1/350 CVN-65 USS Enterprise 2001

[ESO]

Thank you Doug! Really appreciate this guide.



Building the trumpeter Nimitz kit. Just started on the hull. Getting ready to dive in

Regards,
Espen

[simon b]

Superb Doug. I'm going to have a good read through all this at the weekend!.

Would love to try something similar if I could figure out a good solid plan of attack. Where to start and all that.

I have most of the components for a late 80's version and currently hacking through the trumpeter aircraft learning the various pitfalls of them.

[DWD]

Well it seems it's been a while since I last posted, but it's because it's summer now and it's nice to be outside again. Hope everyone is enjoying their summer as well. I have started construction of the hangar ceiling and was able to find a large enough piece of styrene to use as one piece. I drew the hangar ceiling structure onto it and took care to mark areas where the "I-beams" would run. I also drew and cut out the square openings for the LED strip lighting. I also added some strips of styrene to the lights to help "seat" them a little higher so they don't extend so far down into the hangar. This way, they sit almost flush with the hangar ceiling. The photos below show the process so far as stated above.

[Brian001]

Whew! Got my pic fix, I was starting to get the shakes!
Ceiling looks great Doug, will you be putting in the drop tank racks?

[DWD]

Yup, sure will Brian. This is just the beginning phase of construction. I will probably add some more "conduit" and "piping" to areas of the ceiling. The drop tank racks, and a few other things will be added as well. Once I get all the I-beam structure completed, I will move onto the more detailed stuff. Thanks for following.

[Brian001]

Can't wait to see that!

[youngtiger1]

Holy Cow Doug, this is going to be the best Enterprice ever. Your celling is looking nice. Just last month i pulled out the Tamiya Big E and looking through it...and your celling is going to blow taimyas deck/celling combo away. So, please continue to take plenty of photos of how to on your celling. It's the bomb

Mike

[JimVarnellABH2USN]

Doug you inspired me to go out and buy a 350 Big E, since I've been following this build I've been taking notes but now here you go taking it to a whole other level, I may just have to sell my Enterprise now. I won't be able to come close to this level of detail. Awesome job Buddy, I'm truly amazed.

Oh yeah when you paint the overhead for the hangar bay don't forget to add the dust. Now, just how daring are you? I want to see you add the overhead AFFF sprinkler system to the ceiling.

[DWD]

.... please continue to take plenty of photos of how to on your celling. It's the bomb

Mike

Thanks Mike, and will do on the photos.

Jim, thanks a bunch and I'm sure your Enterprise build will turn out just fine sir. I'm not sure how far I will be taking the detail of the ceiling, but I seriously am considering the AFFF sprinkler system depending on how complex it is, and certainly the dust!! I think that makes up the majority of the pipes that run all over the hangar ceiling. Anyway, thanks for following Jim.

[Jenny]

Wow Doug , I am new to the forum but I had to go right through your build blog . Trust me , you need to collate all this information together and get it published in a book on how to build and detail the ultimate enterprise . Have a WIP section , a builders notes , reference photographs and scale drawing section , a shopping list section and a big finished model gallery with professional close ups . If you can not find a publisher , then let me help with my contacts . Honestly if the book was published , I would buy it , and a enterprise and all the products to build my own , pure inspiration !

Keep up the good work and I am going to eagerly await the next installment

Jenny

[DWD]

Thanks a bunch Jenny, and welcome to MW forum! I appreciate your interest in my build. That is honestly a great idea about publishing a book for a super detailed CVN-65 Enterprise. I wish something were available like that when I started this build and I probably would have bought it too! If I were to do anything like that, it's still going to take a while as I would need to complete this build first.........which is going pretty dang slow. I will keep all my research material, In-progress photos, drawings, etc....in the event that I do manage to finish it, I could possibly do something like you have suggested. Thank you very much Jenny and welcome aboard.

[anyahajobuzi]

I hope you know that I am following your build, just didn't comment on it every time. What would I even say?! This is by far the most detailed ( and suspect : most accurate) hangar in ANY CV-or CVN I had ever seen. You are a serious competition to that Czech dude with his Big E! Which means that you have waay passed me in patience and skill. A few detailes need straightening, and you are officially the King of hangars and airwing!!
Love the work and with anything else I might add after that I would just be repeating myself....

Keep it up ( and keep that bar up there too )

Cheers: Laci

[gtbred]

Damn Doug!!

[sgtryan13]

Doug, I am very interested to see what if anything you come up for if you tackle the AFFF sprinklers. I tried to add those to my Reagan, and nothing looked quite right to me, so I took all my attempts off and omitted them completely. I messed with it again on Lincoln and still not happy since everything that looked in scale just made the ceiling look like it had a bunch of tiny stubbly hairs coming off of it!

Great work, keep it up.

[veliko_pile]

Man, I re watched all of your photos countless of times, amazing build.

You made me dust off my Big E and start her again!

Keep it up!

[liberator24]

OK, new guy here to the forum. I have been registered for a while but just browsed. Until one day, I found the Flory Models site was building the Tam 350 "E". I went crazy. Then......

As a lot of us, we found DOUG!!!! Holy crappaloo!! I am jumping ship from the Flory build and working with Doug! I, too, am inspired by your detail! Please keep up the great job and helping us little folks try to reach your greatness with this girl.

Can't wait to see more. Thanks for the inspiration!!

-Jim

[liberator24]

Anyone used Ray Bean's USS Enterprise CD?

[DWD]

Was going to wait till I had something to show before I replied, but work on the hangar ceiling structure is going pretty slowly.

Laci - thanks a bunch, and I know you are still following buddy. I appreciate all your input and comments. I saw your last update on your Nimitz build and your aircraft are really amazing as well my friend.

Red - much appreciated sir.

Ryan - I will see what I can come up with. I'm interested to find out myself as I still haven't figured that out yet except for knowing that I would like to add that detail. We will have to see how that turns out. Thanks for your comments.

Sandro - Thanks for following and good luck with your Big E! I look forward to seeing your progress.

Liberator 24 - Although you've been a member for a while and just perusing, welcome to the forum! I'm glad to help out any way I can. As far as Ray Bean's Enterprise CD......BUY IT! It is so worth it if you are wanting good photographs for your build and you like adding a lot of detail. I have found it absolutely invaluable. The only problem is trying to find one. I believe there was the latest installment CD by Ray Bean of Enterprise that included a ton of photos from her 2013 deployment and decommissioning ceremony. I don't know what time frame you plan to build your Enterprise in, but again, I highly recommend it. Hopefully you plan to post your progress on your build. Thanks again Jim.

[boomstick68]

Doug I've been playing catch up with your Big E and the work is just amazing. You have the new standard in hangar detail. Tops. When I do my CVN65 I will refer to your work.

[William4443]

Ok, summer is almost over, back to work you!