1/350 Carriers

The Tamiya Enterprise is not a waterline model. It has the bow as the second piece right in the middle of the forward CIWS.

As Robert said, the Tamiya kit's hull is split at the bow...it was obvious that the kit was designed this way to fit into a smaller box.

Trumpeter's 2 carrier kits, Hornet and Essex, are split at teh waterline, you can build it either full hull or waterline. The fit at this seam is good, easily filled and sanded, and both models I've seen completed, the modeler used black decal strip for the boot topping that covered up any trace of a seam.

Regards,

Jeff Herne
Modelwarships.com

The Tamiya does a pretty good job with their split though as they have bulge pieces that go where the split is and cover most of it up on both sides. None of the three has a one piece landing deck though. All are in thee pieces.

This is the first I've heard about decal boot stripes. Who makes and sells these
TIA

Tamiya's Enterprise is great kit to start with. Split hull is not a problem as it is a good fit, and easy to sand and fill away. Split decks are more tricky, sanding looses you lots of deck detail, if not carefull, which you need later on as painting aid. Would advice you research after market detail sets B-4 starting to build. Especially the Gold Medal set for Enterprise is worthwile also the decal sets for the airwing are a must, I think. Only downside is that helicopters are not included in basic airwing provided. You need accessory Tamiya set for that.
Hope this helpfull, rgs

Any decent Model railroad shop carries them....Microscale makes them, the 1/16th width is part number PS/2-1/16 black... you get a 6x9 sheet of nothing but stripes...sure beats masking and painting.

Jeff Herne
Modelwarships.com