Advice on Trumpeter 350 Lexington CV 2

Well I've managed to build three out of the first four-pack! The last I will use for spare parts, or maybe park it by the island like the famous footage we've seen over and over of the plane that does a belly-flop on the deck, loses it's propeller and wheels, and slides!

These could seriously take almost as long to build as the rest of the ship!

By the way, I saw the Trumpeter 350 North Carolina on clearance sale at Hobby Lobby for only $83!

Just build one and position it launching... title your build "last one off"

I hate to admit it, but these little planes are driving me crazy! Do you know if planes in this scale can be ordered from somewhere, preferably already assembled!

Glad it was of some help!

One thing that I don't think gets enough mention is that instructions these days are more of a parts placement guide; they're designed to be as simple and cheap for the manufacturer to produce as possible; therefore they want to show each area only once, and will show parts going on way earlier than I would advise.

Tracy, your articles were very valuable in helping me. I didn't have the problems with the deck going on as you did, I did it in sections and if I read your article right you put the deck together first and then all on in one piece?

I had to remove the flight deck supports once the deck was on, the front ones where the flight deck had been expanded. It was quite clear they were on wrong but went on much easier and tighter. This is a step they should have had in a different order in the instructions I think.

All in all a pretty tight fit and I learned a lot. I am now working on the aircraft and next the decals.

One thing I learned before starting this model is to not put on all the little guns until the last step, as those little barrels snap off easily when handling the ship and of course are sticking out there where you can't miss them.

I'm building the 350 Arizona next then probably the Trumpeter Essex if I can find it.

Thanks again!

Jerry

yes.

Hi probably just keep in with the box why do you need one?

MrGood, what are you going to do with the lower half of the hull?

Thanks Tracy I printed out your articles and found them very interesting! I'm not going to build it full-hull either by the way!

Jerry

Thanks Don! I had just noticed my hull color was almost an exact match for your deck color, but I'm going to sand them both down a little to "rough" it up and tone done the colors just a little.

I really appreciate your advice!

Jerry

MrGood

Don, I am comparing your photos to the painting I am doing and wondered did you follow exactly the suggested paint colors etc. when you built your Lexington? Any thoughts on the paints you did use?

 

Thanks!

Jerry

No, I found a picture in a library book (a color picture).  Now, I realize the difficulty in printing color pictures in books, and the lack of color fidelity in color photographs of that period, but I figured it was still a good reference.  Unfortunately I forget the paint colors I used, but I do remember altering the deck blue a bit to lighten it and tone it down a bit.

Don, I am comparing your photos to the painting I am doing and wondered did you follow exactly the suggested paint colors etc. when you built your Lexington? Any thoughts on the paints you did use?

Thanks!

Jerry

A couple of links for you:

http://www.modelwarships.com/reviews/ships/cv/cv-02/350-tr-tw/lexington.html

http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=7216

Don, thank you so much for your comments and also the great pictures! I've printed them out to inspire me as I get started, probably tomorrow...

It's a beautiful job you did!

 By the way, I got a really good deal on this kit at Hobby Lobby. They are a chain store but not sure what other states they are in...I had a 40% off coupon good for any one item in the store and ended up paying only $90 plus tax for it!

Jerry in Ohio

Okay, got out and took a few pictures.  That is one big model, didn't have a background big enough, so the overall shot has the background poster paper cloned bigger, not the best job.

It was a fine kit, no major problems.  Be sure and fill the seam well between the fore and aft flight deck sections.  The photo etch set adds a lot to this kit, even if it is a fair amount of bucks- but then the kit is even more expensive, so it is worth spending the money on the PE.

I built this model a couple of years ago and it turned out beautiful. I'll try to get a picture or two.  I used a PE set for it- I am sure it was the Tom's modelworks set.  I also used a PE figure set. I consider it one of my gems.

I added arresting gear.  That was about the only real mod other than the storebought aftermarket stuff.  Oh, yeah, I bought some more aircraft though the ones in the kit are great.