USS Hornet (CV-8) - 1/200 by Merit, Tetra Modl., Nautilus

[elmarriachi]

Hello at all... and welcome to my new big project.

I will do the USS Hornet (CV-8) in 1/200 scale by Merit International. Additionally I will use the big detail set by Tetra Model Works, consisting of lot of photo etched parts, brass parts for the guns and masts, chain and a hose. Furthermore the woode deck from Nautilus Models will be used as well.

For the beginning I started with the display for the ship. I drilled two holes in the fuselage for screws which go into the aluminium pipes. The pipes are screwed on a wooden plate which will get some dark wooden color, glossy clear coat as next steps. The two screws in the fuselage of the ship get glued in position and will be used to hold the ship already during the working on it....





The first steps are made..... let's move on with the painting of the display plate ...

The first steps on the hull were the portholes. I have opened each one with the small hand drill.... what an ugly work.... but it is done... and much better then before. After the painting I will give each porthole a "glass" made of Mirco Crystal Clear.
The display is also painted already.... clear coat still missing on it.











Next step... sanding.... sanding .... sanding .... then next parts on the hull ....

BR
Micha

[elmarriachi]

Now lot of photoetched eyebowes on each porthole... funny job... very funny job ... One side done, one side left to go ...









... and the Hornet in it's fully size... my desk is too small ...


now the biggest parts on the hull were mounted, the floor of the hangar, the parts for the elevators - all the bigger parts of the hull.

Then I have closed some gaps with putty (see the pictures), then later I will sand everything before adding the first photo etched parts to the hull...

















After the sanding of everything I have started with the first PE parts of the Tetra Model Works Detail-Set. The parts are highest quality, top fitting and an ingredible look. I love the parts already now and makes lot of fun working with it. Good work by Tetra!








Micha

[MartinJQuinn]

Gosh, she's huge. Nice start - look forward to more photos.

[Goodwood]

Same here.

I'm interested to learn what it may take to modify her into an Enterprise...

[silvershadow]

Very nice build so far, really excited to see her take shape.

[MadAxeMan]

Glad to see someone tackle this one
look forward to seeing your progress

[Channell]

I'm excited to see the Hornet built too and doubly excited to see you tackle it Michael!

[elmarriachi]

Hello,

thank you very much for your interest in this project.


Time for the next update.
The PE parts from the Tetra Model set are fantastic. 100% fitting, great details, absolutly wonderful.

At the front I have added mostly of the parts now, the missing ones follow after the painting. On the rope drums I have added some rope which will receive painting later. The railing and some other PE parts follow after the painting of the hull.

















At the rear the 2nd floor received a new brass floor, and also some rope drums as at the front.




The next steps are the side walls of the hangar. The biggest part received some new catwalk, ladder and doors...



The front part (left side) received new plattforms with rails, doors, and later one long catwalk on the top and several stairways. The upper catwalk and the stairway will be painted separately and mounted later when the big side walls were mounted on the hull.

All the hangar gates will stay open so that you could see the inside of the hangar later.





That's it for now ....

Micha

[elmarriachi]

Hello at all...

here are some pictures of each part of the side panels for the hangar deck. Each completed with all necessary kit parts, plus the first PE-parts of the Tetra Model Works detail set. Some further ladders, stairways will follow after the mounting of the big parts to the hull (after the painting). Also the long catwalks on top which will go from the front to the rear will follow later as it would be too risky to damage these during the installation of the walls to the hull.



















These parts are ready for painting now.... all missing parts follow later

Cheers
Micha

[elmarriachi]

.... and let's go on a little bit...

The complete front part under the flight deck is provided by Merit as a simple plastic box with some plastic walkways around it.... looking simple and not very originally.....

Tetra Model Works offers a complete new part for that.... a lot of parts.... and my absolutly favourite of the whole detail set..... and the following pictures are only the beginning of this part-group....













... and that's only the beginning ....

Micha

[silvershadow]

Really exciting stuff!! I love the way this is build. Looking forward to see more

[Goodwood]

Considering the sheer size of this kit, you're really burning the midnight oil on this one!

...and I'm partly sold on getting the photo-etch for this as well. I mean...dayum! The only thing I wonder about is the railings; at this scale, shouldn't they be a bit more 3-dimensional?

[Gordon Bjorklund]

I 'm enjoying following along with your build here. I don't have a place big enough to work on a kit this size and no place to put it once it was finished. So, I'll just kick back and watch you and all of the other 1/200 scale ship builders work on your ships.

[Perth_shipyard]

Great progress there.

Sean as for 1/200 I think those PE rails still can get away with it being a small scale. Otherwise they would be over scale. If you jump to 1/100 1/72 etc and larger that's when they definitely need to be more than flat PE.

[elmarriachi]

Hi @ all...

the most complex pe-part is finished.... lot of parts, lot of small parts, but perfect fitting and perfect details. Thanks to Tetra Models for this fantastic kit.... it is perfect made!










At the rear under the flight deck the plastic-"box" is used and modified with opend bulleyes, new walkways, doors and handrails.






.... and now the biggest fun beginns.... the painting of the hull and all parts finished so far.....

At first I have painted in the inside of the hangarwalls in white by Lifecolor. With light- and dark grey I made some shadows and more on it....





The hangar deck was painted in grey primer by Valleyo, then painted in darker grey and lighter grey for a more used sufrace.









So far for today.... the next thing will be the outside of the hull, the foredeck and rear deck, as well as the hangarwalls at the outside, several shadows on it.... then the wave pattern on the hull with shadows as well, then the red under water part of the hull.... then the waterline in black.... then clear coat, decals, then weatherings with several oil colors, rust, watermarks, scratches, ..... oh yes, the further walkways and other small parts...... and so on

BR
Micha

[LE BOSCO]

Wohoo Micha !

a big project realized with talent good luck for the rest of your model
best regards
Nicolas

[elmarriachi]

HI Nicolas,
thanks a lot.... a real big thing it is Needs too much space for working on
BR
Michael

[youngtiger1]

Wow, she's biggen I love the photo-etch work your doing. So, l'll follow along...

Mike

[Goodwood]

The hangar deck, like other horizontal surfaces on U.S. Navy warships (e.g., the flight deck, the forecastle, the fantail, and the island), would have been Deck Blue, which is considerably darker than what you've got there, mate. Not saying that your efforts thus far aren't anything other than great, but I'd hate for such a monstrous build to be marred by a relatively elementary mistake.

[Guest]

The hull upper part is painted and received an overspray with darkend / lightend base color. The decks af the front and rear were painted as well, just have to make some corrections on the deck and on the walls, also on the 2nd deck at the rear at the place were the life boat will be.
Also some first details were on the decks were painted.













When the corrections were done, then I will make the masks for the waves on the hull, ....

@Goodwood: The colors are nowhere finished so far

BR

Micha