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Tamiya Big-E - USS Enterprise 1/350

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  • Member since
    September 2009
  • From: Frisco, TX
Posted by B17Pilot on Thursday, October 7, 2010 8:44 AM

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.

  

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: Mansfield, TX
Posted by EdGrune on Thursday, October 7, 2010 5:54 AM

bondoman

There was a really big scale model i got back around 1968 or so, after much groveling. Like an Aurora. it was about 3 feet long. I need to find that info.

The 1:400 scale kit by Otaki (ARII) perhaps?  

Burt Kinzey, in his Detail & Scale series on the Enterprise, called it the best large-scale model of the ship.  He judged it better than the Tamiya 1:350 kit and much more so than the Aurora/Monogram/Revell/RevellAG kit in the same scale. 

The Detail & Scale book is probably the best single source reference on the available kits.   While some of it is dated, there haven't been any new kits produced -- the molds have just changed hands and been released under different labels.   His best small scale kit?   The Revell 1:720 scale offering.

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Carmel, CA
Posted by bondoman on Thursday, October 7, 2010 12:55 AM

There was a really big scale model i got back around 1968 or so, after much groveling. Like an Aurora. it was about 3 feet long. I need to find that info.

  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Spartanburg, SC
Posted by subfixer on Thursday, October 7, 2010 12:14 AM

Glue Mark

Poor Big E, it's not her fault!

Y'know, sometimes when I'm onboard the "Prize", I find myself thinking that very thing, no kidding. And, she is still the fastest ship in the USN with a few weird exceptions.

I'm from the government and I'm here to help.

  • Member since
    May 2010
Posted by Glue Mark on Wednesday, October 6, 2010 10:49 PM

Poor Big E, it's not her fault!

  • Member since
    August 2006
  • From: Bloomsburg PA
Posted by Dr. Hu on Wednesday, October 6, 2010 9:34 AM

My nephew is an engineer who did refits on the Navy's reactors for several years. Hated the hours, liked the pay moved on to Westinghouse several years ago. His opinion of the Big "E" is about the same as yours.

  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Spartanburg, SC
Posted by subfixer on Wednesday, October 6, 2010 4:04 AM

ddp59

why is she a beast?

Because she has eight 1950s era reactor plants for one thing, and she has been a thorn in my side since 1972 for another. But since we share so much in common, I have learned to grow a teensy bit ( I mean a teensy bit) fond of her over the last few years and will probably be a little sad when she is decommissioned. But what a can of worms to do maintenance on!

I'm from the government and I'm here to help.

  • Member since
    April 2005
Posted by ddp59 on Tuesday, October 5, 2010 10:18 PM

why is she a beast?

  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Spartanburg, SC
Posted by subfixer on Tuesday, October 5, 2010 9:22 PM

The real thing is tied up just a few piers down from here. I refuse to build a model of that beast until I don't have to help fix her anymore!

I'm from the government and I'm here to help.

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Western North Carolina
Posted by Tojo72 on Tuesday, October 5, 2010 3:55 AM

Welcome to the forum,i too built that back in the 80's,it no longer exists,but yours should come out a lot better,keep posting updates for us.

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Melbourne, Australia
Posted by davidson3 on Tuesday, October 5, 2010 3:28 AM

Hi,

Got one of these in the stash, still a few years away from building though.

A modeller calling himself MADDOG Decal Design does a set of decals for the Big E's hanger.  Saw them over on MWS but don't have a web address anymore.

cheers,

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Tucson, AZ
Posted by Archangel Shooter on Wednesday, September 29, 2010 1:27 PM

The Enterprise is a fun build. I built one while station at MCAS Futema Okinawa during the 80's and it won best of show at the Annual model contest on Kadena. I used the GMM Enterprise set which does enhance the ship but I had problems with the GMM Airwing decals for the planes, they kept splintering on me, think I had to go through several decal sets due to the problem. It is a big sucker for the dispay shelf but she does look beautiful when completed.

 Your image is loading...

 On the bench: So many hanger queens.

 

 

  • Member since
    June 2010
  • From: Austin, TX
Posted by DoogsATX on Wednesday, September 29, 2010 1:25 PM

Awesome!

I built this kit back in the early '90s when I was an awkward teenager. Think the only word to describe it would have to be "epic".

Mine still lives on out at my parents' house in a state of some neglect. 

Looking forward to seeing this tackled with all the modern latest and greatest!

On the Bench: 1/32 Trumpeter P-47 | 1/32 Hasegawa Bf 109G | 1/144 Eduard MiG-21MF x2

On Deck:  1/350 HMS Dreadnought

Blog/Completed Builds: doogsmodels.com

 

  • Member since
    September 2010
  • From: Sao Paulo/Brazil
Tamiya Big-E - USS Enterprise 1/350
Posted by A.M.Jorge on Wednesday, September 29, 2010 1:12 PM

Hi,

After more than fifteen years without building any model, I saw the USS Enterprise 1/350 scale in a mall. I thought "I must have one of these". So ten years ago, I began again to assemble plastic models, many ships and planes. Recently, my Big-E had an unrecoverable accident and again I have the opportunity to build it.

I've been searching and found many pictures and information, and manufacturers provide many extras like photoetchs, details in resin and decals. I would like people who are interested in sharing information about the assembly, step-by-step, other images, post in this thread.

Photos of 1982: http://www.flickr.com/photos/maleny_steve/sets/72157607187014862/

Cruise Book 1982/1983: http://navysite.de/cruisebooks/cvn65-82/index.html

GMM photoetch:


 

Elevators

Air wing

GMM decals:
Ship:

Air wing

Veteran Models Details:
CIWS

ECM

Boats

Star Fighter Decals: http://www.starfighter-decals.com/1350-de.html

Eduard pre-painted naval figures:




Greetings.

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