USS Hornet CV-8 Merit In 1/200 April 1942

[Dan K]

All your work is exquisite.

[Iceman 29]

Thanks for the compliments, Keith, Jacques, Dan, I can't wait to get back to this assembly.

[prowannab]

This build is absolutely amazing! I can't wait to see more!

[tjwerdel]

Pascal - I'm overjoyed that your tackling this. Very nicely done. I tried doing the gallery decks and hanger in 2018 but realized it was beyond my skill in 1/350. See my post at "1/350 CV-6 Enterprise by Merit w/ Infini Pe". There may be some content in there you can use. One thing I might suggest is using 1.5 diameter magnets to hold the deck down. Much better than screws as the whole assembly clicks in place and can be totally hidden. I'm watching with interest and am re-energized to continue my build. This is a giant project as I well know. Don't burn out...press on!

[marijn van gils]

This is quite a spectacular build!

[Iceman 29]

Thank you all.

In order not to exhaust myself on the subject, I have started two more...

But I will come back to this one soon to at least finish the hangar. It should go faster because since then I learned a lot about 3D drawing and 3D printing in the last few months.

Other ship projects in full 3D printing:

USS Pamanset: viewtopic.php?f=13&t=305869

SS Nomadic : viewtopic.php?f=13&t=311395

[Iceman 29]

I've been doing a bit of wildcat assembly, I've got 25 to go.

[Dan K]

Beautiful F4Fs.

[Iceman 29]

Thank Dan!

Since I'm stuck finishing the Nomadic's dry dock, I dive back into the Hornet's hangar.

I started the central elevator. This time 3D printing, a technique I didn't have at the time for the front elevator (made with plastic card), is going to enter the dance. It should improve the details and the speed of realization.

So I took out the plans of the CV-5 Yorktown elevator to know how to make this elevator shaft. There are two elevators like in the front and in the back, 1 main one and an auxiliary one which allows to gain surface in the hangar to park planes when the main elevator is at its post on the flight deck.

This is how I will represent it. As the complete flight deck will be removable, it will be integral. We will thus see once the flight deck removed, the auxiliary elevator parked at the level of the hangar deck. When the main elevator is in use, the auxiliary is parked on the second deck which is under the main deck (Hangar deck).

It is interesting to see that there is another rectangular elevator on the starboard side, which allows the torpedoes to be brought up to the flight deck. � You can see it well on one of the pictures. I'll have to represent it as I represented the two bomb elevators that are a little further forward.

Tonight I cut out the hangar deck, where the elevator shaft is located, so I can now draw the floor just below it, as well as the auxiliary elevator. Then print it all out in great detail. I don't have any pictures of this little elevator unfortunately, but the plans will do.

A good stroke of the Dremel and off you go!















The torpedo elevator is seen here on the left.

[Iceman 29]

Small progress on the design of the second deck at the level of the lifts and design of the auxiliary lift.

[Iceman 29]

This piece is finished, I can move on to printing the various elements.

[Harpy]

Some really tremendous stuff.

[gms]

Very realistic planes!

[Iceman 29]

Tks Guy!

The second lift deck is finished. I also added the guide rails for the main deck platform at the lift shaft. A few paint touch-ups still to do.

A rework to be done on a rounded corner of the auxiliary lift.

The large elements are not glued.

[Iceman 29]

I made progress on the details of the T2/M7 block as well as the lift shaft with the automatic retraction system for the flight deck railings. I couldn't find a picture of the T2 block (interior) so I had to imagine how it would look and improvise. The position of the torpedo lift is drawn in grey, as you can see, I'll have to make a big modification to insert it.

For the T2/M7 block, it is salvaged PE except for the 2 doors and a ladder, these elements are included in the MK1 Design box.

I made some pictures of the whole, I know that some people like to situate the construction site, that gives an idea of the size of the beast. The Nomadic which is 35 cm gives the scale. The 3 ships are 1/200 of course. �The golf balls also give the size.

As a bonus, a refueling at sea! ��

I also check from time to time that everything fits well so that I don't have any unpleasant surprises when I do the final cut and paste.

[JIM BAUMANN]

REALLY impressive works--

I have read the thread from end to the other
and am awestruck !
also...
by how much of your scratch-building internal cleverness may only be seen in glimpses on the finished model....

Most excellent!
JIM B

[Iceman 29]

Thank Jim!

Painting the elements.





Refining the front arch of the hangar.

Pascal, I think the main part of those brackets with the 2 holes are too thick as I think they should be about 1 to 1.5" thick, not multiple inches. I did a drawing right on steel plate almost 40yrs ago for a 100' overhead crane for Dofasco & I think the plate was 1" thick.

[Song Jung Gun]

It's amazing!
Song

[Iceman 29]

Thanks Song!

But not as amazing as your long term real scratch project!

viewtopic.php?f=13&t=285272

[Iceman 29]

This block is almost finished, I have a coat of Humbrol 128 grey to do and then a coat of matt varnish.

The lift is integrated, the platform of the lift remains to be made with a torpedo on it.

There are 3 Oerlikon's to be mounted in PE, the fire director, the life rafts.