My first 1:350 build, Trumpeter CVN-68 USS Nimitz

[NWarty]

Well done warty! very nice.

I would just like to call some small attention to the fact that the tomcat James linked to in the foreground is that of my good friend CDR Emory Brown. He was the CO of VF-84 in '79-81 timeframe. Earned the distinguished flying cross (DFC) in Vietnam (for a mission that I can guarantee would raise hairs on the necks of the saltiest piolets around), and was a major player in the development of the tomcat, including calling attention to the initial faulty engines.

Ok, off my soapbox, I just feel I have to do my part to keep this legacy alive.

Ryan.

Ryan,
Funny you mention that. I have several pics on my work hard drive of CDR Brown's aircraft on the tarmac during initial filming of "The Final Countdown". Think I found them on the AR-15 forum as one of the posters was ground personnel in the USN at the time. One of which is CDR Brown at the helm after he'd taxi'd in

[NWarty]

Ryan,
Don't know if you've seen these, but here are pics of CDR Brown and his Cat in Key West during filming. Original poster on the AR-15 forum did confirm it was CDR Brown in his posts.

[anyahajobuzi]

Superdetailed TOMCAT Blake!!!!!

the whole deck looks very nice with all that traffic and life on it!!!!
There is on only one tiny bit of detail that caught my eye. But! You have to promise me that after I point it out , you are not jumping the next caribou herd to travel to the north-pole to come and stab me to death with my own Nimitz.
This is something I found very wrong with the Trumpy Cats: the nose gear is way too forward on them. The gear strut should just below the front ejection seat, not under the windscreen. It seems like you had compensated for their mistake somewhat, but -and this is just a dirty Canadian immigrant speaking- It is still too far forward for a Tomcat.
That's it, that's all, that is the ONLY thing wrong with an otherwise perfect Tomcat! I love your work!

Keep it up, keep filling up your ship with goodness!

Laci

[NWarty]

Thanks Laci!!!!

Nah, as an honorary Royal Canadian Kilted Yaksman, I will refrain from physical harm, just make sure the keg is tapped

You are right, the Trumpy gear is way too far forward. I did cut the kit gear off and pull the PE version back a bit, but needed to go a teensy bit further. It's not too bad and I'll definitely do the rest of the squadron with PE gear instead of the kit gear. I can get away with the flaw on this one since the nose is compressed. Thank you for the insight as sometimes working in a vacuum, you miss things. Still amazes me how Trumpeter got them so wrong

On another note, three cockpits (tub, seats and instrument panels) have been installed and I'm working on the fourth. Pictures to come later.

[NWarty]

Alright, two down, two to go.

I'll finish up VF-84 before moving on to the Aces. Continuity and all that stuff

I hate Macro lenses now to get the nail clippers out and trim that face curtain handle. Up next is all the PE on the JR Cats and off with the plastic landing gear!

[NWarty]

Starting to get a little stupid with the details

Front windscreen now has a gloss coat on the window pieces. Canopy is drying and will get put on in the next couple of days.

[JimVarnellABH2USN]

looking great, excellent work so far on the cats

[sgtryan13]

Blake, those cats are among the best, if not the best ones I have ever seen done. Wow is the word that comes to mind. Keep it up buddy.

[NWarty]

Jim,
Thank you sir

Ryan,
I'm truly humbled by your words and many thanks bud. I'm primarily an aircraft modeler, so I have to make up for my lack of ship building skills

After one too many Hefeweizens last night, I went ahead painted and attached the Cat's canopy (luckily the Future was dry). Very pleased that the big ole thing had no problems with fitment, as it didn't hit the top of the ejection seats. Glossed the plexi on the front windscreen and fit the spine aerial. Sitting on the starboard aft elevator, she looks right at home. The next Cat I'm working on is the other elevator Cat (all PE is attached). This one has the canopy in the closed position and red outtake covers on its back and AIM-9 yellow missle lens covers.

Assembling the PE and painting just one Cat takes me almost an entire day, hence the slow pace. As I still crawl over the ship when looking at it, still so much to do.

Thanks for looking fellas

[Jaguar]

Impressive Tomcats. Very well painted and finished. Amazing at this scale, i hope i finished my Tomcats at least as well as you.

[NWarty]

Thanks Jaguar

Here's the completed Cat. Should get its next door neighbor finished up tonight

[boomstick68]

[NWarty]

VF-84 is done. My head hurts...Three Cats in one day

One blurry pic before my batteries died showing the three on the starboard side, second Launch Cat is done too. More pics tomorrow.

Then a break for a week or so...

A Trio of Missile-laden Felines

[Jaguar]

Looks real, Congratulations. I can�t wait for more pictures

[KevinYoung]

That's some beautiful work thanks for showing us.

[NWarty]

Jaguar and Kevin, thanks guys

Elevator Cat with AIM-9 lens covers and shoulder covers. Plane Captain is checking out the nose gear.


Crummy iphone photo, but it depicts the layout prior to laying down all the figures, missile carts and auxiliary stuff. Time for several beers today and a much needed break.

[LE BOSCO]

Blake

the result is simply amazing
a great work, congratulation
cheers
nicolas

[anyahajobuzi]

Very nice Cats, Blake!!!!!

You opened up quite a few cocpits. I admire your devotion to the airwing, you are my inspiration for crazy stuff like this.

So did you end up building the armament, or are they GHQ?

Keep it up!!

Laci

[blacman]

fantastic details!
I'll keep watching ...

[NWarty]

Very nice Cats, Blake!!!!!

You opened up quite a few cocpits. I admire your devotion to the airwing, you are my inspiration for crazy stuff like this.

So did you end up building the armament, or are they GHQ?

Keep it up!!

Laci

Laci, thanks man. The remaining VF-41 birds also sport two open cockpits. Thank God the planes themselves are just flat gull gray.

But the weapons are GHQ, I actually didn't use the GHQ metal AIM-9's. I used the smaller GBU-12 Paveways trimmed down they look pretty darned good

The Sparrows on the belly needed minimal trimming (mostly the inner fins)