The Ship Model Forum

Man is this ship going to look great! Love the 5 inchers, WAY better than stock.

Kyle

Nice stuff. It's amazing how much BETTE aftermarket weapons make a boat look.

Thanks guys, I appreciate it!

I started experimenting with rigging, I ended up using UNI-Caenis 20 Den, glued with CA. I tried with stretched sprue, but I couldn't get good results. I used sprue on WWII monoplanes before, but that was 1/48 scale and just a couple of strands for the antennae. On a side note, that Caenis thread is very strong, it survived some stray fingers and tweezers. I used photographs as reference, and every time I review them I see that I missed some, still working on it. Thanks to Gabriel(Angeliccypher) for providing me with high quality pictures!

Comments and/or criticisms always welcomed!

I can't believe it's 1/700... Fantastic job

Thanks KevinH!

Just a small update. I have been adding details to the flight deck. The arresting gear is done with small discs and caenis thread. The barriers also, but with small triangles. As reference I used photographs of the time.
Thanks for watching, comments and/or criticisms welcomed!

I am enjoying how this is turning out. Much cleaner than mine:)

Thank you Gabriel! I use your CV-8 build as reference.

I finally had some time and willpower to work on the B-25's. The cockpits, noses and gun turrets were first masked off with a liquid masking fluid, then green zinc chomate was airbrushed on. After letting it dry for a couple of days, the medium gray was sprayed and then the olive drab on top. More masking for several black stripes.

I also printed decals for the yellow serial numbers (yellow numbers over olive drab background printed in white decal paper, yellow on transparent rendered brownish numbers over the model) and the red propeller guard stripes. The roundels are from the kit.

The frames over the clear parts were made with painted decal film, enamel over transparent decal film. Then cut into very fine strips and applied. Propellers and landing gear is PE from WEM.

The serial numbers can be read with an optivisor (at least by me). The stripes can also be seen this way. I sometimes think that maybe the extra work was not worth it, but I am satisfied with it.
As always, comments and criticisms welcomed!

Hi everyone,

I mounted the model to its base and started adding small details and fixed the island in place. The AA and other details were added, but I am still half way there I think. Rigging is also not complete.
I know the pictures could be better, and that is something I plan to address soon.

Comments and/or criticisms are very welcomed!

You've set a new standard, beautiful model!

Paul

Thank you Paul! I wouldn't say that about my build... but I really appreciate it.

I am just using the methods and techniques you very generously shared.

hypno7 wrote:Thank you Paul! I wouldn't say that about my build... but I really appreciate it.

I am just using the methods and techniques you very generously shared.

Don't sell yourself short. This is beautiful work.

Awesome work! Guns like yours make me think that kit barrels will never again suffice.

Great model!
The rigging looks very fine and precise, and the detail on the bombers is great. I would say it was worth the extra effort!

Cheers,

Marijn

-Chris, Marijn, Thank you! I appreciate it a lot.

-GazzaS, Thanks! I can only recommend the brass barrels (Sea Master), they are relatively cheap and do add a lot to the model. Not only it looks better, but can handle a bit more abuse while handling, compared to their plastic counterparts. On the other hand, there are some manufacturers that have very nice plastic parts, so in some cases I think it is not needed.


The model will be finished soon (or when I really get tired of adding small details). It is somewhat sad, but I am already planning and researching the next build.

That's not sad at all!
I think the best is to research the next build while building the current one.
The more research is done before starting a build, the less likely one is to run into problems halfway (as I found out again during my current project...)
Only problem: it is hard to choose one next build, so research can be less than efficient by being devided over many potential future projects!

Cheers,

Marijn

Hi Marijn,

Oh yeah, the best part (and sometimes frustrating part) is researching your new project! I don't know how much time I stared at the Yorktown plans for this build, and trying to make out details of small, fuzzy, digitized, 70+ year old photographs. But getting to know the ship, history, details, and the shapes of it is the interesting part of the build for me.

What feels a bit sad is that the project is coming close to an end. I used to purposefully leave something unfinished on my airplane models, just to have it sit there on my desk so I could "work on it".

I will one day build a Lexington class, and the build you are sharing here will certainly be part of my reference. I would like to make at least one of each USN fleet carrier class. (Yorktown class I think will have to be all three, but that is in the very very long term)

I know the feeling Hypno7!!!

I could have done the same scene with Hornet (or Yorktown) instead of Lexington, and I sometimes wish I did (if only for that camo!). So if I ever get to build Hornet, your model is on my list too!

But before you start on a Coral Sea Lexington, make sure to send me a pm, as I can by now point out a number of corrections you can do to the Trumpeter kit that I haven't seen on any model yet, and that I became aware of too late to implement them on my own build. Hence my comment about doing as much research as possible before starting...
Not that you have to do these corrections of course, just in case you would like to...

Cheers,

Marijn

Brilliant! I missed this thread earlier. Glad to have found it.

Thank you Steve! Pictures of the finished model can be found here: viewtopic.php?f=60&t=156938

Incredible work. The camo scheme looks fantastic.