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As I wait for some supplies and other things to finish off the Graf Spee, I have turned my attention to a commision build that fell into my lap---------CV 63 Kitty Hawk! This will be my first modern ship build and first carrier as well.
The kit goes back to the late 90's with some pretty decent detail. The plastic is very hard but seems to take glue fairly well so far. My version comes with an etch fret with railings, safety nets, lifeboat container racks, and radar. I'll be adding some extras such as an etch version of the big yellow beast of a crane that is almost always seen on her decks.
Here are some basic components thrown together to build up her hull.
I havent glued this stern piece in yet as I need to fill the gap between the inside deck and the lower hull first.
Thats it for now. Planning on some more bench time tommorrow to start adding some of the bulges and other stuff to the lower hull.
Eric
What kinda air-group you gonna put on this thing?
I think a bit of everything from CAW11 will be represented. Cats, Hornets, Hawkeyes, Seahawks, etc. The decal sheet comes with some great looking markings for the air wing including the colorful CAG birds!
Little more progress. Threw some putty on the seams that were created by adding the hangar sidewalls to the hull. They lined up pretty nicely but the edges were not square but more rounded which left somewhat of a groove where the parts met. Nothing some Tamiya putty cant solve.
Moving along to all of the dadgum bulges sticking from the hull of this thing.
Fujimi molded the railings on as I think was common place around the time this kit was released. I give them credit, they added a bit more detail rather than just molding a solid wall.
But alas, they all must go to make way for the etch railings. It will be a long and fairly tedious task so out comes the Dremel and some new sanding sticks!!!
Will sand the seams down tomorrow after the putty is good and dry and I should be finished shaving these railings off so maybe I can start fitting some of the bulges!
You are in my area now Eric. I love Carriers and you are doing a darn good Job on her. Seems always appear on Modern Carriers I have found rather that WW2 vintage. Must be something in their Design. Otherwise will be watching with interest.....Cheers Mark
If i was your wife, i'd poison your tea! If Iwas your husband, I would drink it! WINSTON CHURCHILL
She has bulges!! Phew, man that was a lot of grinding and sanding to get those railings off! Still have to cut all the safety netting around the flight deck off but that should be much easier and faster. I see some brilliance in the design of the kit as many of the platforms and such mount directly over the seam lines on the side of the hull. That being said, it shows its age as there is some flash here and there and sometimes the mold lines look like 1/35th tank welds!!! Without further ado...
The two elevators and doors on the starboard side will be raised and closed. The plan is to leave the 2 hangar doors on the rear open with one or more elevators in the lowered position.
The fit and alignment is generally pretty good once the parts are cleaned up. Started work on the major components involved in the bridge and thats where I called it for the day. It doesn't look like much but it was a surprising amount of work to get her to this point. I've inhaled a sprues worth of styrene!
Nice work!
Ken
...not bad...
kenjitak Nice work!
Nice and clean so far Eric.....Cheers mark
surfsup Nice and clean so far Eric.....Cheers mark
Thanks fellas.
So this may not be the best place to ask these questions judging by the content of the forums as of late but I have some questions regarding the 'Hawk'. There are several squarish like boxes on her stern that seem to be centered on the waterline as in the picture below. What are they and would they have been there in '98?
Also, the opening on the stern which I assume is where they do jet engine testing among other things. Does anyone have any clear detailed shots? The Fujimi kit leaves a cavernous opening with no detail so I will need to scratch some here to make it look good.
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