubs rest. There were still a few rough patches to sand down, but I think those have been taken care of nicely. There's a couple more gaps at the forecastle that'll need another go with the filler/sandpaper, as well as the divots, then another coat can be tossed on to check everything over again.

I have also finished assembling the flight deck, at least the main parts. The instructions call for mounting 3mm bits of plastic rod (provided as part A-45) for the single-mount 20mm AA guns, though I have no idea if this is even feasible for my jam hands. There's also the gun tubs for the Chicago Pianos, but those'll go on last once they and everything else are painted.

[kylewoody]

Very nice! Those dimples are a bummer though - a blob of putty and sanding down in finer layers will work, though be a pain... Especially with feathering the edges into the plastic.

For chain, do you have like a Hobby Lobby, AC Moore, Michaels, etc around you? I hit up Hobby Lobby in Pensacola today and got some finer black necklace chain for my next project (1/350 Fletcher). It would also probably look good for 1/700 large ships too, was like $2.50 for a 16" strand. Of course they don't have the knuckle bars or whatever they're called but its still better than most options.

Kyle

[Goodwood]

Thanks for the input, Kyle. There's a Michael's near me (as well as a Hobby Lobby, but that chain can dive under a tractor) so maybe I'll hit them up for something really fine.

Yeah. OOB except anchor chains. Anchor chains instead of PE railings.

So much for consistency.

[kylewoody]

Oh yeah, forgot about OOB.

Well, you could always cut up sprue into little links...

Kyle

[LE BOSCO]

seam

the work appears to be well good job on your superstructures
you go to put the aircraft fleet ?
cheers
Nicolas

[Goodwood]

Thank you Nick, both for visiting the log and your kind comment. While 1/700 is not within my comfort zone, I'm finding that with this build I'm learning more about the fiddly stuff and how important it can be. Quite the learning experience. As for spotting the air wing, I have absolutely no idea. We'll have to see how painting them turns out.

Anyway, been working on more fixing and sanding (photos soon), and the hull will be ready for (hopefully its last) coat of primer.

[Goodwood]

Some more images of the hull being filled and sanded. Apologies for the grainy photos, I've no idea why they came out like that.

[kylewoody]

Dang, she needs almost as much putty as a Trumpeter kit! Lookin good, especially filling in those dimples.

Kyle

[Goodwood]

I wouldn't go that far, Kyle.

I applied the second coat of primer to the hull after some more sanding and while it's not perfect, the results were pretty darn good. The divots are gone and the decks are nicely flush and there are no gaps in evidence. The flight deck was also given a shot of primer over and under, and there's nothing there that really needs attention. Unfortunately, I've discovered that the hull itself is warped! The photos will tell the tale...