Tamiya 1/350 CVN 65 USS Enterprise

[ojays]

I replaced the elevators with PE making the structure from plasticard again, this required the removal of the moulded on elevator.
These were then coated in etch primer, as were all the other PE modifications that were done.

[scottie3158]

Greg,
Some nice changes it looks good.

[Gern]

I can't cope with all the bits in this kit OOB! What you're doing is just fabulous!

[boatman]

What Dave said above you must have some good peppers

brillian work this very well done
chris

[ojays]

As the flight deck was going to be removable, I used my tried and tested miniature magnets to secure it with.

Having looked at many builds from different modellers with regards to the flight deck, and having looked at photo's of the real thing, I was originally going to highlight the tie downs with a mid grey. I attempted to paint the little raised rings the on the kit deck making, a complete mess of them.

Never making things easy for myself, I used a very fine needle drill to create minor indentations in each of these little rings.
The idea being that when painting the deck, the weathering powders will help highlight the tie downs without being over stated.

After ruining my already poor eyesight with the drilling, I started removing the kit moulded safety netting around the outer deck.
This was then replaced with PE netting where needed, which I feel looks far better than the moulded item..

Once all this was completed I then gave the whole deck a coat of Etch Primer, to provide a good key for the main colour.
Once the main deck colour had been applied and dried, I gave it all a coat of Kleer to seal it for the decals and weathering that I would apply
later.

I had bought a very expensive decal set which was said to cover most of the lines, numbers, warnings etc for the big 'E'.
These turned out to be a complete waste of money as having soaked them well as normal, they just disintegrated when removing
them from the backing sheet.
So out came the handy masking tape and using my best hairy stick, I hand painted all the deck markings prior to weathering.
I used as many photo's of the flight deck of several carriers as possible, to get an idea of where the most dirty areas would be.
Using my wife's (only joking) make up powders and blusher brush, I set to applying and rubbing in where necessary to get that dirty look.
This was then sealed in with Kleer again.

[boatman]

WOW Gregg very nice work on that flightdeck markins VERY WELL DONE an how long did it take to mask up all the aerea's ? an then paint them ? as on my big NIMTZ 1/144 scale it took me two wks to do what you have done but mind you I had to mark an measure out all mine as it was a wooden deck but they came out ok just like yours but it certainly looks good doesn't it. I love the big carriers as there is so much detail you can add an you have certainly done that on yours will you be doin the airwing. As I done a airwing on my carrier an I fitted on 54 aircraft an some with workin nav lights an workin engine's like the hawkeyes it took me about 6 months but I really enjoyed doin them an more enjoyment to see them all on the flightdeck an in the hanger bays an when it was sailin on the wet stuff BUT back to yours I look forward to seein yours on the wet stuff sailin brilliant work on this carrier an im really enjoyin lookin at your pics an reading about the model keep up the good work :thumb2: :thumb2: :thumb2: :thumb2: :thumb2:
ATB chris

[boatman]

AN HI again Gregg now you say
I had bought a very expensive decal set which was said to cover most of the lines, numbers, warnings etc for the big 'E'.
These turned out to be a complete waste of money as having soaked them well as normal, they just disintegrated when removing
them from the backing sheet. cant you write or send an email to where you bought them from an complain an ask for your money back as I would ?
chris

[Guest]

Stupendous work. Gob-smacked.

[ojays]

AN HI again Gregg now you say
I had bought a very expensive decal set which was said to cover most of the lines, numbers, warnings etc for the big 'E'.
These turned out to be a complete waste of money as having soaked them well as normal, they just disintegrated when removing
them from the backing sheet. cant you write or send an email to where you bought them from an complain an ask for your money back as I would ?
chris

The reason being this had been a very long build and I had bought the decals, as well as many other items a couple of years before getting around to using them.
Apparently after reading comments by other buyers of the same decals, they had the same issues as myself of them breaking up. Well, you live and learn.

[Gary MacKenzie]

you could try coating them with ''microscale - liquid decal film'' .... may rescue them @ https://www.scalemodelshop.co.uk/pro...ilm-microscale

[ojays]

you could try coating them with ''microscale - liquid decal film'' .... may rescue them @ https://www.scalemodelshop.co.uk/pro...ilm-microscale

Thanks for the recommendation, however this was a couple of years ago and I had binned them and resorted to painting them all.

[boatman]

HI Gregg any more pics on the airwing ? an this is not a critisum Gregg of your build but ive been studyin your motors layout which is very good but as they are small pics an I cant see them properly but I just wondered wheather about coolin your motors as to me they look covered in by the hanger bay floor an may get hot when running
chris

[ojays]

HI Gregg any more pics on the airwing ? an this is not a critisum Gregg of your build but ive been studyin your motors layout which is very good but as they are small pics an I cant see them properly but I just wondered wheather about coolin your motors as to me they look covered in by the hanger bay floor an may get hot when running
chris

The photo's show them before they were secured, they are now sat in a silicone base with free air around 3 sides.
They are also geared but I can't remember the ratio now as they have been in so long.

[ojays]

Some of the air wing here, but not completed installing yet as there are a lot of vehicles and crew yet to position.

[ojays]