1/350 USS Bennington (CV-20)

[Rdutnell]

Thanks Bob!

I'm really having fun with it. In a previous thread elsewhere on this forum Tracy White said, "if your base notion of the hobby is that of an exercise in 'how do I make this look like that?' then even a mistake can be a fun challenge." I like that attitude and that's the approach I take. Plus, it's a journey not a destination. I don't have a deep desire to have a 350 scale of the Brennington. I'm in it for the whole building process. Having the model at the end is just a perc.

Don't be hesitant to scratch build. It's really not that difficult. It takes time, but it's not hard to do.

If you like lights, this is the model that inspired me to try them. It is an excellent model for many reasons, and the lights are really cool so I thought I'd look into including them.

http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm

[Rdutnell]

Update 29
So the next step in building the new 20mm gun platforms was painting, which was accomplished. (Note: in the pictures that follow, the flight deck is simply setting in place, it has not been assembled.)

This was followed by installation of the splinter shields, which was accomplished using 0.020� sheet styrene cut to size.

Then, more painting.

I�m happy with the way they came out, except I may do a little more sanding and repaint them to see if I can eliminate the seams. Then I need to replace the life rafts I cut off and maybe add a couple.

It�s getting to the point where I need to decide how I�m going to layout the hanger deck. I certainly can�t attach the flight deck until that is completed. And the conduit for the wiring for the lights has to be installed. And there is a lot of PE to fold, assemble and attach. And I haven�t even started on the tower, which I have decided to do out of brass rod (thanks to David Griffith�s book). This doesn�t even include the base and frame. Still, I think she�s progressing nicely and I�m sure enjoying builder her. And it�s raining. YEEEAAAHHHHH!!!!!!

[Rdutnell]

Update 30
I haven�t really worked on the model since the last update. However, I did get the deck decals printed and used AutoCad to develop layouts for the planes and deck equipment as well as the �Movie Theater�. The result of the layout design is that I ordered 12 more planes, 6 F4Us and 6 SB2Cs. I posted a previous version of the flight deck in another forum at some point, but this is closer to what I think I�ll do and includes the hanger deck and the �Movie Theater.� OK, I guess they wouldn�t be watching movies while launching aircraft. Consider it artistic license. I want to show this scene for my dad. I�m even considering making a screen with a light behind it illuminating an old oater clip, but we�ll see about the light.

What to do next?

[Rdutnell]

Update 31
Since I have to complete everything on the hanger deck before I can put the flight deck on, I decided to start making the �Movie Theater� that I want to include. The movie theater has as its inspiration, a story related to me by dad of watching a western movie as they rode out Hurricane Barbara during his midshipman cruise on Bennington in 1953. I am building her in 1945, but I still want to include the scene on my model. Below is a picture I stumbled across showing what I want to try and portray. Of course I�m not going to have near as many planes, but I love that some guys are working while others are kickin� back watching a movie.

While considering my options for making the chairs I posted a question about availability of 1/350 chairs and oneslim gave me a link to Titanic deck chairs from Toms Model Works: (http://www.tomsmodelworks.com/catalog/p ... ucts_id=79)
They are deck chairs, but he advised that I �could cut off the arms and foot rests to get a 'chair'� and since they are in the hanger deck they won�t be real visible. I liked the idea, so I bought a set (of 40).

After a little experimentation I decided to only use the top part and cut off the top third of it. I cut off the top third and not the bottom third, because it was ornate and somehow I doubt the chairs they had were what anyone would call ornate. The remaining piece I folded 90 degrees in the middle. For the legs, I used old PE ladder parts I had from the Missouri build. I used 3 rungs, the end two being bent down at 90 degrees. The top part was then glued onto the middle rung to make the chair.

The first moviegoer arrived way early in the form of an Eduard pre-painted PE figure.

I don�t know what the heck he�s pointing at.
1 down, 39 to go.

[Rdutnell]

Update 32
Before building more chairs, I decided to try a stab at the screen. I used 0.002� sheet styrene for the screen and a rod from my assortment (Dia. ~ 0.04�) for the support.

I then painted the supports and frame gray.

I then used diluted white glue to attach a picture I snagged off of the web of a western made in 1945, The Cherokee Flash. I�ve never seen it, don�t know anything about it. It just looked like a good clip from a western movie of that time.

I then drilled a small hole to accommodate the screen support. After I put it in I removed the two parts I had applied to look like a tripod. I think it looks pretty cool.

It even looked cool through the hanger doors.

Then I put the flight deck on.

Not so cool. I might have to redo it. First, it�s a little too big and second I think it needs a light behind it, which I think could be accomplished. If I make a thin box with one side being clear plastic, the light can go inside. If it�s too bright I can paint the light to dim it down. There ya go. I talked myself into it.

Stay tuned�

[Timmy C]

Hmm, did they use front or rear projectors? You might get away with a little redirected light source in the aisle between the chairs.

[Rdutnell]

They probably had those old reel to reel projectors. I was planning on trying to build a little one on a cart behind the people. I was thinking the PE sites on the 20mm guns would work. They might be a bit big but I think I could make it look pretty convincing. I'm almost done with my second stab at it, with a light. I'll post it when I finish.

[Russ2146]

This was the pre-rear projection screens era. The materials to make them hadn't been developed yet.

The screen design is correct, but is a little tpp big and the top rail should be thinner than the bottom. Its lake an upside down window shade. The support rail in back telescoped up and locked but you hooked the screen top rail to it before you extended it. I guess you can still buy them that way.

In that time period, the army had one that was more robust for field use. It was a thinwall pipe frame that came apart and the screen laced onto it. It looked like the screen you see behind a carrier's Landing Signal Officer. I think the type might have been used on ships also.

[Rdutnell]

Update 33
Well, I redid the Movie Theater" screen and I�m really happy with it. I started by making a small box with 0.002� styrene sheet on five sides and clear plastic on one. I made the box just wide enough to accommodate the light. I then attached a piece of tubing (0.2� Dia.) from my rod and tube assortment pack to the bottom. It is perhaps way larger than the supports would be in real life, but it�s the effect I�m after. This was followed by painting and gluing the movie image on, again using diluted white glue.

When the glue dried, I drilled the hole in the deck out larger and insert the screen assembly, pulling the wire through as I went.

I then powered the light.

And put the flight deck on.

As I said before, I am really happy with the way it turned out. OK sure, it looks more like a modern giant flat screen, but it�s in the hanger deck. The most anyone will see, is what you see here.

CHEERS!!!!

[Captain pugwash]

Just read through the thread on CV-20.
Thats very nice work there so far.
The western screen lit up looks the part, I am a western fan,'well from me younger days lol'.
Great how you are solveing the light problems.

Nice going

[oneslim]

Rdutnell,

Your movie screen looks fantastic, I'm glad the 'chairs' worked out for You.

Bob W

[Rdutnell]

Update 34
Thanks oneslim and Captain pugwash!!! I appreciate the kind words!

Now for more fun and games!!! Possibly the last for a while.

My latest endeavor was to try to make the projector to incorporate a light. The size of the projector is confined by the size of the light. It can only be so small. Having said that, the first thing I did was build a box to simulate a table that the projector would be sitting on. I then attached a piece of 0.2� rod to the bottom to act as a conduit for the wire to the light.

I then cut out a slot on the other end so that the light would fit.

I then built another box to act as the projector itself, cut off the excess 0.2� tubing, and put the light in it.

To focus the light to look like a projector, I drilled a small hole in the front.

I then made film reels using parts from a 700 scale PE cable reel and small strips of PE.

I then painted it and gave it power.

I then drilled another hole in the deck and attached the assembly, threading the wire through the conduit.

Finally, I put the deck on. (You have to zoom in on the second one to see the projector.)

Conclusions: I like the projector as far as it goes, but it is WAY too big. It�s literally bigger than a tank. I might have to try again when the chips arrive and can make a smaller version. I don�t know when that will be. I have to get back to work.

[Captain pugwash]

Very good idea for the projector, but just to make it harder wwwhy not have the projector on a table so its above the folks sitting down watching the film.
When you have time that is

[Rdutnell]

Well, that's what I was shooting for, but the execution was lacking somewhat. When I get the LED chips, I'm sure I'm going to redo it. I'll make the table taller and smaller and the projector as small as I can.

[oneslim]

Rdutnell,

Why not use a fiber optic filament? That way You could make a four legged table with one leg that is a painted fiber. The fiber could be flared with heat to look like a lens. The projector could be a solid block with a small hole drilled for the fiber. Micro-Mark sells a bundle of fiber optic filaments. Or I will send You half a dozen cut offs if You PM me.

Bob W

[Rdutnell]

Update 35 � 8/20/2012
I worked today, after modeling all night, and yet the bug has me bad so I was still able to get something done on Benny this evening. For a change of pace, I decided to finish the bow assembly. I had postponed this waiting for the A-Line 12" Black Chain ( 40 Links/inch) I ordered from InternetTrains.com to arrive. When it did arrive, it wasn�t really black black, so having never seen one I inquired as to the possibility of me haven been shipped the wrong item. Evidently not, and black isn�t black. I put them on anyway. Heck, no one is ever going to see them once the flight deck goes on.

Once again the pictures reveal the bad job I did painting and how dirty the deck is. I wish I would have seen these pictures earlier because the next thing I did was put the deck supports on.

Then I put the flight deck on to check it out.

I guess now I�ll take the deck back off and clean and touch up the paint job and then start building chairs.

[Rdutnell]

Update 36

The obsession continues�

I finally started on the chairs and sailors for the �Movie Theater�, but before I did, I installed the light in the fore deck(?) at the front of the hanger deck.

After doing this I started making chairs and putting sailors in them. The sailors I�m using are left over from the painted PE figure kit from Arsenal that I bought for the Missouri and England. I didn�t use very many so I have a lot to use hear. The frustration of the waving arms guys has been diminished somewhat as they are easily made to look like people reacting to a movie.
After building 16, I stopped to install some on the ship. I have 40 chairs. My original intent was to do 5 rows of 8. After looking at it more, I switched that to 4 rows of 10.

So far, I think it looks pretty good. Back to building.

[Capt652]

Russell,

Nice work! The movie showing on the hanger deck is a neat idea. I'll be watching how you finish the catwalks around the flightdeck. I used the GMM PE and attempted the cutouts and bulkhead openings, and if I did it again i would try to make it even more realistic.

Timm

[Rdutnell]

Thanks Timm!
I'm anxious how I'm going to do the catwalks too. I've already read on a forum (or 2) on this site that the catwalks on Trumpeter's Essex are wrong. therthan the plans that come with the GMM PE set, the only thing I have to go on are the plans provided in Raven's book (pp 44-45), but I know these will be at least partially wrong due to different gun platform locations on Bennington. What did you go by?

[Rdutnell]

Update 37
SRO! That�s what it now is in the �Movie Theater�. Standing Room Only!

The white lined hole in the hanger deck visible in the pictures is the hole for the wiring for the projector light, that will be made and installed after I get the LED chips I ordered, which should be in a couple of days.

I�m not sure what I will work on next. Perhaps I will start putting planes and jeeps in the hanger.