Tamiya Big-E - USS Enterprise 1/350

This has to be an award-winner so far!  But, I still don't get the coffee filter.  Why do you sand with it?

Bill

warshipguy

This has to be an award-winner so far!  But, I still don't get the coffee filter.  Why do you sand with it?

Bill

It's like a very fine grit sandpaper Bill he is using it to weather the paint. From what I understand coffee filters have a coarseness to them of course I don't drink coffee though.

I'll be honest; I have never heard of that technique.  And, as a (retired) Senior Chief Petty Officer, I still have coffee with me everywhere I go.  I have an entire desk drawer in my classroom dedicated to Keurig K-cups!

Bill

warshipguy

I'll be honest; I have never heard of that technique.  And, as a (retired) Senior Chief Petty Officer, I still have coffee with me everywhere I go.  I have an entire desk drawer in my classroom dedicated to Keurig K-cups!

Bill

At least he didn't use a used coffee filter.

Two more elevators:

Before:

Later:


Before

Later

Time is becoming short !

Today I apply the last elevator fence perimeter decal and the first elevator perimeter decal. This takes a lot of time and patience. The decals are not "pre formatted" and are very fragile and is dificult to put them in the right position.

Before

Later

Before

Later

Flight Deck.

Looks great! Will be reading this once I get to my Enterprise kit. 

Time to make some dots.

Using the model marks,  the right brush and a good paint density then the superficial tension does the job. It becomes funny.


The high level marks.



Good alignment.



Half hour later.



Forty and five minutes later... two thirds done. I will break my record of 1,5 hour.

And I thought a few portholes were a PITA!

When I did my CVN-65 those tie downs where a PITA! Took over an hour to finish them all!

Finishing ...

Look the "flying dots" over the elevators.

A few more decals, CIWS circle and the ship name. Also I did minor fixes. 

I finished the flight deck making some combustion marks and tire marks. Also, I filled the "black space" inside of yellow and red stripes using hull color + silver. Then a gloss bath to seal everything.

Combustion marks.


And tires marks:


Eletric panels:


A "Future bath":

Now the fun really begins !

Once the hull is done, let's add some details.

Starting to paint the resin CIWS. First, the radar dome, white.

The propellers were painted using Tamiya's gold leaf.

I am sooooo glad I finished my Big E build before I saw this one, or mine would have ended up in the trash ...

Don't worry. My first was very different from this one but was still a great model. Until it has taken a hit from the cleaner. And sank !

More details.

First, I assembled three Sea Sparrow systems, but I will use only two of them.

Then, all systems together: CIWS, Sea Sparrow and Chaff after receive hull color paint. CIWS received a Gun Metal paint on the "gun pipe".

and CIWS

I am really liking what I see. I may have to get this kit myself.....Cheers Mark

More details ...

It's time the reels of fire hoses. The original idea was to use black sewing thread to simulate the hoses ... but it's very small, there is enough grip, so I just painted black.


The little pieces to assemble forty sets and an original hose that comes with the kit.

Once assembled and painted. They look like a new type of insect.

Hate to burst your bubble Jorge but fire hoses are a sort of cream or tan color probably off white but not black. And also when fire hose is not in use it is flat so you can easily simulate it with thin strips of tape. Fuel line hoses are a black color though as they are rubber.

A.M.Jorge

More details ...

It's time the reels of fire hoses. The original idea was to use black sewing thread to simulate the hoses ... but it's very small, there is enough grip, so I just painted black.


The little pieces to assemble forty sets and an original hose that comes with the kit.

Once assembled and painted. They look like a new type of insect.

Dear Mike,

Thanks for your comments.

I use this picture (CVN 65 - 1982) as reference. Look the catwalk, right on the picture and you will see black roses. I don't know if they are fuel or fire roses, but they are black. And this is the roses I'm doing for the model.

Regards.

Those are fuel hoses which are a black rubber to minimalize hose erosion. Try to find some more pics of the flight deck area to find the fire hose reels as there should be some as some of the fire stations on ship are located near the fueling hoses.

A.M.Jorge

Dear Mike,

Thanks for your comments.

I use this picture (CVN 65 - 1982) as reference. Look the catwalk, right on the picture and you will see black roses. I don't know if they are fuel or fire roses, but they are black. And this is the roses I'm doing for the model.

Regards.

 

Great to keep coming back and see the progress updates.  Looking forward to when you start on the airwing.

Finally I added some details as CIWS, Sea Sparrow, chaff dispenser (launcher ?) and hose heels.

Sea Sparrow and CIWS

Chaff launcher

Rose heels.

Today I paint some minor details.

I painted the raft life yet in the tree. Now let's put it on the hull. But now I see I need to assemble the rail first. This is one of the most beautiful details to add to this kit. This is my first PE use. I just follow the instructions and ... voilá !

First mesure and cut.

Then, use hull to guide and mark. Then bend.

CIWS Phalanx goal keeper:

Raft life

Sea Sparrow:

Propellers:

And the rear section:

I am new to computers and was researching the 'Enterprise' as I am about to start the tamiya kit when I came across your build. Cudos to you Jorge, a beautiful build, It has me all fired up to build mine once I have finished my 'Varyag'! I look forward to your next installment!