I could use some help deciding what order to paint things on this carrier. having never done one before I'm unsure of how to proceed. I've taken the picture from the Starfighter Deck Decals i bought and modified it slightly to show my version. The carrier has this large white arrow going from the "Ready 5" catapault (my best TopGun reference) up toward the middle of the main catapault launch area. The other mod is I'm adding the red/white foul lines along the stbd side of runway and not just up on the bow flight deck area(just relalized those 2 aren't shown on the drawing). 

My current plan is to paint "everything"...although I may end up using the foul lines as these could prove tough to mask back over but let's assume I am going to paint them as that's what I love to do! Here's what I think everything is so correct anything I'm missing and put it in the order you think works best based on your experience:

6, 8, 3, 2, 7 or 4, 1

At all costs don't mask over the decals. That particular proiduct is really fragile.

TheMongoose

4. That funky white arrow

I don't have a clue what it's for either.

Here is my best guess. Maybe it is meant to remind the pilots that they need to exit the runway towards the bow after landing. Sounds stupid but common sense isn't very common nowadays.  - wise words from PatW

Another theory... tells the bridge which direction to go.

Where's Rex when we need him?

Bill

While trying to figure out what that arrow is for I came across something interesting. This device below that sticks off the port side of the ship by catapult 4 is used for guiding the pilots while landing. Believe it or not this device is referred to as "the meatball". I think we should refer to the arrow as sphagettie noodle.

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Optical Landing System. That's a French ship.

Bill

Hmm... I was thinking it was to keep aviators from trying to back off the carrier in reverse... 

JOE RIX

Wouldn't you know it. Postimage started cooperating. so here is some pics of the primer stripping. Just brush it on, let it sit for a while and then wipe or brush off. This stuff has saved a couple of paint jobs for me by just fixing problem areas.

The paint has been removed from the stern with a toothbrush and small rag.

 

That's interesting. Never used the stuff. Wish Testor's after buying out Polly S had rebottled it under the Model Master name. 

Keyserj

Here is my best guess. Maybe it is meant to remind the pilots that they need to exit the runway towards the bow after landing. Sounds stupid but common sense isn't very common nowadays.  - wise words from PatW

 

Ha that's gonna be unpopular...the path goes across the bow flight deck! In your best Goose voice say "which way'd who go!"

Apparently they did Gamera. Available on ebay.

JOE RIX

Apparently they did Gamera. Available on ebay.

 

Thanks Joe! Hadn't seen it in the local hobby shop- I didn't even know they were doing this!

GMorrison

6, 8, 3, 2, 7 or 4, 1

At all costs don't mask over the decals. That particular proiduct is really fragile.

 

ThanksGM, I will plot that course! 

Was thinking of painting tonight but thought, ahhh itks kinda late and I'm tired so let's not bung it up. Decided to review all the deck pics I have, sketch out the different shades on a deck view I printed up, and then mix up the colors I want for the deck. Heck it took me 40 minutes to mix up 6 different shades of gray 

That damn white arrow is gonna drive me nuts. Maybe it's to distract incoming aircraft on an Attack 

keyserj I have a cool idea for my meatball if i can pull it off. I got 4 yellow pico led's and am going to order blue and red fibre optic cable that glows from the side. I'll drill out the holes for the lights then Insert that .25mm fibre through the side. This way not a bunch of strands sticking out the back of the meatball for every light. I get sidetracked on the silliest things. You can see how these dang carriers can take years to build. Next thing you know I'll be acting like MC and ordering all this crazy PE hehehe

Is it just me or does anyone else have a craving for a meatball marinara sandwich? 

All jokes aside, I think adding lights would make the meatball look so cool. Maybe one day I will be able to light up a model kit.

That darn arrow really made the discussion interesting lately but maybe I should get back to work on my carrier.   I would agree with Mongoose, the arrow is very distracting.

The Optical display uses fresnel lenses and has a somewhat narrow spread.

It can fly a pilots eyeballs through an 18" square.

A lighted and working OLS on a 1/350 carrier model would be beyond cool.  Have the deck lights run in sequence too.  

Mongoose, I am very much looking forward to your deck endeavors. I faith in the fact that you are going to turn it into something rather epic. You go Bro!

Well guys heres the 1st look at whether it will be epic or not. Appreciate the faith Joe! Almost 1am now but I need to relax with some wine before sleep will hit me after doing all this work. I propped my ipad up over my paint booth so I could look at reference pics while I worked my way thru it. Glad I got the Tamiya airbrush working. It has the larger cup and the 0.4mm tip. 
Heres the mottle coat. 4 colors here. Light ghost grey (cause it's what i havve  ) with 10% white and with 10% black for the lighter colored areas and dark ghost gray (you know why lol) with 10% black for the darker colored areas. 

edit-forgot to mention I put down a thin coat of deck blue on the recovery strip to set it off from the rest of the deck.

all this took 3 hours. And for once I listened to all that advice about weathering and stopped when I thought it wasn't enough! So maybe it's just right as you can add more but it's tough to undo it. 
let me know what you guys think? Seems like this will be good to start using some oils, pencils, and chalk. But it's my 1st shot at it so send your experience my way.

Sure looks like a quite dandy start to epic to me. Nice!

Funny, the bird farm modelers have to take their ships out to the patio to snap.

So, well, an adventure. 

It will probably go well.

Bill

Yep, layer, layer, layer, that's the secret to convencing weathering, at least, so I've heard.

I like the motling. There isn't a carried ever that had a presteen deck.

Here is a pic of the Akagi I need to recreate on wood veneer...somehow.

I are you going to darken it up some?

Going at snail pace for some reason, but here is some progress....

Added the details identified in the previous message to the OSU2 aircraft. Several things were made clear after I did them and took the pictures:





- all of the wing pontoon braces are out of scale (too thick and too short), even though the ones I added match the scale of the one supplied in the kit. I have to think about this one, keep them or try to replace them all?  

- the cross cables on the center pontoon are too large (out of scale). I have already removed them. Also I added them to the rear opening when they should've been added to the front pontoon opening. If I ever found anything to add them it would have to be the width of a human hair.... hmmm....   

- The air speed probe on the left wing is out of scale. I do not plan on keeping them unless I find something more to scale (smaller) to replace them with (perhaps a small guitar string?) 

Here are some images I am using to inspire the builds:





In the box of the after-market float planes are decals of the standard blue star and bars. Every photo I have found of the period shows the planes to have the star in the white roundel with a center red dot (earlier insignia). So I located some on the after market to make the aircraft appear period correct. Trumpeter should've had the period correct insignia with the aircraft. I believe they were a convenient item in stock for the more modern carrier aircraft they sell.

I've also been working on the overall display. I want to have the basics ready as I do not want to handle the ship too much after I begin painting and detailing it. I found a craft item originally designed as a wall plaque in our local Hobby Lobby. I had to return it to find one that was square and flat (not warped). Next I removed the wall hanger mounts.



I also purchased some 1/4 inch foam board which I cut to fit inside the wall plaque, now display base. Once it was fitted I traced around the base of the ships hull in the area I wanted cut out. Just a note, one of the all time hobby diorama builders, Mr. Shepard Payne, in many of his books stressed that you should never display the model perfectly square to its display base. I followed that here and marked the hull at an angle to the base, and cut the space out. After a test fit of the hull I began to dimple the foam to begin the ocean scene process.



Here is the ship in the display (proof of concept):





In theory, I will pull the foam out of the base to add crumpled foil and begin painting it. It will then be returned to the base for final assembly and paint details. I also need to carefully determine the correct height of the boat in the water while on the display.   

But first, its time to paint and begin assembly the Arizona!

Ben

Your really moving along Dan. I like the base.

Mongoose: I'm loving that flightdeck! I went on a tour of the Norfolk/Newport News naval base years ago and got to look at some F/A-18s close up. You've got that weird salt and sun-bleached look going on there. Very sharp work! 

Ben: Great work there on the base, love how she's coming! On something as small as the spotter planes I'm not sure though you can model some parts to scale- it looks great to me. 

Ben: Good to see you making progress. I do believe your Kingfisher is going to look every bit the part as soon as your done with the improvements. The start to your base looks quite good.

Thx guys. Can't tell you how excited I am about this phase. Really looking like a ship now.

MC i think only darker in a few spots but going to wait it out a bit 1st. One area for sre is the 2 wire point but i think pencils and chalk there. Will spray some smoke on and around the blast shields (that may be a Star Trek term slipping in there hehe).

Finally took some relaxation time and read the latest posts 

Bill that's crazy man! Is that a quote or did you come up with that? 

Ben I like your style man! You may know this and I'm just stupidly stating the obvious but don't forget to leave room for the foil if you wrap it around the foam and then want to put said foam back in the base  btw i think the pontoon struts are a must, just say'n (add evil laugh here)

It has been a slow go lately with the island. These pieces are so tiny and the plastic is so fragile. Really surprised I haven't done any damage to the parts. Building the masts is definitely my least favorite part of ships, good thing this carrier only has one mast.

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As to the brace wires, might take a look at some phone or computer stranded wire.  That stuff is thin and easily shaped.