Yeah I am detail oriented, by in 1/35, and, 1/48 scale! I own all of two model ships, and haven’t built a ship kit since I was 6! I’m in my 40’s now. I wouldn’t have aclue where to start modifying a carrier! By the way the other kit is a carrier too. 1/400 Heller Arromanches for my French Indochina collection. Thanks for the post, but I think I am out of my league on this one.
okay have started on the hull. Removed rear gun area, and some on port and starboard sides. Deck is severly warped. How can I fix this? Am removing alot of stuff on this old kit. Using sheet to replace/build new components. This is tiny work. hurts the old eyes.
can use a hair dryer to soften the plastic of the deck before gluing it the the hull & taping the deck till the glue dries. i do that somewhat with my 144 scale ships that has balsa frames & .040 sheet plastic to plate the hull with. i’ve got the lexington version of that carrier as a training carrier.
Thanks to all for this message thread, especially steelrudi. I’ve been “lurking” at the armor and ships forums for several days now and building up more interest in getting back into my model shop.
The Bennington CVS-20 was my first ship (Bennington->Colleton->Coral Sea->Tutuila->Shasta) and I have often thought about building the model but figured the angled flight deck and enclosed bow would be pretty tough for me.
There is ALOT of information in this thread already to get me started! I’m looking forward to more progress reports from steelrudi, and many interesting hours spent following up the leads already posted from other members. This will be like getting reaquainted with an old girlfriend, I still think I could find my way around that ship blindfolded in the dark.
Your welcome. I am in the scary place in my mind when I work on this project. I am stealing stuff from the other carrier, and cuting it down for use on the conversion. Nothing major, or that will be missed. Railings mostly. I am using alot of sheet for re-mods on the sides and deck walk ways for this thing. Getting ready to order decals and planes from Starfighter for it, then I can top worrying. My brother let slip what I was doing to my stepfather, and I guess he was very happy about it. Calls once aweek to know of the progress. I think I will end my brothers exsistance. Well back to work. Cheers!
carve him up to make your planes.
Ray- I’m in the same boat as you- ARRRRGGGHHH!!!
I have almost finished my Pine Island at 1:400. My first ship in a long time.
Ship guys- I suck.
But as a newbie here’s the deal.
I bought railings from Gold Medal and they were so good that I figured out how to install them.
I bought Haze Gray from Polly S and wished I’d lightened it 25%.
I asked a lot of ??? on this forum and got a lot of info.
Spray down the deck color, then spray up the hull and bulwarks (did I get that right?) color. Works like a charm.
Favorite bit- the Gold Medal 20mm Oerlikon. Rudi- its like someone made a brass model of a baby Mosquito: the bug.
Would like to see- a comparible 4x40 Bofors.
I think I need 5" guns of the “O”. Four of them I think. I am working on replacing the roll doors on the sides of the darn thing now. Cutting them out and replacing with sheet. Maddening!
I wish I had a good camera!!! Still looking for one. I need feed back on ALL the projects I am doing in the forums here. Would like to hear what you Gent’s think. Will talk to Mamma about this problem. She wants one too.
Last weekend I went to a garage sale as usual. Down in the basement there was a room full of old books and furniture, and … a built model of the uss essex in that 1:596 or whatever scale, all painted up, I built a couple about 40 years ago. The capper was a big decal on the tower, musta been 50 feet at scale: BEWARE OF JET BLAST…bring back memories? It also had Vigilanies, Cutlasses, and Skyhawks glued to the deck.
I go upstairs, they want $ 9, I decline.