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

[gtbred]

Wonderful work on your build.

[NWarty]

Thanks guys,
Doing one plane is trying enough, but six or seven more of the exact same aircraft with the same level of detail is

That's why it's a nice break to do two or three of the same kind at one time. Got the boarding ladder built, painted and fixed to the C-2 last night along with the spine aerial.

Alrightly, off to purchase some Hawkeyes, decals and an RF-8

[LE BOSCO]

HI NWarty

on your last picture ,this could to be of 72em , so much it is detailed
congrats
Nicolas

[NWarty]

Last post as I'm off for professional military ed for the next couple of weeks.

Greyhound is finished, and put back on the flight deck

See y'all soon!
~Blake

[anyahajobuzi]

Excellent job. The ship is the easy part. It's the aircraft that make or brake a great carrier build.

James! You said that right! Except, I find my Nimitz extremely difficult sometimes, but that's my fault...

Blake! those choppers DO look pretty damn real! Beautiful job on that C-2 as well as on that whole airwing so far. I might bug you later on for advice on how to shape them. May I?

Cheers!

[NWarty]

Laci,
Absolutely!

[Bigdaddy Mark]

Last post as I'm off for professional military ed for the next couple of weeks.

Greyhound is finished, and put back on the flight deck

See y'all soon!
~Blake

I just spent five minutes trying to come up with something to say, but I couldn't.
This is something else to say the least.

[boomstick68]

Yeah Mark, he has definitely raised the bar for aircraft.

[NWarty]

Well, pseudo last post...

Thanks Fellas
I'm really happy with the way the Hound turned out, well, minus the black band being a little wavy towards the rear. RF-8 and Hawkeyes will be here tomorrow, so I may get a chance to get the Crusader assembled before I leave on Sunday. I'm really excited about this little guy as I haven't seen one yet assembled and displayed; plus, Mark over at Starfighter has the correct markings for VFP-63 which I purchased today.

Plan is to build and use two Hawkeyes and one RF-8. The Crusader will sit next to the A3D on the port, stern elevator and the Hawkeyes launching on the bow cat with one at the island. The launching Hawkeye will get the PE treatment with flaps and all the other hoo-ha's and clear prop disks tinted translucent black with Future.

[NWarty]

Alright,
So I got the RF-8 built. Nice little kit from Corsair Armada. Lovely recessed panel lines and crisp details. My only gripe would be the shape of the canopy. Luckily included are two aircraft in the set. One of the wings had some pretty bad flaws. But I'm pretty darned happy. Still need to add gear doors and a couple odds and ends. I decided to model her in the "wing up" position and hydraulics off.

Here's how she sits.

[NWarty]

Got to love it when you order the planes and not the PE sets

Got some VS-24 decals and Vikings en route but forgot the PE sets for both the Vikings and Hawkeyes. Arghh...

But since I've been sitting here at school, it's given me some time in the evenings to figure out the deck layout. Still a work in progress, but I'll be adding three S-3's and two Prowlers as space is getting tight. Viking will be located directly behind the Starboard bow Cat, behind the blast deflector, lowering its wings with an Aircraft Director in front of it, ready to taxi into position.

It will be a party on the flight deck since I've got enough Eduard figures (5 sheets worth) to fill in the deck. The difficult and tedious piece will be building the various carts and trolleys. Sigh...

Just when I think I can smell the barn door, there's always something else to think about.

[NWarty]

RF-8 is almost finished and I've started on the Hawkeyes. Just need to add a couple of bits and she's good.

Photos later today.

Had to order another set of RECCE decals for the Crusader since my wife "accidently misplaced" the first set while I was away. They suddenly showed up yesterday on the dining room table. So if anyone wants a brand new set of unopened RECCE decals for RF-5/RF-8s let me know.

[NWarty]

RF-8 finished.

Corsair Armada Model, Starfighter decals, scratchbuilt gear doors. Painted the "Eyes of the Fleet" eyeballs on the moving wing

[DWD]

That's a sweet lookin bird, Blake. Nice job. Your putting together quite the Air Wing for your Nimitz! Looks great man. Keep the posts coming.

[NWarty]

Thanks Doug

The Hawkeyes will keep me busy for awhile but both of them are built and painted FGG at the moment. More PE on these two that any other aircraft barring the Tomcats. The HE's both have PE inboard and outboard flaps, 3 nose gear doors, launch bar, struts, 4-piece main doors, tailhooks, etc. Lots to fiddle with. I'm still trying the smooth out the right wing on the launching HE since Trumpeter modeled the wing in two sections instead of one like the Greyhound right at the wing fold.

I'll upload a couple of pics when I get home.

[chrisswim]

I really like you work, enjoy the process and your presentation, especially on the hanger deck. It offers depth/realism.
Keep up the great work.
Chris

[NWarty]

Chris,
Many thanks

Just working on filling in some joints and sanding the seams smooth. Pic is actually from last week. The HE in the launch config. has actually had is belly and underside painted white.

[sgtryan13]

Hey Warty, great work. Just a tip from experience if you have not already planned for it- you may want to add the cockpit piece to the hawkeyes sooner rather than later. the fit there leaves something to be desired, and usually requires a good amount of filling and sanding, so be weary of installing all your details.

[NWarty]

Thanks Ryan

What I did on the hangar deck Hawkeye and topside Greyhound was to completely gloss it, decals, flat coat and then install the canopy after its gotten a Future bath and painted. After that, I build up white glue through the seams gradually. Paint in the seams, wash and highlight as needed

[sgtryan13]

huh, that sounds so crazy it just might work. may have to give it a try.