Tamiya 350th Enterprise - building tips, suggestions

gervaisrobert wrote:

Anyone have new building tips for the Enterprise?

http://www.modelwarships.com/reviews/ships/cv/cvn-65/350/cvn65-main.html

http://www.modelwarships.com/reviews/ships/cv/cvn-65/350/airwing-main.html

 

Anyone have new building tips for the Enterprise?

Maybe you could tell us about the details of the hangar deck for those of us trying to scratch build. For example, is the hangar deck rectangular or does it follow the curves of the ship?

Well, all I have left to get for this kit is the right decals, PE sets and the EA6B Prowlers (does Trumpeter even make them? I got the rest already (Trumpeter, to replace the ones in the kit) but I didn't see that the EA6B's were available. Perhaps I'll have to bite the bullet and use the ones in the kit... Aaargh!).

I picked up the USS Enterprise in Detail book, and man, does that guy trash this kit. I agree that for the money it should be more detailed and include a hangar deck, but apparently there are some fit problems with the island and some of the details are waaay missing. I know for a fact that there is a "platform" missing way in the back right of the ship, just underneath the flight deck. I used to take my smoke breaks there. Believe me: it ain't on the kit. Also, the lack of detail underneath the elevators is pretty alarming, as well. I'm not even sure where to get the reference photos for those; scratch building the details is hard enough, but when you don't even have a reference, it's kinda pointless. Maybe I'll catch her next time she's down in my neck of the woods and grab some photos...

Anyway, what mods have people made to this kit? I've seen some of the kits on the steelnavy site, but that's about it. Anyone got any other/better references? I can use my cruise yearbook, but there's not a lot there. Any other online references that anyone can think of?

Also, as a side note, I picked up a Hold n Fold - quite a piece of machining. I'm looking forward to using it...

well the trumpeter aircraft kits are pretty cheap by themselves and the Trumpeter Nimitz model already comes with 22 aircraft so how many planes does the Enterprise come with? and when did the F-14 get phased into fleet service wasn't it in the 70's?

just started building the 65 again(my ex co bought my last) just got two Pe packs from WEM not cheap at £32.50 for the ship and £18.95 for the airwing which also has parts for the ship eg fork lift trucks,trolleys the aircraft part even has u/c doors,the u/c itself,plyons,arrester hooks,flaps. no i don,t work for WEM all i need now is trumpters aircraft kits

gold medal models makes the best with a full sheet of instructions for proper placement.very delicate parts though.must be very careful when cutting the parts from the parts tree.also it is not cheap.i paid a little over 70 dollars canadian for the envelope.

Thanks, all, for your comments.

I'll be picking up that squadron book (as well as on on the F-14, which is what I worked on) and, hopefully, I'll be able to find my WestPAC book for even more juicy references.

As for the hangar deck being "classified", I wasn't aware of that. I would have thought that with so many visitors that go on board and all the pictures they took, they wouldn't have stood a chance of keeping it secret. IIRC it was more the below decks stuff that was an issue. I'll drop them an email and ask...

Clear plastic for the windows - yeah, sounds right. I've got some canopy glue (for R/C aircraft, although it shouldn't matter, really) that is very much like white glue and dries clear. Hopefully that will do nicely.

Anyone use any of the PE sets for this? Who makes the best, most complete one?

And, oh, I haven't seen the trumpeter aircraft... I'll see what I can dig up on them.

This is certainly going to be a challenge; finding the time will be the biggest problem. But I'm looking forward to it!

Thanks again for your thoughts and comments.

i thought about buying extra planes to add to the airwing but i saw a photograph of enterprise at sea recently with the forward part of the carrier loaded with ch-53's
although they are pricey,i plan to include them in my diorama

i used clear plastic to simulate windows on the island and secured them with white glue.it dries clear so you you should be able to get a great effect

i got my drawings from the floating drydock.they are extremely well detailed but due to the fact that the hanger deck is a closely gaurded secret by secnav you will have to use your best guess.i used plastic styrene stretched across the inside of the ships hull and detailed the platform.

all I know is that the Hangar Deck blast doors are around the amidships area

Plans for the hanger deck are classified, so the book is your best bet. Book was also published before the yard work completed in 1995. My son served on her from 1994-97.
Check Trumpeter's aircraft out.
John
helicopters don't fly, they beat the air into submission

USS Enterprise In Detail
by Squadron/Signal Publications.

The World's First Nuclear Powered Aircraft Carrier "The USS Enterprise" is Focused On in This Squadron/Signal Detail & Scale, by author Bert Kinzey.

72 page softcover book.
Detailed, technical, and accurate!
Provides the most comprehensive coverage of this type available anywhere in military publications.
CVAN-65 to CVN-65.
Emphasis on the physical details of the ship--from bow to stern, and from the top of the mast to below the waterline.
All of the ship's details are covered with extensive color and black-and-white photography.
A record of the ship's history is also presented.
Changes made during yard periods and overhauls are illustrated.
For scale modelers, a complete modeler's section is provided that reviews all of the presently available scale model kits of the ship
and it also covers the after-market decals that can be obtained for
these kits.


Retail price: $14.95

I used this book for my 1:350 Tamiya USS Enterprise model.

This is a really good reference book for the USS Enterprise and has good images of the Hanger Deck.

Is now dated, but still worth the money.


Good luck.


Regards,


Beau.

It can be made into a great kit with a little hard work and effort. I have been working on the kit for awile now. Trumpeter has come out with its Nimitz, and in my opinion the aircraft are much better with clear canopies and all.

http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery/cv/cvn-65/350-rr/rr-index.html

This is a link to my build up on

www.modelwarships.com

There are lots better models taht mine, but it will give you some ideas

Hope this helps

Ric