1/200 USS NIMITZ - 2003

[DennisJP]

Your most welcome. She is a fine ship. We called her "Never Dock" LOL I was told she as my first wife because everytime she called and that was allot I had to come running LOL

Ok the fantail as your looking into it from the seaward side there used to be a seawiz there when I was on board but it seems they removed it now.
In the back in the center was double hatches that could be opened like from the hangar bay #3 ones for the jet shop for jet engine testing, They would roll the engine out on the fantail to test it.
If you went to the port side of the fantail there was you entered through an opening heading to the hangar bay#3 through the doors I described earlier. So you had two rooms before getting to the hangar bay and in the first room as your leaving the fan tail on both sides of the ship was a spindel that was used for the lines for the pier.
On the port side of the fantail was also a opening shaped like a door but no door there to access the boat boom for the ships boats. It was steel and attached to the hull with a bracket and a pin and it swung out and there as non skid on top of it to walk on to get to the ships boats tide up to it in the water.
Also in the very back as a ladder going up to a walk way were they had some pyro lockers. We kept flares there.
Also in the middle of the deck of the fantail off center to starboard as a hatch with a ladder down.
In the part of the ship that has its name mounted that stuck out from the fantail there as a ramp there when I was on board that lowered when we when ashore over seas for port visits. That ladder in the middle of the deck I mentioned above went to a passage that went to the ramp. I noticed they have added the bars on the back of the ship. I think this is for the same purpose but maybe a more safer and better way. So they have removed the ramp and put in a hatch there to open and the bars are to tie up the liberty ferrys that come pick up the crew. Not all ports e can pull in. we have to anchor out.
Well this is a brief description of the fantail. Just try to picture what I am saying in your mind or hile looking at the photos or your model. Any questions just ask. I will check in to your build here every day and check if I can help I will.
Doi9ng a great job. She looks good.

[DennisJP]

In the hangar the f-14s ere parked from what I remember three planes tail facing bay #2 and two or three in between the others nose facing bay #2. On the flight deck they were always on the back as you can see from allot of pictures.
The 18's would be pulled straight in off the elevators and sit in a angled row with noses facing to port in bay #1 but would face nose aft in bay #2 when parked by the helos.
Then there were always two planes in each bay just pulled off the elevator facing nose straight in to the port side.
They would keep clear of the weapons elevators.

[Jaguar]

Thank you very much Dennis. The fantail has changed considerably since Nimitz was launched. Some sponsons has been installed and later removed, and added again (p.e. the Phalanx sponson). The fantail in 1975 was a very clean structure, but nowadays the fantail has a big amount of structures, ladders, doors and so on. It is a nightmare trying to replicate it. Anyway i think i will success .

The situation of the planes in the hangar is very valuable for me, so, do you remember where the Prowlers and Hawkeyes were parked.

Thank you very much again for the information Dennis.

Jorge

[DenisJP]

The prowlers and Hawk eyes were never in the hangar for a long period just for maintenance. Prowlers would be just pulled in nose first in bay #1 or #2. Their place as you can see from pictures along with the Hawk eyes as right beside or in front of the island. Usually right behind. Some times helos were parked right beside the island..
Understanding flight ops when the planes landed they moved forward and were parked at angles facing each other. After the bow as filled the planes would land and then do a curl and end up parked in front of the 2 forward elevators. behind #1 cat.
Then the tractors would pull the planes aft and park them to clear the cats for the next launch.
Flight ops were done in events. Usually 4 events per day and 4 per night. Each event launched so many planes on missions.Then the next event was prepared and launched and the event before was recovered.
I can only remember one time a Hawk eye in the hangar and it was Bay #2 pointing forward by the helos that parked by the weapons elevator just inside the bay #2 aircraft elevator.
You have what they call phased maintenance at certain times. When I was in a squadron between Nimitz tours I was in the phased maintenance shop. Each phased period does maintenance on different parts of the plane. The 26 week maintenance pretty much takes the plane apart and puts it back together testing all systems. Pretty neat to do and watch. Got several different shops involved.
Saying that you can pretty much arrange the aircraft in the hangar as you want by types. The arrangement though I told you was always done on which types of planes they parked were.
Now if you want to show a plane in the hangar doing a 26 week maintenance you got to make 4 aircraft jacks and put one under each wing and one in the front and back. Make the wings look like their wing panels are gone LOL We took them apart. Also ejection seats ere removed and checked. They jack them up to check the landing gear and tail hook.

[Jaguar]

Thank you very much for the information Dennis. I will think about place a Hawk during maintenance period . Anyway, i have several pictures with a hawkeye parked in the fore starboard of bay 1. Is there the place where you made the maintenanace?.

Thank you very much again Dennis.

Jorge

[Jaguar]

Good afternoon mates. As I said a few days ago, here are some pictures of my advances building the fantail. All comments are welcome













That�s all for the momento. I have to think about how to place these parts in the ship, and install the marem�gnum of wires, pipes and so on.

Thanks for viewing

Jorge

[Capit�o Norbert]

very good arrangments Jorge

[Jaguar]

Than you very much Norbert.

Jorge

[Jaguar]

New pictures of the stern.
I have been testing all the components without glue for the moment.











All comments are welcome. Thanks for viewing

Jorge

[DennisJP]

Yes about the Hawk eye. The plane is such a big plane and to change the spot and have it right beside GSE makes since. Easier to roll out the support gear to work on the plane.
Your right about the fantail. Major changes during her core change overhaul.
Looks good.

[Jaguar]

Hi friends

New pictures of the fantail. Many details still needs to be added. I hope you enjoy them.







Cheers

Jorge

[Goodwood]

Very nice work, Jorge.

Are those...dustbins...sitting there among the boxes and barrels on that upper level?

[Jaguar]

Thank you very much Sean.
Well, the real pictures are not so clear, and this �rea normally is in the shadow. I have had to add a little of my imagination to fill this �rea.

Jorge

[Goodwood]

I actually thought it was a nice touch; I've no idea what actually goes on in that part of the ship...

[Capit�o Norbert]

Hi Jorge too much work on shipyard.
the pieces of the stern are very good.
i will watching

[Jaguar]

Thank you very much friends.

Jorge

[gjholmes77]

Excellent progress on the fantail! Sometimes you see something like a small rubber boat strapped to the overhead area. I'm sure you're building one of those along with a miniature air pump to inflate it!

Looking forward to more progress!

~Greg

[Jaguar]

. Of course I am trying to build it do not worry

Thank very much Greg

Cheers
Jorge

[HOscalemodeler]

Excellent model!

Every part is a project of immense patience, very very impressive

[Jaguar]

Thanks