The Ship Model Forum

Looks fantastic James!

With the exception of a couple sections of railing, the transom bay is done. Now on to the rest of the hull so I can shoot her with some gray skin. And then.......the hangar bays.

Ok, I guess your going to have another follower here. It looks like your using Trumpeter Nimitz as a base for your project...sorry not fully familiar with ships. Well, keep up the good work.

Thanks youngtiger. So, all STB and Port side bays are complete. I will move on to the weapons sponson's details next.

son of a gun does that look great!!

Thanks Mark. Well, trying to get the hull finished, I started final work on each of the weapons sponsons, starting with the port RAM launcher. Flight deck is just temp placed to check alignment. I also, like I always seem to, need to touch up where the anti fouling red bled through the mask.

All the detail parts/weapons for the sponsons have been completed and put aside. I now have her mounted on an assembly stand in preparation for the hangar bay construction. I will spend some time in there, probably even throw in a 1/350 kitchen sink.

Great to see you back at it James!!!!!!

Those RHIB sponsons look GREAT!

did you make those life-rings, or are they aftermarket? (maybe North star?!) or maybe your great skills?

all your sponsons look great, give yourself a BIG round of applause! seriously, great job!

Laci

Thanks Laci. I've learned quite a bit by studying your Nimitz. The life buoy's are from a Gallery WASP kit.

Humble beginnings of a Nimitz Class Aircraft Carrier hangar bay. I am not a fan of cutting out the poorly rendered hangar doors but it is prob the most important correction of this kit. Even if you close up the doors, it has to been done to create the compartment that is between the hull and the doors. What ever the Navy wants to call it. IKE's doorways are done, now on to the hangar walls. Someone asked me about materials used on the hangar and for me it's really simple. The walls are one inch high using Evergreen .020 sheet styrene with a top boarder of Evergreen 1/8" tile sheet for that characteristic square pattern you see on the upper portion of the walls. Various Evergreen products are used like I beams, rod, strips, square rod, and left over PE railings. The hangar bay may look intimidating but to me it's the easiest part of the whole ship, and the most fun.



A section of hangar wall.

Instead of decals for the flight deck I tried painting. Started with the characteristic resurfacing lines. Those will be toned down upon weathering. I have some touch up to do from paint bleed but I'm happy with the results of my first painted deck. This is just phase one of the process. I will be using varying shades randomly to try to achieve Laci's results on his flight deck. I can dream.

Awesome work James! I know that painting the deck is a pain but the results well worth it. Tamiya tape is the best stuff ever

Looking great bud!

Tile board??! RE-surface lines?!?!?
James you are a genius! Although I hate you, because now I will have to build another Nimitz....a better one.

great ideas!!!! hats off!! Any ideas on how to make 50 tiny cockpits without wanting to cut your wrists and setting yourself on fire while jumping into the Grand Canyon with a chainsaw in your back (for extra weight)? (I am not looking forward to the airwing build... especially since Blake didn't just raise the bar, he took it, so I don't even know where it is... but it's probably somewhere extremely high.....)

keep it up James!!!!

Thanks guys. I can see that I may have to invest heavily in Tamiya tape. Great stuff indeed. As for an easy way to build tiny cockpits, I couldn't tell ya. I took the easy way out on my Nimitz with painted/decaled canopies. But now, with IKE, I'm in the same boat as you. I need to open up a bunch of bugs on this one. We'll jump together.

HI James

the bays of hangar doors are very convincing and the masking on your flight deck is superb !!!really good job
cheers
Nicolas

Thank you Nicolas. I have the flight deck decals in place and all sealed up with future. I know you guys are wondering what the hell I'm doing with all these stripes on the deck but there is a method to my madness I guess. I won't do any weathering on the deck until I attach it to the hull. In the mean time I'll resume hangar construction.
The real thing:

Lot's of weathering to do

Small progress in the aft hangar bay.

Nice small progress James! it promises
best regards
Nicolas

Thanks Nicolas!!