Postwar navy.

J Goodacre · Post by **J Goodacre** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 5:36 am

Great- Now I need to find a way to start build CVN's with out my wife hanging me!

I love the look of that fleet in action. Great Job!

gtb -red - your NSG is looking sharp as well.

gtb -red · Post by **gtb -red** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 2:25 pm

pingjockey wrote:Looking great Nektarios. I am currently working on a strike group myself. I am almost finished with CVN 71 and I have a DDG, CG, and FFG in progress. The only thing I am debating is how to make the water. There are so many ways to do it that I have seen on this site. I am leaning towards the clear silicone method. Hope to have some pics posted soon.

Thanks John
Man show your photos of your (CSG) in progress.

I tried the Celluclay on a partilcle board, but forgot to put a waterproof stain on first. Waste of clay waste of a board. So I used whats left of that board and just stain it seablue and using DAP flexible clear sealant as the wake.

gtb -red · Post by **gtb -red** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 2:39 pm

J Goodacre wrote:Great- Now I need to find a way to start build CVN's with out my wife hanging me! I love the look of that fleet in action. Great Job!

gtb -red - your NSG is looking sharp as well.

John thanks , you and Nektarios AOE'S are some of best I seen. It's just to bad NONE of these ships are in 1/350. Yankee Models makes a 1/350 Montana that cost 500.00 big ones. I bet if they were to make a 1/350 AOE at a 200.00 price they will be gone.

Tom@JAG · Post by **Tom@JAG** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 5:50 pm

Your right, they would be gone.........as in gone out of business. There is no way on God's green earth that you can manuf. a 1/350 scale AOE for anywhere less than $350-$400. That includes full photoetch and full hull option. I have been in this business for 13 years and I can truly tell you that resin manuf. are not getting rich,.....they are just getting by. Until you start manuf. resin kits, and I mean getting serious about manuf. resin kits, you will not understand the nuances of what goes into making top of the line, quality material. I'm talking about shipping out good quality kits every time. This means no bubbles, voids, pinholes, etc. In other words, the modeler does not have to spend his or her modeling time filling said bubbles, voids, etc. where it counts.......as in what is seen or felt during the construction phase. Or, writing to the manufacturer and asking for a replacement part, hull. etc. From time to time, you will get some breakage during shipping, and that does happen. Its the nature of the beast so to speak. Making sure that what you send out is as perfect as you can get it takes time, and that costs money. You all have heard the saying the time is money. Well, that is no truer than when it comes to manufacturing resin kits. Especially LARGE resin ship kits. As the old saying goes "If you could walk a mile in my shoes............" well, nuff said

An AOE in 1/350 for $200........

gtb -red · Post by **gtb -red** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 9:20 pm

O.K didn't mean to insult the resin companys. Sorry about that, but who said it has to be in resin. A few years ago a Essex 1/350 carrier in resin cost 450.00, now you get a plastic one a lot cheaper and can be with just as detail as the resin kit. Trumpeter is leading the way in 1/350 which no company resin or plastic can compete as of right now . And by the way that resin 1/350 Arleigh Burke that I have as part of my Dio is better detail then the two plastic companys ones. But I've seen on this website beauts that are plastic and just as masterful. Again my apologies to all.

scratchshipnut · Post by **scratchshipnut** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 10:22 pm

Another thing for guys to consider is for a hull that size, it will probably generate a lot of heat curing and add to the allready short life span on a mold. A mold of a 350th WWII destroyer hull alone takes around two pounds of rubber $$$. Mold loss and casting defects alone will put you in the poorhouse and make you realize casters must be mentally ill or something to keep doing it. I shudder to think what it cost the Jag guys out of pocket to get where they are, knowhow wise, today.

Mastercaster · Post by **Mastercaster** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 11:36 pm

I don't think you insulted them, and my guess would be that they did not take it as an insult. Having some experience in the matter tells me that what was mentioned is true. It's also a fair bet that neither Trumpeter nor Dragon would do any auxillary ship much less an AOE in 1/350 because the investment would be too great for the return they would get. One must face facts, and those facts "historically" are, bird farms, guns (read BIG guns), and missiles sell (along with sex)

, however, kingposts, fuel hoses, and cargo lines do not. At least not enough to pay for the astronomical costs of an injected molded kit. I have been told that Trumpeter has not made their money back on the 1/350 Nimitz. Not by a long shot. Some of their more popular WWII flattops have made up the difference in the long run, but the market share for post WWII ships, even the Nimitz as a bird farm, have not lived up to their pre-release billing. Have you noticed the "extra action" with their 1/700 scale Nimitz class carriers? By comparison, have you seen any news of a modernized Nimitz class in 1/350 anytime soon? See my point? There just is not enough market for them to invest any more money in LARGE 1/350 scale post WWII ships, OTHER, than maybe a more modern Nimitz class carrier, and with its current showing it doesn't look good.

Remember and know this, Stevens Int. is making a handsome profit on their sales of Trumpeter products in this country as the SOLE distributor in the U.S. The price of Trumpeter kits in other countries and especially in Asia is much less than what we pay here. Therefore, they are not "raking it in" as you would first think because of the prices you see here in the States. Trumpeter kits are practically dirt cheap in Hong Kong and Singapore. I have a friend who bought a 1/350 Trumpeter Nimitz last year in Singapore for $45 and that was the going price. No "sale" was going on. Now just imagine what kind of profit margin Stevens Int. is making off the sale of the same kit here in the U.S. Kinda makes you go hhhmmmmmmmmmmm

gtb -red · Post by **gtb -red** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 8:12 am

Thanks Mastercaster.

Tom@JAG · Post by **Tom@JAG** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 6:15 pm

gtb-red, Just for the record, I took no insult from your comments about the $200 AOE. I just have a more experienced perspective than you might have. I would have loved to have had a 6' fiberglass model kit of the Enterprise E from Star Trek. Richard Long from OK made a magnificent, spot on kit of the Enterprise that I was just drooling over. Problem for me was the $1000.00 price tag. Was it worth that price? You bet your sweet Bippy it was and then some, but I did not complain about the price because I knew it was worth every penny and then some. Other people B*****d and moaned about how they couldn't afford it and Richard needed to lower the price so they could get one. I'm just glad I don't see that kind of childishness on SN and MW. In my opinion, people who whine because they cannot afford every kit that hits the market are

I'm not inferring that you are one of those folks, so don't get that idea in your head, but I'm just saying that some people do not have the experience and knowledge about what goes into producing various kinds of kits, whether they be resin, metal, or plastic. Frankly, I'd love to initiate an intern program for those who want to get their hands "dirty" in the resin casting business. I guarantee that after one week of slinging resin most people would change their minds about the price of resin kits

gtb -red · Post by **gtb -red** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 9:21 pm

No thanks Tom I had enough slinging stink stuff when I was in the FMF 24yrs ago. I'm glad you tooked no offence to what I wrote , and yes I will buy models that are worth the price that I like. Whats the old saying (you can't always get what you what, but if try you'll get what you need). Case in point I bought The Classic Warship resin 1/350 uss Wasington 3yrs ago and in my eyes the best BB out there. And it's worth more than a 4,500 Dring to me

that could get lost some kind of way.

scratchshipnut · Post by **scratchshipnut** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 9:34 pm

You kmow Tom,Im scheming big time on the new kit. But looking at the review I heard there was a fair degree of difficulty with the extensive etch. Where Im going is that a lot of people on a deal like that could make some of those parts from streyne (comprimises) and use the etch part as a template. When I build it there wont be any etch on it. I think this ship is going to give jag a boost though. And a couple summers ago I cast and sold zillions of armor parts and went crazy. I wish I could have had a guy to call when I couldnt fix my problem. So I have been there on cast over 300 of one small kit and all the associated mold breaks and bubble rejects.

But make no mistake, next burst of student aid, I'll have one.

J Goodacre · Post by **J Goodacre** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 9:59 pm

The PE in the review looks great. (I am still on the look out for the white truck with the purple and green writing on it.) I like the details of the racks for the life canisters, hoses and the ladders with the rounded railings. I wish some one would make PE mk38's and m2. Pit Round has them in a Burke set (PE-139), but it the cost is not worth just using them for the 4 mk38 and 4 m2.

I would like to get an extra fret of the etch. How possible is that? I also like that the deck fork lifts have no cabs on them. Thanks, for saving my fingers from being cutting away.

Maybe, JAG will simple make an accessory kit just with tugs, fork lifts and trackers. I am sure they must receive request like this all the time. I do understand that this is not the main part of the business and the real work gets in the way.

John

Nektarios · Post by **Nektarios** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 12:14 am

J Goodacre wrote: I wish some one would make PE mk38's and m2. Pit Round has them in a Burke set (PE-139), but it the cost is not worth just using them for the 4 mk38 and 4 m2.
John

I may have something very interesting for you in September or October John .

Some photos of CVN-68. Its a modified Italeri CVN-76. I just wish i had waited for the new CVN-68 by Trumpeter. Its so much easier to build and the result is better than this. CVW-11 decals are from the superb Starfighter decals set

.

kidcurrie42 · Post by **kidcurrie42** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 2:06 am

very nice, which john ?

Nektarios · Post by **Nektarios** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 6:09 am

It should not be a surprise for you. You already know. John Goodacre doesn t know what i m planning to do and i m sure he will like it.

Tom@JAG · Post by **Tom@JAG** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 7:57 am

John, Fedex says it is on the vehicle for delivery today. So, you should find it on your doorstep when you get home, or if you are already there, they should come a knockin.

J Goodacre · Post by **J Goodacre** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 10:47 am

It's here!!! WOW this is an awesome kit. PVB's review was good, but to have it in hand is another thing. WOW... JAG never disappoints.

Nektarios - this is going to be a fun built. If your project is coming along like all your other kit, I can not wait to see what is up your sleeve.

John

gtb -red · Post by **gtb -red** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 9:24 am

Were could I get plans for a 1/350 AOE?

simon b · Post by **simon b** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 11:31 am

You could possibly get the Jag kit and scale up (x2)

kidcurrie42 · Post by **kidcurrie42** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 12:18 pm

well here i am back in the USA, Carries all seem to have survived better than my suitcases.

Tom my Cimmaron was here waiting for me, so i am off to check it out, laters guys.

Happy modelling

John