Aircraft Carrier GB 2016

I looked at the video review too, and it looks like Academy's Enterprise would be from the Midway era, with Wildcats, Dauntlesses and Devastators.  I had to buy both an Enterprise and a Hornet from Tamiya to kit-bash one Enterprise, and then scratch build some guntubs.  Lot of fussy work.

And now they put it out in a kit!!

Your reaction was the same as mine.  I just spent 7 months and who knows how much $$ in PE and aftermarket parts to kitbash the Tamiya Enterprise as of June 1942 and now there is shake n bake kit.

I was not really impressed with the mounting bosses in the hull, and the planes did seem to lack any detail. Overall, the kit does look like it would be fun.  I wonder what the island looks like?

That carrier is looking good. The aircraft really bring it to life. I am more motivated to get mine done now.

Scott:  yes, I agree about the aircraft; they seem kind of lacking in the petite detail department; good question about the island.  I've read that the Tamiya island is too narrow. 

I did not like the skinny island that came with my Tamiya kit, which was why I was glad to come across the Shapeways 3D printed one that really made the model stand out scalewise.  I found a good review of the Acedemy kit on the MWS site and the island looks correct, except the molding just looks thick and toyish to me, a lot like the Meng snap together Lexington.  Although old, the Tamiya hull and even the guns are molded really fine.  

Despite their flaws, I like the Tamiya Yorktown class.  One of these days, I'll get around to building the Hornet--although I'd like to replace the mis-shaped flight deck, if anyone makes a replacement.  Five Star makes an upgrade set, but it appears to be for the Trumpeter kit, not Tamiya.

I wonder if it would still work on the Tamiya hull?  I wasn't aware the flightdeck was mis-shaped.  Ironically, my Enterprise kit had all Hornet parts in it.  It would have been a bonus, except I already had a Tamiya Hornet, hence why I ended up getting 3D printer parts to make Enterprise.  

Duke Maddog

That carrier is looking good. The aircraft really bring it to life. I am more motivated to get mine done now.

 

Thanks Duke,  yup, we need to get these carriers finished up!

scottrc

I wonder if it would still work on the Tamiya hull?  I wasn't aware the flightdeck was mis-shaped.  Ironically, my Enterprise kit had all Hornet parts in it.  It would have been a bonus, except I already had a Tamiya Hornet, hence why I ended up getting 3D printer parts to make Enterprise.  

I don't think Five Star's flight deck would work on the Tamiya hull because Tamiya's kit is supposed to be slightly underscale; supposed to be about 1/719 or /720, rather than a true 1/700.

As for the shape, there was a discussion about it here on the forum (although they were talking abour Revell's old kits, not Tamiya's):

http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/modeling_subjects/f/7/p/117283/1172726.aspx

If you scroll down aways, EdGrune included a diagram comparing Yorktown/Enterprise and Hornet.

Since I've got two flight decks, I have thought about trying to modify one, and if I mess up, I still have the second one. 

Ah, now its clear CM.  I have a Hornet as well and it may not be that hard to do this modification.  Its easier to take off material than to add it.  

scottrc

Ah, now its clear CM.  I have a Hornet as well and it may not be that hard to do this modification.  Its easier to take off material than to add it.  

Very true.  Still, reshaping the flight deck will require reshaping the catwalks, too.

I was visiting Scale Hobbiest and they now have Tom's Modelworks 1/700 resin kits of the Enterprise and Yorktown at the time of Midway.   Seems like there are getting to be more options for Yorktown class of this period.

They've been around for a little bit, but they're kind of pricey--and I haven't yet built a resin ship, although I've got a USS Chicago, maybe waiting around for the 1943 GB.  But I'm a little leary of resin!

I'm not a fan of resin.  It does show great detail, but the cutting and sanding of every part can be a challenge.  I always sand too much off and then spend hours buiding up what I sanded off with more resin.  

Good to be aware of that!  I'm also intimidated by having to build up masts out of plastic rod, and cutting platforms out of sheet styrene.  

checkmateking02

Good to be aware of that!  I'm also intimidated by having to build up masts out of plastic rod, and cutting platforms out of sheet styrene.  

 

Hee hee, thats one part of modeling I do like to do.  I like making something out of stryrene sheet and rod and then adding PE to it.  Its what made two Essex class SCB conversions fun. 

What I am really getting to not like is trying to put 44 pairs of wheels on 1/700 scale airplanes.  I have twelve left.  Thank goodness for the SE5 project that gives me a break from this tedium.

scottrc

 

 

checkmateking02

Good to be aware of that!  I'm also intimidated by having to build up masts out of plastic rod, and cutting platforms out of sheet styrene.  

 

 

 

 

 

Hee hee, thats one part of modeling I do like to do.  I like making something out of stryrene sheet and rod and then adding PE to it.  Its what made two Essex class SCB conversions fun. 

What I am really getting to not like is trying to put 44 pairs of wheels on 1/700 scale airplanes.  I have twelve left.  Thank goodness for the SE5 project that gives me a break from this tedium.

 

In that case, if I get that far, I'll probably be coming to you for some advice. 

And an SE5?  All those struts to align, and the biplanes:  you have much more gumption than I do right now. 

I got all the decals on the TBD and SDBs, now just need to finish the Wildcats.  Also got the base all painted and ready to gesso to simulate the waves.

Almost done!  Woo Hoo!

Its done, at least for this GB.  I may plan to put it on a base sometime.  

That is mighty impressive, Scott.  It gives a great indication of the carrier's airpower.  Nice work.

Reminds me that most of my carrier models don't have airgroups, and I should best get myself in gear to make some.

I've enjoyed following your progress!

Thanks,

You had a lot to do with my finishing this project with all the support you gave in this GB.  After seeing your Enterprise and Yorktown, I had to see if I could do this.

It had been a lot of fun.

Scott

scottrc

Thanks,

You had a lot to do with my finishing this project with all the support you gave in this GB.  After seeing your Enterprise and Yorktown, I had to see if I could do this.

It had been a lot of fun.

Scott

 

Scott, fantastic job on that bird farm! Way to go and congrats on getting finished.

Here's my latest progress that i finally managed to get done:

This Russian carrier Baku got some additional detail parts on the island. I also added the ships boats and other detail parts to the main hull. I then assembled all the missile launch tubes and dry-fit them to the forward deck to see how they were going to look:



The "Cake Stand" radar is also just dry-fit. I still need to paint it first. Here's some more shots:

That's all for now. Thanks for looking in, comments are welcome.

Hey Duke, keep working and posting.  I want to see this completed.  That is such an unusual looking ship, like its part aircraft carrier, part cruiser, part amphibious assault ship.

Scott

What a great looking ship, Duke.  Very colorful and appealing to the eye!  Nice work!

Thanks guys! I'm slowly making progress. The P/E is really slowing me down. Tough stuff!

Stay tuned, more to come.

Here's just a small update on the Russian Aircraft Carrier Baku. I did a few more of the detail parts on it:






And now after a lot more work that I burned through, this ship is now finished. It really feels great to finally be finished with this model:

Finally after all the difficulty with all the tiny parts and other issues, I can now call this ship finished.

This is the Soviet Aircraft Carrier Baku currently sailing in the Black Sea.....

Get it?

Enjoy!





And a slightly higher viewpoint to see more of the deck:




There she is in all her glory. Thanks all for looking in, comments are welcome!

Thanks for looking in, comments are welcome.

Now to go get my badge....

EDIT: Went looking for the badge and saw nothing but the photobucket ad requesting an upgrade. Anyone have it for me to download? Thanks!

Duke,

Congrats on finishing the Baku, it was worth taking your time, its a very impressive model.  I like the "Black" sea.  Nice contrast.

I also would like to know how to aquire a group badge, since the current one is held hostage by Photo"explicative".

Scott

Looks great, Duke.  One very colorful ship!

And here's the badge.

Thanks CM,

This was cool badge that I really wanted in my collection.