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1/350 USS Carl Vinson Project.

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  • Member since
    September 2013
  • From: San Antonio, Texas
Posted by Marcus McBean on Friday, October 20, 2017 9:26 AM

Excellent work on those railings.  You are going to have to be careful you don't effect your deck work when painting them.  I paint mind before installing them and then just do the touch up as needed.

Glad to see you adjusted the steps on the stairs to horizontal.  It can be a real pain to do at this scale.

  • Member since
    October 2003
  • From: Canada
Posted by sharkbait on Friday, October 20, 2017 12:43 PM
That is modeling magic. Very, very well done!

You have never been lost until you've been lost at Mach 3!

  • Member since
    December 2010
  • From: Salem, Oregon
Posted by 1943Mike on Saturday, October 21, 2017 10:25 PM

This is stunning work!! You have the patience of Job and a whole heap of modeling talent.

Mike

"Le temps est un grand maître, mais malheureusement, il tue tous ses élèves."

Hector Berlioz

  • Member since
    April 2015
Posted by Wolfman_63 on Sunday, October 22, 2017 2:40 PM

Thanks for all the compliments! Spent some time last night and this morning adding more catwalks. Slow but steady process getting things lined up. Looks like I should be able to start the island detailing next weekend. Still have bow and elevators to do. Here are some pictures of the starboard side.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Website:

David's Scale Models - https://www.davidsscalemodels.com

 

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    April 2015
Posted by Wolfman_63 on Friday, October 27, 2017 4:13 AM

Finished all the catwalks, safety nets, and CIWS's around the ship. Starting to tape the edges and flight deck so I can paint them. Will be detailing the elevators then on to detailing the island. Still on schedule to complete this project by the end of December.

Here is a walk around of the catwalks, safety nets, and CWIS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Website:

David's Scale Models - https://www.davidsscalemodels.com

 

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    September 2013
  • From: San Antonio, Texas
Posted by Marcus McBean on Friday, October 27, 2017 7:20 AM

She is really looking mighty fine. 

  • Member since
    February 2007
  • From: Brunswick, Ohio
Posted by Buckeye on Friday, October 27, 2017 11:19 AM

Very nice work there! Yes

Mike

  • Member since
    April 2015
Posted by Wolfman_63 on Sunday, October 29, 2017 3:45 PM

Painting all weekend. All the catwalks and safety nets painted. In process of painting all the flight deck details. (no decals used yet, all you see is painted) I must really compliment Tamiya. Their 6mm masking tape is awesome. It allows you to mask off even the smallest areas and gives you a clean edge when removing. Completed the starboard side, now working on the port side of the flight deck. I still have some detailing to do for the arresting cables. Now onto the pictures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Website:

David's Scale Models - https://www.davidsscalemodels.com

 

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Sunday, October 29, 2017 4:11 PM

Pretty incredible, sir. I hope you get a case and display this model.

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    April 2015
Posted by Wolfman_63 on Sunday, October 29, 2017 5:40 PM

Yes, It will be in a very nice case.

GMorrison

Pretty incredible, sir. I hope you get a case and display this model.

 

Website:

David's Scale Models - https://www.davidsscalemodels.com

 

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    April 2015
Posted by Wolfman_63 on Friday, November 3, 2017 5:04 AM

More work on the flight deck. Yes I colored the padeyes. They came out very good. Took me a while to figure out how to do them. Also put on the few decals that I needed and started to do the elevators. Next comes the hose reels and weathering of the flight deck.

 

On to the pictures!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Website:

David's Scale Models - https://www.davidsscalemodels.com

 

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    April 2015
Posted by Wolfman_63 on Friday, November 10, 2017 4:35 AM

Kind of a slow modeling week as other things had to get taken care of. Was able to get the hose reels built, landing cables, and flight deck weathering done. Now working on the island details now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Website:

David's Scale Models - https://www.davidsscalemodels.com

 

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    April 2015
Posted by Wolfman_63 on Saturday, November 11, 2017 4:12 PM

I have had a few folks ask how I weathered the deck so here is how I did it.

I used black,  gray, and brown pastel chalk. I first took the brown and using a balled up paper towel I rubbed the chalk on the jet blast deflectors and the area between the catapults and JBD's. I then used same method and did the area's outside the brown areas and down each side of the catapults.

I then used the same method but went over the center of the JBD's and catapults with black. The then made blotches and stains around the entire flight deck. I made a large area around landing wire #3 (This is the wire that the pilots aim for as the perfect landing wire to catch). On this large area I then used eye makeup foam pads and made streaks with black and gray to represent where the aircraft touched down. Mostly near the center of the runway and extending from wire 1 to wire 4 in a diamond pattern centered on wire 3. Finally taking a makeup blush brush I brushed the surface of the flight deck from bow to stern to blend the colors and remove any excess chalk powder. It then gets a dusted spray of matte clear coat 3 times allowing each coat to dry. The a final coat to seal it all. The dusted coats are required because if you spray a seal coat, it will pick up some chalk and give it weird streaks.

Website:

David's Scale Models - https://www.davidsscalemodels.com

 

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    April 2015
Posted by Wolfman_63 on Friday, November 17, 2017 4:06 AM

Island work continuing. The main mast is just about done. Need to tweek some of it to get everything lined up and some paint touch up. Next do all the rigging and build the radar tower that stands behind the island. On to the pictures:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Website:

David's Scale Models - https://www.davidsscalemodels.com

 

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    September 2013
  • From: San Antonio, Texas
Posted by Marcus McBean on Friday, November 17, 2017 7:48 AM

Very nice.  What is that pole sticking out for?  Is it some type of antenna?

  • Member since
    April 2015
Posted by Wolfman_63 on Friday, November 17, 2017 4:56 PM

It's a radio antenna.

Website:

David's Scale Models - https://www.davidsscalemodels.com

 

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    April 2015
Posted by Wolfman_63 on Sunday, November 19, 2017 7:53 PM

Completed all the rigging on the island. I used EZ Line thin. It works great! Also start the radar tower. This is all photoetch (from White Ensign)  Just need to build the antenna and then mount it to the deck.

 

 

 

 

 

Website:

David's Scale Models - https://www.davidsscalemodels.com

 

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    April 2015
Posted by Wolfman_63 on Friday, November 24, 2017 5:12 AM

The radar tower is done, The raft canisters, whip antenna's and starboard forward tower (scratch built) are done. Just need to add the whip antenna's and raft canisters to the port side and the anchors. This will basically complete the ship (screws will be put on after the ship is mounted to the display base). All that is left is 56 aircraft, deck tractors, Tilly crane, and the display case.

 

 

 

 

Website:

David's Scale Models - https://www.davidsscalemodels.com

 

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    April 2015
Posted by Wolfman_63 on Friday, November 24, 2017 8:28 AM

UPDATE: Was informed that the radar tower behind the island is in the wrong position. After some quick research, I have confirmed that Trumpeter has the radar tower in the wrong spot. The tower should be located at the very edge of the flight deck. This is for all Nimitz class carriers. The Nimitz 1975 cruise book clearly shows the tower at the edge.

I have relocated the tower.

BEFORE:

 

 

 

AFTER:

 

 

 

Website:

David's Scale Models - https://www.davidsscalemodels.com

 

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    June 2014
  • From: New Braunfels , Texas
Posted by Tanker - Builder on Friday, November 24, 2017 8:30 AM

OOPS;

   I served more than one enlistment in the Navy .You have to do something about the bright white lights in the Island areas .The ship would NEVER have white lights in those spaces after dark !

 Other than that . I do have to say , you are as much of a glutton for hard work as I am . The flight deck weathering and scuffing is spot on !

 Are you going to present it to the Naval Academy ?

  • Member since
    April 2015
Posted by Wolfman_63 on Friday, November 24, 2017 9:08 AM

Tanker - Builder

OOPS;

   I served more than one enlistment in the Navy .You have to do something about the bright white lights in the Island areas .The ship would NEVER have white lights in those spaces after dark !

 Other than that . I do have to say , you are as much of a glutton for hard work as I am . The flight deck weathering and scuffing is spot on !

 Are you going to present it to the Naval Academy ?

 

 

Yes, I know the island utilizes red lighting for at night. And typically the numbers are not lit at sea. I did this with the white lights to highlight the island. I do not plan on presenting this to anyone. It will be the centerpiece of my model collection.

 

Website:

David's Scale Models - https://www.davidsscalemodels.com

 

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    July 2014
  • From: Philadelphia Pa
Posted by Nino on Friday, November 24, 2017 3:21 PM

Wolfman_63

 

Yes, I know the island utilizes red lighting for at night. And typically the numbers are not lit at sea. I did this with the white lights to highlight the island. I do not plan on presenting this to anyone. It will be the centerpiece of my model collection.

 

 

       Well, TB has it right again, in that you have a beautiful REPLICA. Your attention to detail has been noteworthy throughout your build. You may not want to donate it but I hope other folks other than just Viewers of this forum will get a chance to Look, Enjoy, and Contemplate your tribute to The United States Navy...

     You have done superb work.  Please let us know if you every have an open house. I want to come over and flip the light switch!  And have you got a copy of Victory at Sea?  Good music to go with your USN Ship models. Especially since  "It will be the centerpiece of my model collection".

     I showed some of your Pictures to one of my grandsons. He said it would make a "fantastic nite lite".  He then asked if I could build him one.  Uh-Oh.

     Nino

  • Member since
    April 2015
Posted by Wolfman_63 on Sunday, November 26, 2017 5:38 AM

I do plan on showing the completed model at shows and events. The IPMS club I am with has various shows each year that we attend and there is a couple of Maritime Museums in the midwest that have annual events.

Website:

David's Scale Models - https://www.davidsscalemodels.com

 

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    April 2015
Posted by Wolfman_63 on Sunday, November 26, 2017 5:59 AM

There is light at the end of the flight deck! The ship is basically done. The only two things left to do is to add the screw (props) once it is mounted on the display base and put the flag on it. I did not like how the flat decal flag looked. I do have some ideas on how to make the flag look more realistic. If you have any tips or tricks on making 1/350 scale flags look realistic, please let me know.

For now I will be working on the rest of the aircraft for the flight  deck, the deck tractors, and the Tilly crane. I purchased the Tilly from BaconFist at Shapeways and am working on detailing it now. The last two pictures are the boxes of aircraft left to build and the Tilly crane without detailing.

I am not the best photographer and due to the lighting it is difficult getting a good picture with the compact digital camera. I do plan on having professional pictures taken once it is complete.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Website:

David's Scale Models - https://www.davidsscalemodels.com

 

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: 37deg 40.13' N 95deg 29.10'W
Posted by scottrc on Monday, November 27, 2017 9:37 AM

I am enjoying watching this build progress.  The model all lighted up in the dark brings back memories.  

  • Member since
    September 2013
  • From: San Antonio, Texas
Posted by Marcus McBean on Monday, November 27, 2017 12:01 PM

I put the flag decal on aluminum foil, fold it over and glue the foil together and trim the edges.  I touch up the edges with red / blue marker pens and bend the flag into whatever shape I need.

Great looking model, amazing effort you put into it.  It was a most interesting build to follow.

  • Member since
    April 2015
Posted by Wolfman_63 on Monday, November 27, 2017 8:11 PM

Special Update! Since the ship is done I now need to work on the filling the flight deck. With all the detail I added to the ship, it only makes sense to continue with details.

I ordered the Tilly crane from BaconFist on Shapeways (3D printed accessoriesfor Nimitz Class carriers)

This is how it arrived:

 

And here it is after 9.5 hours of detailing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now to start work on to the deck tractors.....

 

Website:

David's Scale Models - https://www.davidsscalemodels.com

 

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    April 2015
Posted by Wolfman_63 on Sunday, December 3, 2017 3:51 AM

Working on filling the flight deck continues. Here are the deck tractors for the flight deck. These are the Black Dog deck tractor set. The only assembly was the wheels. The decals are from Star Fighter. Next up is to start working on the many aircraft for the flight deck.

 

 

 

 

Website:

David's Scale Models - https://www.davidsscalemodels.com

 

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    December 2010
  • From: Salem, Oregon
Posted by 1943Mike on Monday, December 4, 2017 8:09 PM

I would say you have done a superb job on this model carrier. I can't imagine how much repetitive work went into creating the deck tractors and how much more you have to do putting together the aircraft ... it's an astonishing feat.

I've not seen such work since Jorge's Nimitz .. BTW, I hope he posts more on his build soon. Are you familiar with his work? Here's the link:

http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/modeling_subjects/f/7/t/156642.aspx?page=8

 

Mike

"Le temps est un grand maître, mais malheureusement, il tue tous ses élèves."

Hector Berlioz

  • Member since
    April 2015
Posted by Wolfman_63 on Sunday, December 10, 2017 7:38 PM

Work is progressing on filling the flight deck. The EA-6B's and the SH-3's are done. So there are only 48 more aircraft to do. I also received the brass plaque which will be mounted on the base of the display case. The final position of the aircraft will be done after all of them are built. Here are the latest pictures:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Website:

David's Scale Models - https://www.davidsscalemodels.com

 

 

 

 

 

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