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

scottrc

Another update.

The radars, and there are a number of them, have been built and installed.  This was a project that I really was glad I switched to decaf when I started it.

 

 

 That is some serious and very well done PE work for the Island.

Yes, I agree. Tough to paint over GOLD. It seems wrong somehow.

   "... Precious."

   Nino

modelcrazy

That represents a TON of work. 

 

Yes, but its rewarding, although nothing seems to look strait.

One thing I find about brass is that it looks so cool, its hard for me to want to paint it.

That represents a TON of work. 

Another update.

The radars, and there are a number of them, have been built and installed.  This was a project that I really was glad I switched to decaf when I started it.

Work, lawn, and bike riding has kept me from the bench, but I did get the flightdeck mounted the other night.  

I have the deck marked and many of the guns installed.  Here is a few shots of a test fit.  Nothing is glued down. I will be out of the shop for the next ten days so no more work on this model during that time.  When I get back, the plan is weather and then apply a coat of dull finish to the deck and attach it to the hull.

Thanks Mark,

Everything is going good.  I spent time this morning putting on the many small details on the Island.  I am not pleased with how thick the dark blue sprayed on in some places and dry in others, but its fixable.  The photos help me see the areas that need worked on. I also sprayed a coat of Future on the flight deck and will start applying the markings.  

Good to see everything is OK now and you are back at it. She is looking mighty fine so far.....Cheers mark

I got my workbench ready last night and started working on the Lex again this morning doing touch ups and test fitting the deck. 

I cannot wait to start adding decals, weathering the deck and other features to add some color and contrast to all this blue.  

I thought the same thing Goldhammer, that maybe I should make it a full hull and then let it float around on the floor.

Just one thing after another......at least you and the family are back on the mend.

The weather gods seem to know you are building a floaty thing and are making sure you have the "big pond" to sail in.

Almost 30 days have gone by and nothing to report on this build.

Here is why:

My Mother in Law got diagnosed with very invasive cancer at the begining of July and I had to make several trips to Dallas to be with her.  She is now doing much better with Chemo.

Then, at the same time, I started getting an adomoninal sickness around the 4th of July that got worse every week.  Many tests, including CT and MRI, and inspections of places I do not want to mention, found I had clogged bile ducts from residue left from my old Gall Bladder that was removed some yeears back.  So, I got to get my upper digestive system scoped and all this gunk, including a 1cm stone, sucked out.  A week after the procedure and I feel 100% better than I had over the past 10 years.  All my labs this week show I am healthy again.

And to top it off, the old model shop in the basement got soaked again, this time from the hot water tank blowing the water drain faucet out and 50 gallons of hot water spraying all over the basement.  

After a new hot water tank installation, which I did the day after my endoscopic operation, and a complete cleaning of the basement, I should be ready to start back on the Lexington, right?

Wrong, this past week, the weather has brought storm after storm which has caused a limb to knock out my power for a day, which knocked out my pumps, which until I got the generator on line caused 2" of water to form in the basement.

So, back to cleaning the model room and getting it to dry out, then back to work on the Lexington.

My wife did promise me I could have the bedroom upstairs to model in when the kid is done with college.

I promise, this model is going to get done!

Scott

Back to building for the time being and got the 5N blue on all the vertical surfaces.  There is a lot of BLUE!  Even in 1/700.   This ship lived up to its nickname.  

Very nice work so far on the Lady. Look forward to seeing some more of your build.....Cheers mark

Calipers, they are a must for measuring and cutting railings.  

Sorry to hear about the basement flooding, Scott.  Seems there's lots of rain all over, but it doesn't "float yer boat" when it's inside the house.

My wife and I went to North Carolina to visit our oldest daughter; toured USS North Carolina in Wilmington.  Rained a lot down there, too.

Lex is looking terrific!  Excellent work.  What is that device you're using to measure for the PE?  Looks pretty handy.

Well, still getting flood warnings, but the workbench area has been cleaned up and I am back to work on the Lex.

bunch of PE added over the weekend and now everything is masked up and ready to shoot the dark blue for the 5N.

I'm popping in for an update, which is that there is no work being done at my bench.  All the rain we got here in KS caused some minor flooding in the basement, which in turn is allowing a bumper crop of mold to form, even with fans and dehumidifyers  So I'm in the process of cleaning, sealing, and repainting the workshop.  Hope to resume work on the Lex soon.

Scott

Thanks, Scott and Steve.  

What kind of solvent do you have to use with clay, Scott?  Might that not damage paintwork?  

Check, your work in 1/700 has inspired me in the past.  Thanks for showing me your tri colored planes, now I don't feel so overwelmed.  

I am using the tacky tac and modeling clay to hold all these little parts.  It works well on all those machine gun assemblies.  The clay is soft for holding fragile brass assemblies and the clay cleans off easily with a soft brush and solvent. 

I'll try it as a mask. 

Hi Steve, great that you stopped by.  

Super idea Check, they came out great. 

Nice progress, Scott.  Looking better every time you post.

As for 1/700 planes, they can be a pain with all the little (and oversize) parts.

For a tri-color paint scheme, I used poster tack years ago, then airbrushed, since I don't have much success with brushes.

Here are some in-progress photos I took back then.

I painted the white underside, then stuck the plane in the tack and painted the lighter blue.

Then I covered that up with the tack, and painted the darker blue.

They didn't come out too badl

However you manage to do it, I'm sure that your little planes will come out fine.

Hi Nino,

Nice blast from the past kit, I also built this kit back in grade school. I think it was the Essex andit did not turn out a good as yours. Thanks for looking in on my build.  I hope to have more done in the coming week.

I have three SBDs with no landing gear, so these may get stored overhead since I will have no further use for them.  Thing is, the hangar will be closed up so it will be next to impossible to see them, even with all the doors rolled up. 

Scott

First coat of paint on the planes last night.

And some more work on the island.

Hi Tracy,

Its a base coat.  I just applied the layer of blue stain last night.  There is a lot of work to do with washes, light sanding, and then some pastels before this will look like a flight deck.  

Test fitting.  

Next, start applying PE and other details, then more painting.  

scottrc

Also base coated the flightdeck with Mahogany.

For what it's worth, US Flight decks were made of douglas fir with the exception of the plank right before each tie-down strips, which was teak. Mahogany was a stain used until 1941 and then discontinued.

Probably decent for a wood tone underneath flight deck stain for weathering, but not accurate for war time or post-war renditions of the Essex class.

No flowers, maybe chocolates

I am wanting to channel my inner Fermis and airbrush the planes.  First coat is easy, the last one is what I need to build confidence, and a steady hand for.

Ink pen works good.

Scott

Tell us where to send the flowers. I use a brush. Not great results, but it's hard unless you are Fermis. I use a black 0.5 ink pen for the canopies.

Next up is finishing details on the hull, applying PE on the hull and island, and then deciding how I am going to paint the tri-color scheme on the planes.  I done it in 1/32, 1/48, 1/72, and even 1/144, but never in 1/700.

Scott