Getting started on a 1/350 CVN 65

[Trekfan]

Hey All,
I build mostly Star Trek models. I build for clients mostly.
My website....

http://www.lightyearmodels.com

I just got the above named kit and I wanted to ask a few questions......I am sorry if I annoy any of you but its my first non sci fi kit, and since its not fiction I want it to be at least 90 percent accurate.

I see a lot of CVN-65's with rust. Most real pictures I see of the ship, it looks spotless. Do they clean it every other day or what? I know rust adds a bit of realism, but how much is too much?

Second, I have no clue about the air wing of the current Enterprise. I don't need to be supper accurate, but what types of aircraft are currently on the ship, and any of you guys have a rough count of each?

Third, What are those white dots all over the flight deck on some of the builds? Some have them super duper white, others just have them a faded white.

Thanks guys...I appreciate it!!

[ArizonaBB39]

To answer you third question those white dots are the tie down pads in the deck. Although, I would personally paint them the Hull color instead of white. A picture from a cruiser here (same thing as on the carrier)



Notice how they are also just painted over with the deck markings and how they are almost the same color as the deck. White would be, IMO, a wrong color choice.

[Devin]

The white tie-downs were used for a time on most ships. They showed rust and dirt very easily, though, and were discontinued. When they are gray, they should technically be a different shade than the non-skid, but it's so minimal of a difference that you don't need to worry about it.

Every ship has rust. If it's been underway for more than a few days, running rust shows, chalking of the hull paint appears, etc. After a major yard period where they strip the ship down to metal, prime and then spray paint her, she'll look clean for some time, but once the spot touch-ups and other facts of underway life take hold, you will always see noticeable rust and chalking.

-Devin

[largeallan]

I can't speak for the USN, but I was in the RN and I remember coming back across the atlantic and anchoring a couple of miles offshore the evening before going into Plymouth.....all hands over the ships side and slappin the grey stuff on.....the fact is, the painting of the ship is a never ending cycle.....a bit like the Forth Railway bridge


an old saying...."...but Chief, you can't paint in the rain"....(Chief)..."yes you can, put yer f****** oil skins on"

http://freepages.military.rootsweb.com/ ... /bigh3.jpg

[Jason M.]

Your not asking annoying questions, they are good questions. However, if I was asking questions on a sci-fi site, I'm sure I would be beamed right out of there based on sheer stupidity. Anyways, I will try to chime in on this:

1. Rust is always on a ship. Always. HOwever, the ship is ALWAYS being painted. NON-STOP! So, basically, if the ship is at sea,it's rusty. If its in port, its rusty for about 30seconds, until the bosn's can get her painted over.

2. Here is the current airwing, to the best of my knowledge aboard that ship: approx. 66 total aircraft
Forty three F/A-18 Hornets;
Four EA-6B Prowlers;
Four E-2C Hawkeyes;
Six S-3 Vikings;
Five SH-60 Seahawks)
This is pretty much the norm for most modern CVN's.

3. Those "dots"in the flight deck are air craft tie-downs, also known as "Pad-Eye's". They are correct in saying they are painted the same color as the deck. I can also say, that they are capable of filling with water. WHen they happened to be filled with water around the equator, the US Navy (other's too I'm sure) has a little tradition that involves "Wog's" laying on the deck and blowing the water out of them. Ask a shellback, he will tell you all about it....IF your worthy!!

[Guest]

You guys are really great. Thanks so much for the info. Now I got another question.

How to set up the flight deck....



Lets say something really strange appears off the port (left side....see I know something !!!!) side of the ship. Its huge, its massive, and its something they have never seen before.

What does the crew do? What planes do they send up first? Do they stop the ship, or does it keep moving?

Finally, do aircraft carriers travel with support ships?

[Timmy C]

Yes, aircraft carriers generally travel with a screen of other smaller vessels, such as missile destroyers and cruisers, along with a replenishment vessel and some submarines. They are usually seperated by a relatively far distance apart though, unless it's for photo-ops or supplies transfer.

I would think that the carrier would turn away from the strange thing as fast as possible, to open up the range.

[largeallan]

Hmm, I think I can see a story forming here.......this "object" wouldn't happen to be from outer space now,would it?

[Guest]

You bet its from outer space....and its big!!!!

[Jason M.]

LOL! The large object would have been seen 1000 miles away, then vaporized by Aircraft or Missles, or even the CIWS before it even became a threat. Basically, the threat wud be met by aircraft. then properly vaporized if deemed necessary

[Trekfan]

hmmmm, then I'll have to say that it suddenly materializes out of thin air from the 24th century, next to the CVN, leaving no time for the CVN crew to react.

[Commodore Rob]

hmm elements of ST 4 the Voyage home here I think... where are those nucleer vessels

[Jason M.]

THen CVN wud have to put up her shields, and set her CIWS guns to "Stun"

[roym]

'CIWS' .. = Christ, It Won't Shoot!

[tony t]

'CIWS' .. = Christ, It Won't Shoot!

In which case the CVN would take a que from USS O'Bannon and start throwing potatoes at the alien ship. The alien (Borg?) ship would then grow overweight from assimilating all the potatoes and sink to the bottom of the ocean.