Calling all USS Enterprise CVN-65 fans

[t mart]

Do you guys know if the Starfighter "Last Intruder" decal set covers the entire air wing or do you have to buy multiple sheets (as with the GMM lo-viz/hi-viz sets)? Also, does anyone know the exact quantities of each aircraft for that cruise? Lastly, do you guys feel its worth it to spend the extra loot on the Trumpeter aircraft sets?

Thanks!

T-mart

[sgtryan13]

I do not know specifically how many aircraft the starfighter set covers, but rest assured it will be plenty big. I have used 4 different starfighter sets, and they all seem to cover at least 55-60 aircraft, so damn near a whole airwing. I am sure that the last intruder set includes at least 8-10 planes worth of decals for each squadron. Every set I have used included ALL of the CAG and CO Hi-Viz markings for each squadron.

Or just e mail mark at starfighter, he is usually pretty prompt to respond.

[Mark McKinnis]

Do you guys know if the Starfighter "Last Intruder" decal set covers the entire air wing or do you have to buy multiple sheets (as with the GMM lo-viz/hi-viz sets)? Also, does anyone know the exact quantities of each aircraft for that cruise? Lastly, do you guys feel its worth it to spend the extra loot on the Trumpeter aircraft sets?

Thanks!

T-mart

If I were building the entire airwing, I would go with:

10-12 Tomcats
12 Hornets (x 2 Squadrons)
10 A-6e' with 2 or 3 configured as KA-6
4 prowlers
4 Hawkeyes
8 Helos (6 F's and 2 H's)
8 Vikings
1 or 2 ES-3
1 COD

Usually Starfighter Decal Sets get you about 3/4 of an airwing. Buying two sets work if you do not use the side numbers on the nose of your aircraft or fabricate the missing side numbers using the extra numbers left over on the second set. That would be very delicate surgery if you go that way. The sets are quite nice and really make a difference on the overall affect of that kit + airwing.

[Charles Landrum]

Here is my count from the 1996 Deployment with Airwing 17. Coincidentally the DCAG for that deployment is now my boss.
VF-103 14 - F-14Bs
VFA-81 11 - F-18Cs
VFA-83 11 - F-18Cs
VA-75 14 - A-6Es
VS-30 6 - S-3Bs
VQ-6 2 - ES-3As (Detachment)
VAQ-132 4 - EA-6Bs
VAW-125 6 - E-2Cs
VRC-40 2 - C-2As (Detachment stayed off ship except during long transits and during pax/mail/cargo flights)
HS-15 3 - SH-60F
3 - HH-60H

Total aircraft assigned - 76

We had 3 special scheme aircraft painted in December 1996 - VF-103 Jolly Rogers Santa, VAW-125 Hobbes in a Santa hat and VA-75 Commemorative paint scheme of a 1960s A-6A

[t mart]

Thanks for all the responses guys. As always, your help is much appreciated. @Charles- you had to put that bug in my ear! I'm suddenly compelled to look up those paint jobs...

[Brian001]

Do you guys know if the Starfighter "Last Intruder" decal set covers the entire air wing or do you have to buy multiple sheets (as with the GMM lo-viz/hi-viz sets)? Also, does anyone know the exact quantities of each aircraft for that cruise? Lastly, do you guys feel its worth it to spend the extra loot on the Trumpeter aircraft sets?

Thanks!

T-mart

Hi T-Mart
I am currently gathering items for my build and did purchase Starfighters decal sheet.
It does include markings for 76 aircraft, but not in the quantities Charles listed.
Sheet includes markings for:
11 F-14
26 F-18
15 A-6E
4 EA-6B
4 E-2C
8 S-3B
2 ES-3A
3 SH-60F
3 HH-60H
No markings provided for Greyhounds.

I also am purchasing the required Trumpeter kits for my air wing.
In my opinion the level of detail is much better than Tamiya`s offering, as well as clear canopies.

[t mart]

Do you guys know if the Starfighter "Last Intruder" decal set covers the entire air wing or do you have to buy multiple sheets (as with the GMM lo-viz/hi-viz sets)? Also, does anyone know the exact quantities of each aircraft for that cruise? Lastly, do you guys feel its worth it to spend the extra loot on the Trumpeter aircraft sets?

Thanks!

T-mart

Hi T-Mart
I am currently gathering items for my build and did purchase Starfighters decal sheet.
It does include markings for 76 aircraft, but not in the quantities Charles listed.
Sheet includes markings for:
11 F-14
26 F-18
15 A-7
15 A-6E
4 EA-6B
4 E-2C
8 S-3B
2 ES-3A
3 SH-60F
3 HH-60H
No markings provided for Greyhounds.

I also am purchasing the required Trumpeter kits for my air wing.
In my opinion the level of detail is much better than Tamiya`s offering, as well as clear canopies.

Hey Brian,

Were you able to find H variants of the SH-60s or are you using B and F variants? Also, I heard there are some issues with the windscreens on some of the Trumpter F-14Bs; any problems so far?

I'm building a 48 scale A-6 right now as well, hows your build going? I'm building the Revell kit and have had quite a few minor fit issues...

[Brian001]

Hi T-Mart
Trumpeter does make a SH-60F and a HH-60H variant, I will be using both.
I can't comment on fit problems on the F-14 as I am still in the process of gathering materials for my build, I can tell you that the canopy is supplied in clear plastic but for some reason the front windscreen is molded with the fuselage and is grey plastic - Unfortunately.

I am building the Revell Intruder as well. Yes some fit problems, but since I am a glutton for punishment I rescribed all the panel lines and added a Wolf Pack Wing fold kit as well as a Verlinden detail kit. MORE FIT PROBLEMS!!
Starting to look good though I have decided to take a break from it for a bit.

[t mart]

Hi T-Mart
Trumpeter does make a SH-60F and a HH-60H variant, I will be using both.
I can't comment on fit problems on the F-14 as I am still in the process of gathering materials for my build, I can tell you that the canopy is supplied in clear plastic but for some reason the front windscreen is molded with the fuselage and is grey plastic - Unfortunately.

I am building the Revell Intruder as well. Yes some fit problems, but since I am a glutton for punishment I rescribed all the panel lines and added a Wolf Pack Wing fold kit as well as a Verlinden detail kit. MORE FIT PROBLEMS!!
Starting to look good though I have decided to take a break from it for a bit.

OH man, rescribing all the panel lines? Nightmare! I'm just carefully sanding around the raised panel lines - why oh why can't someone make an A-6 with recessed panel lines?

I am doing the Verlinden update as well but I'm leaving some of it off (building ladders up because I didn't feel like carving two of em out and I'm still undecided if I want to use the canopy frame (I cannot find any Future polish anywhere and I'm afraid the CA glue is going to haze up an unprotected canopy). Also doing SAG gear (HIGHLY recommend) and Royale Resin tires. Have you fit the instrument panel cover yet? That part is impossible to fit (in order to fit it in right it keeps popping off the instrument panel) and I'd love some tips on it if you have some. Would love to see some WIP pics if you've got any... PM me if you want (I don't want to further hijack the thread).

T-Mart

[Charles Landrum]

There were no A-7s on the 1996 deployment. not sure where Starfighter got that info.

[salenship]

I am building the Tamiya 1/350 CVN65 and I came up with a cool trick for the arrester wires! I looped thread through like it says but I tied them long in the landed position, I then placed a split shot lead sinkers to them underneath the deck so now the weights pull the arrester wires tight on the flight deck. now you can pull them like a plane would then the weights will pull them back in. I then went one step more and hooked rubber bands to underneath so they have a back-up as well. Sorry I did not take photos of the set up before I glued the decks down. The only problem was minor, the second from the back gets caught between the deck and the hull so I filed the hull down just a little at that spot.

[salenship]

There are literately over 200 small circles on the flight deck that should be painted white and I found the best thing to do it with. I went to Joann's fabrics and got a opaque paint marker fine tip made by Elmer's. It was amazing how fast & easy it was and it really made the deck stand out great. They have other colors as well and I am going to buy every color they make.

[Brian001]

There were no A-7s on the 1996 deployment. not sure where Starfighter got that info.

Hi Charles,
My apologies to Starfighter decals, there are no markings for A-7s.
Just read my post, not sure why I had 15 Corsairs listed. New baby......little sleep........

[salenship]

I am building the Tamiya 1/350 CVN65 and I came up with a cool trick for the arrester wires! I looped thread through like it says but I tied them long in the landed position, I then placed a split shot lead sinkers to them underneath the deck so now the weights pull the arrester wires tight on the flight deck. now you can pull them like a plane would then the weights will pull them back in. I then went one step more and hooked rubber bands to underneath so they have a back-up as well. Sorry I did not take photos of the set up before I glued the decks down. The only problem was minor, the second from the back gets caught between the deck and the hull so I filed the hull down just a little at that spot.

[Medic08]

I"ve searched all over the internet for location and # off ramps they had on the enterprise and can not seem to find except the one located near the island by the ordinance elevator. Can anyone help me with this. Thank you

[DWD]

Hey Medic08. Here is an overhead photo of the Enterprise with the bomb jettison ramps located. Not sure what era your Enterprise build is going to be, but these should be good for 90's and later. I updated this a second time to add the jettison chutes that are located on the elevators as well. There are one that is centered on each elevator. My apologies for not placing these the first time.

[silvershadow]

Here is my count from the 1996 Deployment with Airwing 17. Coincidentally the DCAG for that deployment is now my boss.
VF-103 14 - F-14Bs
VFA-81 11 - F-18Cs
VFA-83 11 - F-18Cs
VA-75 14 - A-6Es
VS-30 6 - S-3Bs
VQ-6 2 - ES-3As (Detachment)
VAQ-132 4 - EA-6Bs
VAW-125 6 - E-2Cs
VRC-40 2 - C-2As (Detachment stayed off ship except during long transits and during pax/mail/cargo flights)
HS-15 3 - SH-60F
3 - HH-60H

Total aircraft assigned - 76

We had 3 special scheme aircraft painted in December 1996 - VF-103 Jolly Rogers Santa, VAW-125 Hobbes in a Santa hat and VA-75 Commemorative paint scheme of a 1960s A-6A

I got this from a search on google...looks like is a 2006 and up configuration since this was the first time F14's were not equipped.

Aircraft landing spaces on 'Big E'

Depending on mission demands, the ship can embark more than 90 aircraft,
but can carry only 66 at any given time. In general, an embarked air wing on the ship comprises
four EA-6B Prowler offensive electronic warfare aircraft,
four E-2C Hawkeye electronic early warning aircraft,
five SH-60F Seahawk anti-submarine warfare helicopters,
six S-3B Viking anti-submarine warfare aircraft and
43 F/A-18 hornet strike fighters.

http://navysite.de/cvn/cvn65deploy.htm
Just a pity they don't really say how much of each were in each deployment, but i love it that the "tailcode" of each is also included.

[salenship]

Working on my first model! Starting to get sea sick

[sierra hotel]

Not sure if anyone has seen this or not. But though everyone might be interested in a new USS Enterprise CVN-65 book that popped up on one of the Enterprise group pages on Facebook... 600+pages!!

http://www.willsonscott.biz/uss-enterprise

I HAVE THAT VERY SAME BOOK PAID FOR AND DUE IN TO CANADA NEXT WEEK.

[Brian001]

Hi Guys, Looking for some help.
Currently doing research for my 1996 Enterprise, and I need some clarification on the aft, starboard sponson. (forgive me if I didn't get that right - I'm new to ship building).
Bert Kinzey's book suggests that the chaff launchers shown in D&S 39 were to be replaced with a Sea Sparrow launchers during a 1990-93 refit.
I have not found any info to suggest that this occurred, did the chaff launchers remain in place during 96?
Any info would be appreciated as well pictures if you are willing to share.
Thanks,