My first 1:350 build, Trumpeter CVN-68 USS Nimitz

[NWarty]

Getting the details in the hangar deck. Yep, not completely accurate, but I enjoy being able to use some artistic license when hangar deck pictures are hard to come by.

[Bigdaddy Mark]

First I have to say your aircraft are outstanding! I'd love it if you would write up a step by step of how you did them.

Second you mentioned

artistic license

(but where's the basketball hoop?)

[NWarty]

Mark,
Thanks man and I love the kingfisher positioning in your Carolina build. I have all the pictures from the initial aircraft builds but will post more once I really get into building the air wing. And yes, a basketball hoop sounds very tempting

Testing out the hangar deck lighting tonight and will need to reposition two of them. Although they're bright, I love the look. I'll be building boxes around the lighting, so it should cut down on the brightness somewhat. I ordered the GMM Nimitz PE set today from Loren since, in my opinion, the WEM is somewhat lacking in certain areas. Also picked up the USN CVN decals, but will make my own when it comes to placarding the hangar deck.

[NWarty]

Getting the paint done. Hull is complete minus a quick water color filter. Hangar Deck construction is complete minus some touch ups here and there and the decaling for the control station windows and warning stripes for the elevator openings, also looking into some customs stuff on my printer. I have two sets of Eduard figures en route and a set of Goffy deck tractors. Neck on the hit-list is getting the ceiling completed and mounted, along with routing the LED cabling through the keel.


Again my apologies for the poor quality, need to get my camera back from my wife. Will get some better quality photos later this week.

[NWarty]

Small update, getting the hangar done. Eduard figures and Goffy tractors came in yesterday. Still lots more to do on the hangar though.

-Blake

[Finland's Jonne]

Looks great!



Joe

[Roberto]

Judging by the A-7 paint job (or decal) it seems you are getting ready to launch Operation Eagle Claw. Are you going to model the RH-53Ds?
Very nice job so far and nice (and necessary IMHO) touch with the hangar lighting.

[NWarty]

Roberto,
Thank you much and yes, it'll be an Eagle Claw Nimitz.

Need to get some reference material regarding, aircraft available, paint scheme and location on the carrier. Can anyone recommend a good 1/350 aftermarket -53?

[Roberto]

W.E.M.

[NWarty]

Thanks Roberto,
Looks like I'll need to make some small mods to the -53's and painted desert sand (with no markings). Interesting stuff.

[NWarty]

Just some small work here and there. Been in Korea on business, so starting to pick the pace back up. Finishing the first Cat and will finish up the decals, gear doors and dullcoat tomorrow evening. Scratchbuilt seats and RIO panel, full watercolor wash. Pretty happy thus far. Started on the rest of the hangar aircraft also. The Viking's canopy is tinted with Future/black wash mix.

Gawd, I hate the Macro Lens on my cell-phone camera

[NWarty]

My IronShipwrights Stallions came in today and these suckers are GINORMOUS!!!

Goffy tractors for the most part are complete minus vehicle markings and flat coat. Prowlers are coming in today and will start on those and cleaning up the Stallions this evening.

[NWarty]

USMC Stallions are finished. Only aircraft left in the hangar is the Prowler and she'll be done in the next day or so. Drop tanks completed but not decaled. Luckily I purchased extra aircraft sets to bogart the tanks off those airplanes. Started building the tiny PE'd carts and fluid trailers this evening. Deck tractors and decaling complete. Still need to add some additional plumbing and get the ceiling cross members done. I'm SO READY to get back to work on the hull

-Blake

[sgtryan13]

Hey Warty,

Any updates to show? Your Nimitz was coming along great and at a pretty fast pace!

Hope all is well,
Ryan

[NWarty]

Ryan,
Nothing much to show other than hangar deck weathering (which almost turned into a disaster involving pastel and dullcoat). Still need to paint the port side windows in the hull and trim the Stallion tail rotors as they are too tall for the ceiling (causes them to nose up).

But thanks for the jab, I need to get back to this project after burning out somewhat and a busy December.

Blake

[sgtryan13]

Yeah, those 53's tail rotors are really tall, I was wondering if you would have to trim them down. Just looked at the port side of the truan, and when the deck is installed, it casts plenty of shadow so that my portholes look either drilled or painted black, of which I did neither. I'll try to post a pic tomorrow, maybe save you some time.

[RDC]

Great looking build so far! The aircraft look fantastic.

Russ

[NWarty]

Alright guys, I'm back at it.

Hope to post some pics this weekend after a six-month hiatus from working on her.

[Bigdaddy Mark]

Outstanding!!! Looking forward to the updates.

[NWarty]

FINALLY finished the hull this evening.

Weathering, boats, PE life preservers, decaling complete (phew!) Not too concerned about the sloppiness of the windows, you can't see much of them anyways once the flight deck is installed; I'm content with it (the macro lens doesn't help though). Photos aren't great but I'm progressing at least

Now it's on to drilling into the keel to route the LED's into the hangar deck, getting everything in place and closing her up.