My build and review of Tamiya's 1/350 scale USS Enterprise, (CVN-65)

Continued...

The Build - Putting together the hull and scartch building the Hangar Deck (June 12, 2012)

I started by quickly gluing together, and then screwing together with the provided nuts and bolts, the two hull sections. This went very straightforwardly and provided minimal seam which I will later add putty to and then level off through light sanding to eliminate the seam.

Then it was time to begin building the hangar deck. I do not have large sections of plastic (but may yet go out and buy some "cut to size" 2mil white plastic sheeting) so was left with using pieces I do have from other builds, particularly water-line flat sections I have not used, to fasten the hangar deck, and then various other plastic pieces to fashion the walls.

I decided to extend the deck from just forward of the second elevator (which come open in the model but is meant in the instructions to be closed with its blast doors, all the way to aft of the last elevatr. I used my dremel tool with a carbon disc cutter, my xacto knife, and my cutting dikes to make the pieces. I built ledges for those pieces out of spru parts from other models, supporting them with short sections of sprue glued vertically beneath them, and then did this all the way along the proposed hangar spaces on each side. I then pieced together the various section, painted the aft section using gray primer by Testor's Model Master, and then puttied the seams for the pieces I had used.

Later I will grind and/or sand these down to provide smooth surfaces throughout, paint the whole, and then begin adding details to the hangar spaces including piping, sections, blast doors, observation areas, and ultimately aircraft and equipment. I will also paint the tie downs onto the hangar deck like they will be on the main deck. I also am thinking of adding some lighting using a 12vdc source and small white or flourescentr lighting for the hangar bay, but will decide on that later.

SCHEDULE for Future Activities as of June 12, 2012

This is a very great build. Tamiya outdid itself all of those years ago and this is still a quintessential build today.

Once it is complete, it will be back to the Aircraft Carrier Battle groups. My current schedule calls for the following regarding those groups:

By Sep 15, 2012: Complete the USS Enterprise, CVN-65.
By Oct 15, 2012: Complete the USS Lassen, DDG-82.
By Nov 15, 2012: Complete the PLAN Ningbo, DDG-139.
By Dec 15, 2012: Complete the USS Freedom, LCS-1.

At that point I will go back and complete the remainder of the PLAN Carrier group, centered on the already completed the PLA Navy's Aircraft Carrier in 1/350 scale by Trumpeter, including Mini Hobby's's DDG-168; two of Trumpeter's Type 054A FFGs, one the FFG-570, Huangshan, and the Hobby Boss PLAN ChangZheng5, SSN-405. (The only ones I need there are the two Type 054 frigates which come out late this summer, I already own all the rest). At some point, should it come out, I also want to add a Type 071, Yuzhao Class LPD.

Then, it will be on to finish the US Carrier Strike group including Mini Hobby'ss USS Bunker Hill, CG-52, and the Los Angeles Class attack sumbmarine (which I have already completed), Testor's SSN-764, USS Boise (It was actaully the San Juan, but I built and marked it as the USS Boise), Trumpeter's USS Iwo Jima LHD-7, Cyber Hobby's USS Independence, LCS-2, Hobby Boss's USS Texas, SSN-775. (All of which I already own)

When a 1/350 scale USS Gerald R. Ford comes out from Trumpeter, Airfix, Tamiya, Dragon, or whomever else, I will add it to this group along with another AEGIS Cruiser and Burke DDG.

Once the US and PLAN groups are built, I intend on building a complete UK Group including the Airfix HMS Illustrious (which I already own), two Airfix Daring Class DDGs (which I have yet to purchase but have pre-ordered for delivery later this summer), and the Hobby Boss HMS Astute SSN and Airfix HMS Tragalgar SSN, both of which which I already own. One day, when a 1/350 scale HMS Queen Elizabeth carrier comes out, I will add it to this group.

Then it will be a complete Russian CSG (centered on Trumpeter's Kuznetsov) one of the Russian Nuclear Battle Cruisers, two Trumpeter Udalaoy DDGs and Hobby Boss's Akula II class SSN (which I alread have) and the Russian Alfa Class SSN which I have already completed.

Then, again, once the models are available, I'd like to build a Japanese group centered on their new 22DDH carrier and the Hyuga, an Italian Group centered on the Cavour, a French Group centered on the De Gaulle, a Spanish Group centered on the Jaun Carlos, and ultimatly an Australian Group centered on the new Canberra Class. If they ever build the models, an Indian group centered on either the Vikramaditya or their new ADS Carrier the Vikrant would also be nice. You can see all of these actual carriers, read their histories and specifictions at my site:

All of these along with their escorts will be in 1/350 scale. Literally years worth of building...probably be doing this the rest of my life.

WORLD WIDE AIRCRAFT CARRIERS

...and most of their surface escorts at:

AEGIS VESSELS OF THE WORLD

Jeff, are there any model aircrafts suitable for this carrier?

Originally Posted by Kurt

Jeff, are there any model aircrafts suitable for this carrier?

Yes. Tamiya and Trumpeter both make all sorts of model aircraft in 1/350 scale for the model aircraft carriers in the same scale. From World War II to the Present times.

As I mention in the thread above when talking about what comes with the ship and what I have purchased, I say taht the aircaft included with the aircraft carrier model itself are:

2 - F-18 Hornets
2 - A-6 Intruders
2 - F-14 Tomocats
2 - A-7 Corsairs, and 2 - S-3 Vikings

This is ten aircraft but is not nearly enough for a full airwing, and is certainly not enough for my purposes because I intend an airwing from the 2000s when the A-7s, F-14s, A-6s, and S-3s were already retired. So, I have purchased four Tamiya aircraft sets (2 each of set 1 and set 2) and three sets of Trumpeter aircraft.

The 1st Tamiya set is exctly the same as what came with the model. The second Tamiya set includes the following aircraft:

2 - E2C Hawkeyes
2 - EA-6B Prowlers
2 - SH-3H Sea King Helos
4 - F-4F Phantoms

I also purchased the following Trumpeter 1/350 scale models sets:

6 - F-18F Super Hornets
6 - C2 Greyhounds
6 - SH-60H Seahawks

When you add all of these up and take out the aircraft no longer in use. I will put together an airwing of the following:

6 - F/A-18D Hornets
6 - F/A-18F SuperHornets
4 - EA-6B Prowlers
4 - E2-D Hawkeyes
3 - C-2 Greyhounds 3 - SH-3H Sea Kings
4 - SH-60H Seahawks

That's 30 aircraft so, in order to get that airwing up to more realistic numbers, so intend to purchase and add a dozen more F/A-18C Hornets and F/A-18F Super HornetsSuper Hornets to make a complete airwing of 42 aircraft.

Here's my latest update on the build of my 1/350 scale USS Enterprise CVN-65, by Tamiya:

The Build - Continuing the Hangar Deck & Start Painting the Main Hull (June 27, 2012)

I ultimately ordered some while styrene plastic sheet, 4 mils for the sides and 6 mils for the roof for the hangar deck so I could have uniformity. I should have done so with the floor of the hangar deck as well, but the thick plastic had bonded so well that taking it off appeared like it would damage the hull and create a larger problem, so grinding and sanding to a smooth surface would have to suffice.

I then took a number of spare parts from older naval vessel builds, and the various size sprues to create realistic hangar deck walls with stations, piping, etc. They are not an exact match, but they look good for my purposes and tastes, which is not to go all out on an exact replica of the vessel at any single date or time frame, rather to produce how the vessel appeared in general in the later time frames suited to my airwing without the A-7s, F-14s, or A-6s. In other words, conforming generally to the airwing listed above.

The white styrene walls came out good when painted and after adding the various detail work. I am still looking for good parts to add for the specific viewing and control stations along the hangar deck and will place them as I find or build them. I intend to use micro-led lighting for the hangar roof, and also build the various racks that hang from the roof, and will cover that detail in a future post.

With the hangar deck well along, I masked off and painted the upper surface of the entire hull in Model Master Neutral Gray, which I find to be as close to the normal color as possible without mixing. Next I will paint the black water line stripe and then the hull in a flat red. Here are the resulting pictures of the build to date:

The Build - Hangar Deck Aircraft, vehicles and tie downs complete(October 2, 2012)

Well, here, on SD, I have neglected to keep this updated, so I thought I would put today's update on here and people can go back and look at the the other 2-3 updates between June and now that got me here...and there was a lot of work on the sponsons and the island that did so.

Some of you may have seen some of those pictures I have posted here on SD where I compare the USS Enterprise, CVN-65 in 1/350 scale with the flight deck and island dry fit onto the hull, with the complete 1/350 scale model I have of the [url=http://www.freewebs.com/jeffhead/modelbuilds/PRC-CV-01.htm]PLAN CV-16, Liao Ning. Here's one of those:

So, on the Enterprise, I have now completed all of the aircraft and vehicles to be placed on the hangar deck. I completed three two trucks, one fire truck, and one forklift to go with the twelve aircraft.

After assembling the aircraft, I assembled and painted the vehicles. The fire truch is white with a blue strip on the back.

Once this was completed it was time to put the decals on all of the aircraft and do the finishing touch up paint on them. The decals are very small and getting them on properly was time comsuming. I am using the low-visibility markings for the aircraft. I am limited to the "Navy" and wing markings, using what came with the model and aircraft kits.

Then it was time to prepare the hangar deck with all of the tie downs. most suggest painting a small dot on the deck to depict this, but I decided on a different route. Using a very small ahnd-held drill, and a very small 1/32 drill bit, I derilled shallow holes, which more accurately depict these tie dwons. I drilled in between 1/64 and 1/32 of an inch. Over three hundred were required for the amount of hangar space I have depicted. it was very time consuming and then reuired some touch up work with files, knife, and paint...but I like the look. Good warm up for the 800-900 that will be required for the main deck! I will take pictures of exactly how I did this when I begin working the main flight deck.

Once these tie downs were completed and touched up, I then was able to place the aircraft and vehicles in the hangar bay and arrange them until I liked the configuration. I then glued them all in place as shown below.

Now that is some good progress!

I will not begin putting together the lighting schematic with the wiring diagram I have designed and the 9 vdc power source (battery. The wiring will be inside the carrier with a plug-in recessed into the bottom so it doe not interfere with the stand. The switch and battery will be in the stand with a lead and connector that allows it to plug into the carrier, after which time the switch will operate the lights which will be miniature LEDs that simulate a flourescent lighting scheme.

Coming up!


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SCHEDULE for Future Activities as of October 2, 2012

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Once my USS Enterprise, CVN-65, is complete, I will be moving forward with my model building schedule as shown here:

- By Nov 10, 2012: Complete the USS Enterprise, CVN-65.
- By Dec 10, 2012: Complete the USS Lassen, DDG-82.
- By Jan 10, 2012: Complete PLAN Xuzhao (FFG-53) and Huangshan(FFG-570).
- By Jan 31, 2013: Complete the USS Bunker Hill, CG-52.

At that point I will go back and complete the remainder of the PLAN Carrier group, centered on the already completed the PLA Navy's Aircraft Carrier in 1/350 scale by Trumpeter, including Mini Hobby's's PLAN Guangzhou, DDG-168; the PLAN Ningbo, DDG-139; and the PLAN ChangZhang5, SSN-405 by Hobby Boss. If a 1/350 scale model of the PLAN Type 071 LPD, Yuzhao Class, is added, I will add one of those, propbably LPD-999, Jinggangshan.

Then, it will be on to finish the US Carrier Strike group including Trumpeter's, USS Freedom, LCS-1, Trumpeter's USS Iwo Jima LHD-7, Trumpeter's USS The Sullivans DDG-68, Cyber Hobby's USS Independence, LCS-2, Gallery Model's, USS New York, LPD-21, Hobby Boss's USS Texas, SSN-775. (All of which I already own)

When a 1/350 scale USS Gerald R. Ford comes out from Trumpeter, Airfix, Tamiya, Dragon, or whomever else, I will add it to this group along with another AEGIS Cruiser.

Once the US and PLAN groups are built, I intend on building a complete UK Group including the Airfix HMS Illustrious (which I already own), two Airfix Daring Class DDGs (which I have now ordered and should arrive in August), then two Type 23 HMS Duke class Frigates (which I already own), and the Hobby Boss HMS Astute SSN and Airfix HMS Tragalgar SSN, both of which which I already own. One day, when a 1/350 scale HMS Queen Elizabeth carrier and a 1/350 HMS Ocean LPD come out, I will add both to this group.

Then it will be the French CSG centered on the Charles De Gualle (which I already own). All of these models are by Heller and are in 1/400 scale. I have purchased the French De Grasse, D612 DDG, which is an ASW DDG, the French Duquesne, D603 DDG which is an anti-air multi-purpose DDG, the French Aconit F713 FFG and Gueprattet F714 FFGs, both of which are Lafayette class frigates. These five vessels will round out my French CSG. As soon as a French Rbin class nuclear sub, like the French Perale S606 SSN comes out, I will add that to the group. Also as soon as the Forbin D620, Horizon class anti-air DDG is available, I will purchase it and add it to the group as well.

Then, finally it will be a complete Russian CSG (centered on Trumpeter's Kuznetsov) the Russian Slava Class cruiser, Varyag by Trumperter, two Trumpeter Udalaoy DDGs, a Trumpeter Sovremenny DDG, and Hobby Boss's Akula II class SSN (which I already own) and the Russian Alfa Class SSN which I have already completed.

Then, again, once the models are available, I'd like to build a Japanese group centered on their new 22DDH carrier and the Hyuga, an Italian Group centered on the Cavour, a Spanish Group centered on the Juan Carlos, and ultimatly an Australian Group centered on the new Canberra Class. If they ever build the models, an Indian group centered on either the Vikramaditya or their new ADS Carrier the Vikrant would also be nice with the Kolkata DDGs and the Shivlak FFGs.

You can see all of these actual carriers, read their histories and specifictions at my site:

WORLD-WIDE AIRCRAFT CARRIERS

...and most of their surface escorts at:

AEGIS AND AEGIS-LIKE VESSELS OF THE WORLD

All I can say is WOW. Such dedication, its truly impressive in what you have done Jeff. You must post a picture of the model all lighted up.

I wonder if its a bit over the top to have subdued background noise of a carrier at work if you know what I mean. However to achieve the overall effect it might necessitate placing the "Enterprise" in a different setting than having it on a stand. Something like the picture in post1 perhaps?

Excellent work Jeff! Hey do those small scale planes wings stay folded or can you move them (unfolding the wings)?

Originally Posted by bladerunner

All I can say is WOW. Such dedication, its truly impressive in what you have done Jeff. You must post a picture of the model all lighted up.

I wonder if its a bit over the top to have subdued background noise of a carrier at work if you know what I mean. However to achieve the overall effect it might necessitate placing the "Enterprise" in a different setting than having it on a stand. Something like the picture in post1 perhaps?

Thanks.

When she is complete, she will sit with her growing group of escorts, and ultimately that will include a full PhiBron as I have the same scale Iwo Jima (a Wasp Class LHD), and the USS Sommerset (A San Antonio Class LPD).

I've thought about later building a big Diorama at sea for the various groups...but then we are talking about filling up half the house! LOL!

Once I get her lit up, I will post that. I started wiring up the LEDs tonight and have the three roof sections cut and the LEDs added with their initial wiring to the outside of the enclosure. Next I will get a terminal block, wire all three to that, and then take a pos and neg from that TB to a plugin I will recess into the hull. From there, it simply wriing up a connector, wiring that through a switch that iot attached to a 9 vdc battery in a removal case in the stand.

Originally Posted by equation

Excellent work Jeff! Hey do those small scale planes wings stay folded or can you move them (unfolding the wings)?

Well, Equation, these wings are glued in the folded or open position. It would take quite a bit of work to scratch build folding wings at that scale...and I just have too many other carrier groups to build that I want to complete before I die of old age! LOL!

I have never seen any you can buy at 1/350 scale that do...but I bet they would be expensive.

That's some mighty fine work, Jeff. I've painted models in the past, but nothing so ambitious. I'm looking forward to seeing the finished product. How long do you think it will take to complete?

Originally Posted by Mr T

That's some mighty fine work, Jeff. I've painted models in the past, but nothing so ambitious. I'm looking forward to seeing the finished product. How long do you think it will take to complete?

Well, at the end of the last update I gave a schedule of my planned activities. Just depends on how much time after work and each weekend I can spend between yard work, getting ready for winter, honey do's, taking grandkids to movies, etc. I hope to be done with the Enterprise now by sometime in November.

Last night I got the LED lights attached and stubbed into (from a wiring perspective) the three seperate overhead panels (ceiling segments) for the hangar bay, and tested them to make sure they "light up." Tonight (if there is time after the debate) I hope to get the main wiring done in the ship to hook these three panels together and wired into a terminal block inside the vessel. Then, before the weekend is out, I hope to wire from that TB to a flush connector I will build into the underside of the hull and then build the attaching connectors to hook into a switch I will mount on the stand, which in turn will be wired to a power supply (a 9vdc battery) underneath the stand (mounted in a holder attached to the bottom side of the stand). At that point my hangar bay will be done and next week I can start on the main flight deck.

But drilling those 700-800 small holes for the aircraft tie down points is going to take a lot of time.

Here's the finished product for the Chinese Carrier, CV-16 Liao Ning

The Build - Hangar Deck Lighting System Built (October 24, 2012)

Once the hangar deck had been completed in terms of the structure, the tie downs, the aircraft, and the details, it was time to put together the hangar deck lighting system I had envisioned. Basically I was going to use miniature LED lights that would burn in a flourescent color, powerd by 9 V DC source, and wired together with 22 and 18 guage electrical wire such that the wiring ultimately comes out of the carrier on the bottom with a flush plugin that would then connect to a switch lovated in the stand to turn on and off the hangar deck lights.

I purchased the LEDs and the solderless connections and 9 V DC connectiors from Modeler's Brand ([url=http://www.modelersbrand.com">www.modelersbrand.com[/url]), an online source that makes miniture LED tape in several densities (in terms of lights per inch). I bought the regular-double density tape and then bought five solderless connections to it along with five 9 V DC connections. I had 22 and 18 guage wire, wire connectors (butt connectors as well as various plug ins), tie downs, and 9 V DC batteries. I used my own wire dikes, wire strippers, cutters, etc. I planned for three LEDs in each of three bays within the hanger deck. Each group of three leds pulled 20 mA, so I would be pulling a total of a 60 mA load on my battery which was quitre acceptable. Here are pictures of the Modeler's Brand material and the roof sections onto which I placed the LEDs and wired them up.

Once I had the roof sections wired up, it was time attach them to the hangar and wire them all together and then run the wire to the forward end of the carrier, forward of the hangar deck so I could then have it exit the hull around the first starboard side elevator underneath the carrier.

As I was doing this, I used the 9 V DC battery to test the lighting after each section was wired together to ensure it all worlked as I put it together. I did three individual tests on the individual sections, and then a total of three more tests as I put it together to make sure it all worked right through the completion of the wiring so I would know where the error came in if one appeared.

Sure enough, as I was wiring the last section together, the lighting in the other two stopped working and I had to correct an impropoer connection to get them all to work. Here are pictures of the three bays put together and wired up, with two pictures of the whole thing together.

Finally it was time to light it up and take a few pictures. The first two are with a flash, so the lighting system does not appear as bright. The last one is with a auto time lapse where the lighting appears more brightly to the eye. This has turned out pretty well and I would recommend this method of putting your lighting system together. Altogether, I spent aboout $30 for all of the material I used. I have also purchased a more ready made, out of the box system for 1/350 scale Carrier by Madman Lighting Systems at Freetime Hobbies - Pacific Front Models ([url=http://www.freetimehobbies.com">www.freetimehobbies.com[/url]). It cost about $45.00 that I will use on my USS Iwo Jima LHD-7 1/350 Scale Model by Gallery models when the time comes and advise how it goes.

Pretty nice if I do say so myself. Next I will be working on the main flight deck, getting all of the tie downs there drilled and then placing the flight deck on the hull and covering over the hangar deck. At that time I will also put the Island and the decals on the main deck before going into the long process of building all of the air wing for the flight deck.

SCHEDULE for Future Activities as of October 24, 2012

- By Nov 30, 2012: Complete the USS Enterprise, CVN-65.
- By Dec 21, 2012: Complete the USS Lassen, DDG-82.
- By Jan 21, 2013: Complete PLAN Xuzhao (FFG-53) and Huangshan(FFG-570).
- By Feb 15, 2013: Complete the USS Bunker Hill, CG-52.

At that point I will go back and complete the remainder of the PLAN Carrier group, centered on the already completed the PLA Navy's Aircraft Carrier in 1/350 scale by Trumpeter, CV-16 Liaoning, including Mini Hobby's's PLAN Guangzhou, DDG-168; the PLAN Ningbo, DDG-139; and the PLAN ChangZhang5, SSN-405 by Hobby Boss. If a 1/350 scale model of the PLAN Type 071 LPD, Yuzhao Class, is added, I will add one of those, propbably LPD-999, Jinggangshan.

Wow...that's remarkable Jeff! Say, what if you need to change the battery for the lighting, how do you access it?

Originally Posted by Equation

Wow...that's remarkable Jeff! Say, what if you need to change the battery for the lighting, how do you access it?

The wiring comes out of the carrier through a flush mounted connector on the bottom of the carrier I have created and plugs into the stand. The wiring then goes through a switch mounted on the stand that is marked "Hangar Lighting ON - OFF". From there it goes to a box on the bottom of the stand that holds the 9 vdc battery. It just clips in there.

When the battery needs changing, I just take the carrier off its stand, unplugging the wiring at the connector as I do, turn the stand over and replace the battery. It will work that way from now on.

Hey Jeff, nice work as always, looks really dedicated. All the additional details are great, and the self made hanger lighting seems really original. That's a great addition.
Any chance we may see flight deck lighting, or the "ball" for the approach?
Anyway, I guess you now really need to get a large, but shallow, pool for your garden to place the models there and make some photos.