Aircraft Carrier Group Build 2009

[jgrease]

Alright guys, I've been dormant for quite some time. I believe I can call Essex done (at least the ship). I just finished a dull cote, and I am happy with the results:







I was aiming for Essex in mid-'43 finish. I used the Trumpy kit and Tom's Modelworks PE. The spots on the finish were from grit in the dullcote (I could scream, but I am leaving well-enough alone), and aren't quite as obvious in person. Many lessons were learned from this project (especially to paint the flight deck lines and not use decals!!!), and I may attempt an early-war Saratoga or Hornet in the future.

[jgrease]

Here's a couple more pics:







This was a first for me in many ways - I had never built a ship this big, and I made many many mistakes along the way. I still can't get the flight deck on the starboard side to sit properly (it popped while taking the photos, and I probably won't touch it for fear of making it worse). This was also the first time I used rigging (I used clear fishing line). While it isn't a duplicate of the real thing, it looks fine to me, and I'm happy with it. I've started the process of building the planes for the flight deck, and it will take a couple more weeks, but I will be happy to get it populated and put away in the cabinet once and for all. Comments and observations are totally welcomed! Thanks for looking!

[Hippy Ed]

WoW!!! Very nice jg

[Nektarios]

It looks fantastic John

[mitchell300]

Hey , im building the saratoga.
And i need some help.
I got a landingsdeck, only painted.
What is the next step?
I want to make it an landing deck thats used over 500 times.
Like she whas.
do i have to do the decals 1st?
And then weathering thinges?
Ore that 1st and then decals?
As u can see, heavy touched.


I want it a bit like this:

Thanks for ur help!
Mitch

[arnobiz]

Yes, do the decals first. Then wheather you deck. Finally paint the catapult rails (they are greasy but they are not weathered like the rest of the deck). You may have a look at what I did on my CVN-71 if you want, it's not perfect but it might help you if you don't know where to start

[gtb -red]

Yes, paint the deck then lay down the decals. This is how I did the Nimitz awhile back. http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo95 ... 0_0077.jpg http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo95 ... 0_0323.jpg http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo95 ... 0_0324.jpg http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo95 ... 0_0341.jpg http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo95 ... 0_0342.jpg http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo95 ... 0_0343.jpg http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo95 ... 0_0339.jpg http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo95 ... 0_0347.jpg http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo95 ... 0_0351.jpg http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo95 ... 0_0355.jpg http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo95 ... 0_0356.jpg http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo95 ... 0_0358.jpg

[Hippy Ed]

Yes, paint the deck then lay down the decals. This is how I did the Nimitz awhile back. http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo95 ... 0_0077.jpg http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo95 ... 0_0323.jpg http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo95 ... 0_0324.jpg http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo95 ... 0_0341.jpg http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo95 ... 0_0342.jpg http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo95 ... 0_0343.jpg http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo95 ... 0_0339.jpg http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo95 ... 0_0347.jpg http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo95 ... 0_0351.jpg http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo95 ... 0_0355.jpg http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo95 ... 0_0356.jpg http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo95 ... 0_0358.jpg

Yeppers

[mitchell300]

K, after the decals, just go whit black paint over it?
To make it dirty
Mitch

[gtb -red]

K, after the decals, just go whit black paint over it?
To make it dirty
Mitch

black wash using a handheld hair dryer. it's up to you how dirty you want it.

[gtb -red]

Well after I finish Savannah, guess what I'm going to build!

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s108 ... 97677k.jpg

I can't resist! I love the Sara, she's just my favorite supercarrier. I think I'll just donate my build to the Saratoga museum for display there, since I don't have too much of a place here. It's a ways off though, Savannah first!

So Avery,what size,paper or plastic?

[mitchell300]

K, after the decals, just go whit black paint over it?
To make it dirty
Mitch

black wash using a handheld hair dryer. it's up to you how dirty you want it.

What do u mean whit black wash?
Can u show me a pic from what for item it is?
Bcs i think u mean now washing the model whit black paint
Mitch

[gtb -red]

just got off work. shaw ya tomorrow!

[Hippy Ed]

just got off work. shaw ya tomorrow!

[mitchell300]

just got off work. shaw ya tomorrow!

Me needs an answer!
I cant steer my ship whitout some explaining from black wash
What=blackwash?
Mitch

[Mark McKinnis]

just got off work. shaw ya tomorrow!

Me needs an answer!
I cant steer my ship whitout some explaining from black wash
What=blackwash?
Mitch

A black wash is where you thin out black paint, very thin, almost transparent, and you apply it over the model in a couple of coats. You are washing the model with this thinned out balck thnner. The thinned out "wash" will run into the various details and make them stand out. Armor model builders do this to get a "weathered" look. To do it properly you would also go back with your base color and highlight ( dry brush) raised details to give a highlighted appearance. The edges of everything on the ship get highlighted and the flat surfaces will look weathered. For example, you could wash the island with a black wash and take the base color and dry brush the island over the wash. It will color the edges and raised details and it looks very good. A lot of ship modelors do this to get the bridge windows to come out with out having to paint the windows. It is very easy to over do the affect. Go light at first and get the hang of it. It is tough to get a flight deck weathered unevenly like a real deck does with this method. The landing area gets a pretty good beating durring a deployment where other parts of the deck generally do not wear as much. The wash tends to run everywhere evenly.

Another way to get the affect you are looking for on carrier decks is to use a cotton ball/ cotton cloth and black chalk. I never got the results I was looking for with a "thinned wash" for the flight deck. I use pastel artist chalk. For better affects, I attach the Island after I complete this proccess, otherwise you will get black dust all over the island and make a mess.

1) Paint the deck, I have it glued onto the hull and all deck parts like elevators positioned where I will leave them. I use gunship gray for modern carriers
2) Gloss coat it to get a nice glossy finnish to get the decals to sit down on the deck. This will help avoid the dreaded "silvering" of decals.
3) Apply your decals
4) paint the cat tracks if you would like. I gennerally do not on a 700th scale ship but it would be a nice touch and I might do that on my next one. You could do a black wash and dry brush that I described above before you continue to weather the non flight deck surfaces and the entire ship if you want.
5) Dull coat the deck after everything is way dry!
6) Use a cotton ball or cotton cloth, apply the chalk, and rub it onto the deck.( a cloth is better; the cotton ball gets caught on the edges) I give the whole deck a wipe over and then I concentrate on the landing area. You want to get the white lines to gray/black out a bit. After I get the deck where I want it color wise, I wipe it along the length of the deck to give it a uniform appearance and smooth out any areas where I might have overdone it.
7) attach the Island and as of late, I have started rigging my ships with the stretch sprue method.

Do not use any spray over chalk! It will screw up the whole thing and make you very angry. Have anything you attach to the ship after doing this already dull coated and complete! You also have to be very careful handling the model because you will put your fingerprints all over it and everything else you touch! ( Black fingerprints on the refridgerator after working will anger the finance minister and jeopardize future projects!! )

The first time you try this, you will probably make a mess of it. Just give it a try and you may want to start with a cheaper kit to practice on. Once you get the hang of it, you will love the results!

Good luck!

Mark

[jgrease]

For wash liquids, you can also try a product called "The Detailer" from Long Enterprises. Google it and you will find their website. It's good stuff, and you can clean it with Windex or other household cleaners.

[Gordon Bjorklund]

jgrease,

Great looking Essex. I really like the way your flight deck turned out. That is a fantastic weathering job.

Looking forward to seeing the airwing on board.

Well done John.

[jgrease]

Gordon - thanks for your compliments. As I mentioned earlier, I've taken much inspiration from your builds.

[gtb -red]

just got off work. shaw ya tomorrow!

Me needs an answer!
I cant steer my ship whitout some explaining from black wash
What=blackwash?
Mitch

doing the BigE forward part of the flightdeck tonight.