Tamiya Big-E - USS Enterprise 1/350

Hi again, folks.

Mike, thanks for the post.

This is a open forum in order to change experiences.

My english is not very good. So, what I want to know is if we glue photo etched parts before paint or after paint. The GMM's instructions says that we must fix PE rail after paint PE and plastic parts. Otherwise, PE "surface" parts (like doors) must be glued before paint. A think if the PE and plastic parts will be painted with the same color, all parts must be glued before paint. 

A.M.Jorge

One doubt: I need to glue photo etched rails first or last, after paint ? Thanks for posting.

If your going to have any of the elevators in the lowered position don't forget to add safety railings around the openings

One doubt: I need to glue photo etched rails first or last, after paint ? Thanks for posting.

Hi. Today, more gap filling. A tiring work that is taking too long.

Hi, guys. Today, using the same tools and in order not to be filling gaps (this is getting very boring), I made the hole in the hangar door. It's a job that requires some precision to be good, but the plastic is a slightly thick. This is my first experience, but had a reasonable result. Maybe I use the other pieces that will not use to do a better job.

No pictures today, my cell phone is dead this week. Without much news, still filling in the gaps. I started working on the elevators, removing the plastic piece that will be replaced by a photoetched. A job that I thought would be boring and difficult (almost impossible) but it is fun using a small drill, file and knife. But even so, it take several hours. Next week I'll post the photos.

The Pics:

Three hours later ...

looking good Jorge

New week. New sponsons and new gaps to fill. I'm using super glue to fill the gaps. It's good because cures fast, but is harder than putty to sand. Before glue this small sponsons I will paint them because will be very dificult to do this later. Other big sponsons are already fixed in the place.

Still a lot gaps to fill and a screw hole.

A new week and a lot of gaps to fill. I assembled this kit in 2000 and my impression is that this 2010 kit is quite different in terms of precision.

A lot of sponsons to build and a lot of gaps to fill. Once more a CIWS "box" was removed in order to put a better resin CIWS.

Sure. Here you go:

/forums/t/131974.aspx

Thank you. Could you give me the link ?

Looks good!  There's a ship group build going on, come and join.  I've been posting progress on my Big-E in there.

Joining the hull.

Joining the hull. One the most important step in this kit. Fisrt, I tested fitting, then I joined parts using super glue. Even so, the gap is there. So, I filled it using super glue once and sanded; filled again using super glue and so sanded again using grit 320. Because I saw no more gaps, I used 600 grit sand and then 1000 grit sand. Grit 600 is enought to paint, but I used 1000 just for fun. Also, I sanded injection pins and marks.

In fact, this is the second article. The first is here:

And a complete article in the Finescale here:

http://www.finescale.com/en/sitecore/content/Magazine%20Issues/1993/May%201993.aspx

Progress still looking good !! I remember that magazine from the Eighties had it myself at one time.This is a very nostalgic build.looking foward to more progress.

Modifications on the rear right Sea Sparrow sponson.  In 1982, there is no Sea Sparrow launcher at this place, but Chaff release. So, I remove the fit hole, fill and sand:

I think not. I will use Tamiya's.

And are you going to replace your kit supplied aircraft with Trumpeter 1/350 scale Aircraft?

Detailing CIWS bow port sponson.

First, I removed the "small box" with a very small saw, sanded, glued Veteran Model resin CIWS and removed plastic railing:

Planes.

I'm working on a decal sheet "carrier air wing eleven 1982". Follow a low resolution image:

Colors.

One guy do not use the same color than the other guy. So, I read in the TMMI an article about paint the Big E and achive my own conclusions using Tamiya acrilics paints.

hull color - XF - 19 Sky Grey

flight deck color - XF - 63 German Grey

catapult track color - a mix of XF - 63 German Grey + X - 10 Gun Metal

all other horizontal surfaces - XF - 24 Dark Grey

waterline - XF - 1 Flat Black

under hull - a mix of XF - 7 Flat Red and XF - 9 Hull Red just to darken.

Hi.

Big E just arrived.

Kit parts, decals and manual could be seen here:

My fisrt task was scratchbuild the "three holes" in ship's "front":

I used the aircraft sprue ( - 3.5-4.0 mm) to make the small holes, drilling a 2mm hole, smashing with care and the ship's sprue (- 4.5-5mm) with a 3mm hole to do the big hole. First, I marked the holes in the hull. Then I drilled a bit small holes in the correct position. Last, (super)glued the parts.

Now, need to fill gaps and sand/file.

Hi,

My Big-E is on the way and not arrived yet.

I was thinking if is better paint the sponsors first or join with the hull, fill the gaps and paint later.

Some sponsor will be very dificult to reach after join with the hull.

Regards.

Putty mostly, hit a few spots with thin super glue, cause they where small and didn't want to wait for the putty to dry.

Are you filling with super glue or putty ?

Nothing to show right now.  The seam where the bow attaches is fighting me.

B17Pilot

I'm currently working on the same model for a friend who serverd on her in the 1990s.  Just recently started on her.  Working on the seam where the bow attaches.  Also got the GMM detail set and a couple of Trumpeter's 1/350 aircraft for the flight deck and my scratch built hanger bay.

B17Pilot, please, post some pics. Thanks.