USS Iwo Jima, LHD-7, Gallery 1/350 Kit# 64002, OOB Review and Build

Modeling Subjects Ships
21

Thanks!

I used to build 1/700, 1/720, 1/800 etc. model ships. but I stepped up to 1/350 scale some years ago because there was just so much more detail…both with the models and what you can add with after market and scratch builds.

Never regretted it.

This one is coming along very nicely (and it is one of the truly classic, quintessential 1/350 scale ship kits out there)…but oh man, is there a lot of PE railing for this baby. I have been working on the railing in the evenings and weekends for over a week…and am still not done!

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The Build - Complete Lighting Electrical, Deck Equipment, Deck PE Railing/ladders, Island Railing - March 8, 2015

This was a very involved session and it took me every bit of ten days.

I started by completing the lighting system electrical wiring into the stand, adding the switch and power source (a 9VDC battery), and then testing the lighting system…at this point I also added to props and anchors since the model was upside down while doing this.

I then painted and built the deck equipment. These are miniature assemblies ranging in part count from five to ten pieces each. There are the following:

2 x large mobile cranes
2 x large forklifts
2 x medium fork lifts
2 x fire trucks
2 x aircraft tugs
2 x equipment trailers

The forklifts are painted yellow. The tires are flat black, and the rest are light gray, with some dark grey accents.

At this point it was time to add the photo etch metal railing to the flight deck, along with the ladders and safety netting. There was a LOT of PE Railing…and I mean a lot. Between the PE Railing supplied with the kit, and particularly the PE railing that came with the White Ensign Models PE kit, there was plenty. But it is very time consuming to cut and add all of these sections of railing and carefully bend them where necessary.

This took five or six days to accomplish itself.

Then it was time to do the same for the PE Railing and ladders for the island. Another painstaking operation with a LOT of railing. This took another 3-4 days.

She is looking very, very good! All that is left now is to glue the island down, and glue the aircraft and deck equipment down. Then simply take pictures of the completed USS Iwo Jima, LHD, 7, in 1/350 scale!

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The Build - Placing equipment and aircraft on the flight deck and elevators, completing the model - March 10, 2015

Well, all that was left at this point was to glue down the island, and then place the equipment (cranes, fork lifts, tugs, etc.) and the aircraft on the flight deck and elevators.

I ended up placing the aircraft in a little different configuration than what I used earlier in my dry fit. Mainly, I decided to place the Sea Knights forward of the island, with most of the Super Stallions aft of the island.

Once that was done and dried well, it was time to simply take the finishing pictures.

Here are the main pics:

…and some close ups:

…and the lighting system seen through both elevators and from aft, showing the well deck and vehicle deck:

…and some more detail shots:

…and finally, full shots from the port and starboard sides:

She is one nice looking vessel.

I have to say, this has been one of the top two most enjoyable 1/350 scale model ships I have built. This Gallery, USS Iwo Jima, LHD-7, and the 1/350 scale Tamiya USS Enterprise, CVN-65, that I built earlier added so much scratch build and lighting system to.

I would recommend both…an particularly this one…to anyone who enjoys building modern naval vessels. The detail for the three interior sections (vehicle deck, well deck, and hanger) and the ability to add details (photo etch kits, scratch builds, etc.) are simply phenomenal and make for a lot of enjoyment.

Now adding an escorting Ticonderoga and an escorting Burke will round out my ARG…though I do not have a 1/350 scale LSD and am not aware of a kit for one. Just the same, my completed ARG will include:

1 x Wasp Class Landing Helicopter Dock (USS Iwo Jima)
1 x San Antonio Class Landing Platform Dock (USS New York)
1 x Missouri Class Battleship (USS New Jersey - modernized)
2 x Independence Class Littoral Combat Ships (USS Independence and USS Coronado)
1 x Arleigh Burke Class, Flight IIA AEGIS Destroyer (USS Chafee)
1 x Ticonderoga Class AEGIS Cruiser (USS Gettysburg)
1 x Ohio Class Guided Missile nuclear Submarine (USS Ohio)
1 x Los Angels Flight III class nuclear submarine (USS Boise)

Having that group in conjunction with my entire US Navy Carrier Strike Group centered on the USS Enterprise is the culmination of a goal set many years ago.

One day I hope to add a 1/350 scale Zumwalt class destroyer to replace the New Jersey, and a Landing Ship Dock (LSD). Still, its a powerful group as it is.

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a very impressive build jeff.,I have never tried to put a lighting system in my models., is there a particular site you go to., too buy these., I am about to start the black pearl ., and think lighting would look good against the black hull .,

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Thanks!

I usually buy my LED lightings strips for hangers and major decks from Modeler’s Brand (http://www.modelersbrand.com/) and then do all of the electrical stuff myself. I have a background in engineering and electronics.

You can also purchase individual LED lights from them or from others like Life Lites (http://www.lifelites.com/).

There are also more complete, out of the box kits you can buy. For example, Madman Lighting sells numerous pre-fabricated kits for lighting for various types of models like science fiction, aircraft carriers, landing fields, etc. (home.comcast.net/…/index.html).

Hope that helps.

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Very nice. Love the lighting! Would love to try that myself one day.

Mike

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Thanks! it was a very fun build/project.

Rates right up there with my build of the USS Enterprise, CVN-65, by Tamiya, in terms of enjoyment.

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I appreciate the help jeff

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No problem…glad to help.

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I just started my own USS Iwo Jima project and I am loving your write up so far.

When you painted the hull, did you add on any of the hull pieces first or did you add and paint them later?

Thanks,

Brian J

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Hmmm.

A thought just hit my old grey cells . In the sixties I was at Bremerton Naval Shipyard where my ship ( U.S.S. Ozbourn )D.D.846 was doing a F.R.A.M. refit .They were then building two ships in adjacent drydocks .

On commissioning day , after a disasterous incline Test , I might add .The ship , a strange looking beast ( a mixture of a some kind of carrier with a rounded bow at the deck and an ancient looking hull design was commissioned . ) her name ? funny you should ask , It was the U.S.S. Iwo Jima ! Bulbeous stern design, single screw and all .

That’s a far cry from the one you have . I wonder what happened to those two squirrelly looking ships ! T.B.

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just finished reading about the new U.S.S. America, another you’ll need to add. Waiting to move before really adding to my 1/350 collection. easier to do unbuilt and in the box. have atleast 5 on the wish list and 6 in boxes.

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That had to be the USS Iwo Jima LPH-2. She was the first of class helo assault ship, purpose built for that purpose. I believe seven were built.

Here’s a good link.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Iwo_Jima_(LPH-2)

They were followed by the Tarawa Class, and then the Wasp class which the current Iwo Jima is a part of…and now the America class.

I believe that first one was commissioned in 1960, and decommissioned in 1993.

Jeff

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First I painted the whole hull on gray. Then I added the rudder, strut supports, etc then painted the hull red. I then painted the black water line mark.

This is a great model, IMHO one of the best 1/350 scale models available in terms of overall detail.

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It’s too late now, but the aft rotors on a CH/RH-46 fold forward. In addition, belowdecks, all of the CH/MH-53 variants fold the tail forward (they faill to clear overhead obstacles otherwise. Main rotors only folded is for flit deck stowage, where the birds can be stowed TOW (Tail Over Water). You were being generous with space on the flight and hangar decks. The brown-shoes cram the birds in until they nearly touch. There are photos of Iwo’s hangar deck with 3 CH-49 side to side. Barely enough room to pull them out with a tow tug. Do not sweat LCAC direction, they need to be nose-first into the well deck so that vehicles can use the LCAC ramp (until the new version of LCAC with fore & aft ramps comes into service).

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impressive [*]

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Thanks so much! All spot on and I can actually fix quite a few of those…and shall.

Again, thank you very muich, and God bless you an thank you for your serice to our Republic.

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Now that I got and finished the USS Harper’s Ferry, LSD-49, in 1/350 scale, and with this USS Iwo Jima in 1/350, and LPD-21, the USS New York, and with their escorts, I am able to put together an antire ARG…really, a full MEU!

Here are some pics of the same: (Click on the pic for higer resolution)

…and here are the addresses for the three builds of the major AMphibs (the escorts are all on here too) of the Amphibious ships:

USS Harpers Ferry, LSD-49

http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/modeling_subjects/f/7/t/172343.aspx

USS Iwo Jima, LHD-7

http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/modeling_subjects/f/7/t/163616.aspx

USS New York, LPD-21

http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/modeling_subjects/f/7/t/162273.aspx

I also have complete US Navy Carrier Strike Group with the building of the USS Ronald Reagan (rebuilt 1/350 Trumpeter Nimitz kit) and the Tamiya 1/350 scale USS Enterprise kit, along with the 1/350 kits of the Ticonderoga AEGIS cruisers , AEGIS Burke Destroyers, Freedom Class LCS (which I built as the new FF design) and either Virginia, Sea Wolf, or LA Class SSNs.

39

Great work,

I’ve been on that boat a couple of times in 2004, and the CH-53E’s have the modexes for my old squadron, HMH-464.

Your build looks increadible,

Chris

40

Thanks Chris.

I was a very enjoyable build.

I made some mistakes on her…but enjoyed the experience just the same.

While I did not work on any of the LHDs, in my engenieering career I did have the opportunity t work in several Naval and air Force projects. The NSSN program that became the Viginia Class SSN, got to visit the USS Ohio twice during her refit to an SSGN, and earlier in my career (going back a long time now) I worked on the A-7E Cosrair II in one of its last iterations.

Anyhow, thank you for your service, and glad that your squadron could be represented.