My Review and Build of Tamiya's Kit# 78007
USS Enterprise CVN-65, Nuclear Aircraft Carrier
Last updated: June 11, 2012
Introduction to the Model (June 9, 2012)
This model is the very well known (dare I say famous?) Tamiya, 1/350 Scale USS Enterprise that has been on the market for a good 20 years and more. In fact I bought this model back in the later 1980s and have had it in storage ever since, it having made three moves (along with other models both built and unbuilt) in that time. I finally started building it this last week as a part of my large [/b].
It is a model of the fist nuclear aircraft carrier, the USS Enterprise, CVN-65. She was commissioned in 1961 and will be decommissioned in 2013 after over 52 years of service, having participated in every major US action from throughout the Cold War, through Vietnam, both Gulf Wars, Afghanistan, and countless exercises and other missions. She is called the "Big E"," and the "Old Lady of the Sea," because of her size and her longevity. She will be replaced by the first new , America's latest super carrier design. when that vessel is launched in 2013 and commissioned by 2015.
This model has been built many times over and presented time and again. There are some absolutely phenominal builds. Here are a couple: [/b], and , that I feel are excellent and very represetrnative of what is out there and can be done with the model, the aftermarket products available, and with scratch building.
For a great site talking about the actual building of this model, . There are many others, but this one is illustrative of the various processes one has to go through and which are good reference.
...and for probably the best site for any build of the USS Enterprise (this one was a full scratch build in 1/72 scale...meaning it is over 15 feet long and actually uses 1/72 model aircraft on its deck and in the hangar), . But beware, that site is a major time hog. Amazing what that guy did. Took him 19 years!
Though this model can be built in a very nice way straight out of the box, I would reommend getting either Gold Medal Models, or White Ensign Model's Photo Etch parts specifically for the aircraft carrier. They add significant detail and realism over what is included in the box. It will require, for example in the case of the safety netting around the deck, the removal of some of the plastic portions of the model to be replaced by these parts. Also, I would suggest getting some of Tamiya's and/or Trumpeter's additional aircraft sets. I intended to build the model in the 2000s version, which means the airwing is substantially different, mainly F-18s, E2-Cs, C-2 Greyhounds, and EA-6B aircraft along with Seahawk helos. In addition, the RAM missiles will have to be either used from other kits or scratch built. Finally, the decals that come with the model are very lacking as regards the deck specifically. You can either paint them (as they are shown on the deck with raised edges, or I would suggest using both Gold Medal Models and Starfighter decal sets for the USS Enterprise...both for the airwing and for the carrier itself.
Finally, the model does not come with a hangar deck...which back when the model was released was not as big an issue as it is today...so most people (myself included) build scratch hangar decks from either extra, or stock purchased parts which are then detailed to whatever degree desired. As you can see by the links provided above, some of those details are so realistic you could believe you were in the hangar spaces yourself.
What's in the Box and add on, after market parts (June 10, 2012)
This model comes in a very large, well-built box, with a very nice picture of the Enterprise included on the cover of the box. The pieces, the instructions and the decals are all safely located within and compartmentalized for the hull, the metal parts, and the other parts including the flight deck.
The Hull is in two pieces and together they measure over 3 ft long. There are several metal stiffener/strengthening brackets to be placed between the sides of the hull, and the front section is glued and screwed together with the larger aft section. Altogether there are 9 metal parts. Three stiffners, four screws and two nuts.
The deck comes in three large pieces that fit nicely to the hull in a dry fit, and have tabs to assist in their fit, as well as two screws that screw into the forward portion of the middile section down into one of the metal stiffners. The cat walks along the side of the main deck are molded directly into the deck with the stairs for the various levels included. The exterior is detailed and this is a nice feature.
The model comes with an additional eight sprus and a total of 604 parts. The pieces are well molded with very little or no flash. There are lots of finely detailed and small plastic parts for the sensors, weapons system, chaff/decoy systems, antennae, life rafts, and many other parts. The bridge windows are cut out nicely, but there are no clear plastic parts to fill in these holes so the builder is left to either leave them open, or device clear/tinted plastic pieces to fit.
As to the sprus themselves, they are arranged as follows:
1 spru for the various sponsons, screws, rudder. - 26 parts
1 spru for the elevator bay doors and fantail. - 68 parts
1 spru for the elevators and corresponding structure and detail. - 50 parts
1 spru for the island and its sensors. - 78 parts
2 sprus for life rafts, weaoons, sensors and misc parts - 308 parts
2 sprus for aircraft. - 54 parts
The aircaft included 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 enpough for a full airwing, and is certainly not enough for my purposes because I intend an airwing in 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, I will purchase and add a dozen more F/A-18 Super Hornets to make a complete airwing of 42 aircraft.
The decal sheet that comes with the model is lacking. There are no carrier deck markings, outside of a few innocuous loading markings. It seems you are intended to paint them all. That is why a 1/350 scale decal set from Starfighter for the later model Enterprise is important. Also decals sets for the airwing and the island from Gold Medal Models also help out in this regard.
The model's instructions are very well done consisting of 29 pages. The first is a history of the vessel (but dated), and the next two pages are very good descriptions of the various equipment onboard the carrier. This is followed by 24 pages of very detailed instructions, many with pictures of the model as built to help you. Finally, the last four sheets are for painting of the model and are also done in very good detail.
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