Dragon 1/700 USS Lexington CV16 Build Log -"COMPLETED"

Thank you Mark, it was a pleasure to have you aboard.  

Scott

YOu should be happy as you have done a lovely job on her.....Cheers mark

Now that I have a model of the CV2, and both renditions of CV16, I think I may venture further and build a model of these and have a complete collection ships named Lexington.

source: Brig Lexington Wikipedia

source: Pinterest

Kevin57

Real nice job. Even at that scale I can't imagine the cajones it took to takeoff and land an aircraft from a bouncing deck. I have a Hornet on the shelf waiting for her complement of B-25s to be detailed.

 

Thanks Kevin.  When I was installing the aircraft on the model, I watched a very interesting video on YouTube about aircraft deck spotting.  It was really crazy to be an aircraft handler on a carrier pushing planes forward as they landed and fueling and arming them as planes landed right behind you, with only a couple of wires to prevent the landing plane from crashing into you and the parked planes up front.

GMorrison

That looks really nice! Formidable war machines those Essex Class ships.

Out of curiosity, what's the provenance of the angle deck one?

 

Thanks GM, the angle deck kit was built from the Renwall Shangri La.  Those kits did not have any lower hull detail and I'm planning to put this kit in a water base someday, when I get the time and space.

Real nice job. Even at that scale I can't imagine the cajones it took to takeoff and land an aircraft from a bouncing deck. I have a Hornet on the shelf waiting for her complement of B-25s to be detailed.

That looks really nice! Formidable war machines those Essex Class ships.

Out of curiosity, what's the provenance of the angle deck one?

scottrc

I'm off to start planning a build of a pre-dreadnaught resin battleship, in 1/700 scale

Oh my.

Thanks Steve, now I must resist the urge to add 1/700 figures.  I just can't, my eyes and mind need a break from micro building.

So, I'm off to start planning a build of a pre-dreadnaught resin battleship, in 1/700 scale

Looks excellent Scott.

And a parting shot, generation picture with CV2 and modernized CV16.

She is complete!

My last production build picture.  Installing the airwing.

Tanker - Builder

Hi;

 That's why I had to put my D.E ( 1/350 ) in a case. Everyone would try to sit on it or something. The paint made her blend to well! Besides,then you couldn't see all the small small P.E fiddly bits either !

 

LOL,

I drybrushed some light grey using chalk pastels that seem to have given the hidden details some highlights.  Its looks a lot better.  

I need to set up my photo bench with some lighting so pictures can show the details better.  

Hi;

 That's why I had to put my D.E ( 1/350 ) in a case. Everyone would try to sit on it or something. The paint made her blend to well! Besides,then you couldn't see all the small small P.E fiddly bits either !

Raymond G

Looks great! I've got the Limburg kit in my que... I'll definitely be taking a closer look when I start on it. Have you ever been to the Lex? They have her docked in Corpus Christi, with several static displays ranging from a stearman to an F-14. The last time I was there they had a great fine scale model exhibit. If you've not been, and you get a chance, it's worth the stop. Figure at least four hours to get through it. The Texas State Aquarium is next door, and you can make q full day out of both of them... Again, great job! Raymond

 

Hi Raymond,

My father was an ET on the Lex from 1955-1958 and was a reservist in 1978.  That year, We caught the ship in Pensecola and He was able to get me on board for a VIP tour of the ship and was granted to go on a weekend tiger cruise.  I remember a bunch of us kids sitting in a ready room watching traps and cat shots on the close circuit TV of a couple of "nugget" qualifications, which we thought was a funny term.  I have not been to the ship since its opening as a museum in Corpus Christie, but do plan on getting down there someday.  

EJ, I love the lights off version. I'm just getting into ships. Eventually, I want to do a diorama with the Lex surrounding the story of the Battle of the Marianas, when the order was given to turn the lights on in the fleet so returning aircraft could find their way back. You've shown me that it can, at least, be attempted.

Thanks Raymond 

Mac - I almost went M22 with this build as the ship was in the latter of 45, but I didn't have the radar PE. 

Thanks Mark, almost done.  The HF radio masts along the flightdeck are now installed and ready for me to break off sometime in the near future.

I started detailing the planes last night.  

You have done a lovely job on her so far Scott. Not long now til she joins the Fleet.....Cheers mark 

modelcrazy

One reasion I probably won't ever build the Texas.

Well, you could paint her in her Battleship Commission colors:  Sherwin Williams Dove Gray, but the concrete deck in place of the wood might e complicated to render.  You'd wind up with a bunch of excess 20mm & 40mm, as they only had 1.1" quads aboard 1947-1990.

Texas Parks & Wildlife slected Measure 21 as that was her last combat paint job, and best represented the appearance as donated of the ship (they would have had to chop off a number of things to get her into D-Day fit, which was the original desire).

Measure 22 would be perfectly appropriate for Magic Carpet or the like.

Mind, a person could legitimately do her in her 1946 appearance--haze gray verticals and Deck gray horizontals and oiled wood decking, which was her last Flagship appearance.

Thanks Steve.  I am not regretting going full hull on this one.

Looking good on that base Scott

Some more work was done last night. Installed the port elevator, the props, did touch-ups, and some pastel weathering.  

Its getting close to shake down time and adding the airwings.  

modelcrazy

That's why I dislike MS21. One reasion I probably won't ever build the Texas.

 

I liked MS22, which the Lex was painted in the later part of 1945, but I wanted the ship in its early configuration.  

That's why I dislike MS21. One reasion I probably won't ever build the Texas.

Because the Measure 21 5N dark blue is so extensive, I had decided to go with a full hull to allow the model to stand out some.  Putting is on a water base would have made the display look like one big blue block.  The hull red bottom at least gives the display some contrast.

I mated the lower hull to the assembly this morning.  The fit was practically perfect.  I will not worry about a boot stripe and will probably leave it off.

Thanks Nino,

The radars are all painted.  Everything is soo dark due to all being Measure 21.