The Ship Model Forum

Hello! I finally begun to work on my Enterprise after it has been sitting in my stash for 2 years XD
The kit is from 2018, so the details are nice and sharp. (im also using fivestar's upgrade set for this kit)

The trumpeter kit depicts the late 1942 Enterprise. However, I always loved the Enterprise in it’s MS33 4AB camouflage, so I decide to go for that.

The 3D printer (anycubic mono) should help a lot with making some of the parts.

I’m also going to attempt video logging this build, ill put those videos in this post as I complete each component like the bridge.
Youtube links:
Bridge


I’m not going to go for a 100% blueprint accurate build, but please let me know any significant mistakes I made >
This is going to be my first carrier model, super excited to build this historic ship!
- alex kuo

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I started with the bridge last week and here are the progress so far (middle mouse wheel click for larger image):




The biggest issue so far is the area behind the funnel is way too long, even the kit's instruction admits this as the director should sit on the edge but they moved it abit backwards.

I ended up printing replacing the entire back section, i'm happy with the result but it's still not perfect, the secondary flight control room should be abit more forward.


Here is how it currently looks:



- alex kuo

Off to a fantastic start! What are the plans for the hull blisters?

Matt

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In the yards right now:
USS Utah AG-16
On Hold
1/350 USS Portland CA-33 1942
1/350 Trumpeter Texas with a twist

Thanks If you mean the anti torpedo bulges i plan to use styrene sheets to create a hollow shell with supporting structures, and fill it with some 30min epoxy resin. Never tried it so i hope it will work XD
Currently working on those cables on the sides of the bridge, i'm having a hard time making them straight...


Definitely going to try open those roller curtains

Fantastic work, I love a good conversion project and a dazzle scheme carrier

Good start, looking forward to watching this one play out.

This is making me want to finish my CV-6

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"Also we will never see a 1/350 late war Enterprise from Dragon due to a paralyzing fear of success...." - Heavy Melder

Lots of unfinished model ships + attention issues = A busy slipway where nothing gets done!

Great work!

Thanks everyone!
Im going to use this method!

I had abit of setback, 3D printed parts are nice but really brittle, i dropped the model at a height of 15cm, the fence on top of the bridge shattered. I could have used a PE fence but that will probably created a seamline, so i just removed and cleaned up the whole front section and started again.

Alot of destruction... they had to be ripped apart (the layerlines probably allows it to glue onto plastic really well)

Finally cleaned up

The railings was abit difficult, in many instance i had to cut it into "E" inorder to match the poles with the bends.

Just need some radars.

Edit: Radars added, bridge construction is done for now!

Update on the hull:

The belt is filled with expoxy resin so it's very solid and won't crack from pressure when sanding.


Primer applied, it was abit difficult for masking tape to get around those curved surfaces


after a few layers of mr surfacer 1000, the raised panels looks pretty nice, however it's probably not historically accurate.


The belt is also sanded smooth


in the end i decide to 3D print the sides instead of chiselling away the curtains.


I spend quite alot of time making the parts, fortunately they fit very well. Those support structures are made so the parts will print properly, they will be covered up with interior structures, but it looks pretty cool!



I'm currently planning how to light up the interiors, bridge and flight deck. I couldn't find any resources on how she looked like from outside with lights on too...

This is the only close thing i found, it's from the movie midway (2019). If anyone have some reference of where the exterior lights are please let me know, otherwise i'm might have to follow the movie

Great work! The island and hangar walls look wonderful!

Those hangar walls are amazing. Very nice work. Combining your 3D printing design skill with your modeling skill is producing some impressive results.