1/350 CVN-65 USS Enterprise 2001

[Timmy C]

1 inch = 2.54 cm

[MAJOR-B]

WOW.. outstanding ... what did you use for your piping...

[DWD]

WOW.. outstanding ... what did you use for your piping...

Thanks MAJOR B. I've been using a combination of copper and other metallic wire. I also heat and stretch leftover sprue from the parts trees to different thicknesses. Some of the larger piping is plastic rod from a company called Evergreen plastic models. It can be found in most hobby stores.

[DWD]

Been working on the starboard side of the island's CIWS sponson. I used the kit part and modified it to represent it's later fit.

[boomstick68]

Very nice work.

[DWD]

Thanks Boomstick.

Doug

[Uzun Elendil]

WOW, just perfect!

I'm also planning to start this 1/350 Tamiya kit and I have looking overall the web in order to get all data which I could get. This work is one of the most detailed explained progresses, that I have ever seen so far. Especially giving the exact sizes of the island adjustments is really a good and very useful information which everybody could easily use. Again I will follow this progress and can't wait to see the finish version of the model.

Just one question. Could you just inform me (or us) how did you do the rockets (or missiles) for the 1/350 aircrafts?

[DWD]

Thanks Uzun Elendil. The missiles and bombs are from a company called GHQ models. (www.ghqmodels.com) They specialize in miniature military items for wargaming. The scale is 1/285, so they are a little big for 1/350 scale but with a little work of thinning them and cleanup on them, they work just fine. They are reasonably priced and made of soft metal so they are pretty sturdy and won't break while you are working with them. If I remember right, I'm pretty sure it was Kelly Quirk who used them in his build of his Enterprise and that's where I got the info from. Peter Van Buren also used some of their aircraft for his LHD-1 WASP build. Again, they are a little overscale but still look pretty dang good. Check out their products; you will be glad you did.

[anyahajobuzi]

A super-detailed Supercarrier!!!!

Very nice work! Not everyone has the patience or the eyes to have everything cut and installed staright. Very precise work! I personally do not like the Enterprise ( I used to have this kit until it was "sunk" by a clumzy friend of mine), but I will very much enjoy looking at your progress. Your airwing is one of the most detailed I had ever seen. Seriously! open doors on the Greyhound and boarding ladders on the Prowlers? Now I can't leave these kinda details off my airwing. Damn you

Keep up the good work!

Laci

[DWD]

Thanks Laci. I have been following your Nimitz build as well. With as much detail as you added to the ship, I am certain your airwing will be excellent.

[Uzun Elendil]

Thanks a lot for the tips DWD. I already checked it and I will look at it.

In addition, yesterday I just tried something (a different method) for making of the missiles and I guess (I will try it again, to be sure) that I found a new method. I will share my method here with pictures as soon as possible, too

Looking forward to seeing your next steps

[DWD]

Got the railing added to the islands starboard CIWS sponson. I haven't installed the other smaller platform as I am waiting to get some photo etch "mesh" material from White Ensign models which I will use for the floor grating. I installed the one on the front and I will be able to go back and add the same photo etch material to it later, that's why I didn't add the rest of the ladder hand holds that run down to the small landing on the front of the sponson yet.

Doug

[boomstick68]

Nice job reworking the SB CIWS platform. Cannot wait to see your Enterprise finished.

[ArizonaBB39]

She is looking fantastic so far!

[Channell]

Truly fabulous work! It's hard believe those aircraft are 1/350 scale!

[DWD]

Thanks for the comments guys. I really appreciate it. I had a mishap the other night and accidently knocked off three of the forward platforms on the island. After I recovered from shock, I realized that the sponsons had remained mostly intact, just removed from their perch. I did have to re-do the railing on one them and re-attach them and adust the supports for another. Hopefully I do not have anymore "accidents". Build and learn I guess. . . One good thing that did come out of it though is it allowed me to add a small walkway between the two forward sponsons that I had missed the first time. All is well that ends well . . . pressing on.

[DWD]

Here is the "walkway" between the two platforms that I had missed previously and went back and added it.

[DWD]

Been working on adding more wiring and pipes on the island. Gettin there. . . . . . .

[ArizonaBB39]

Holy cow! Looking amazing! If this is just the island I can't wait to see the rest of the ship

[boomstick68]

Nice work DWD. You should make a master cast of that island and make a killing. I'm waiting for someone to make a beehive island. Hey, I can dream.