CV-6, Wooden Decks and Iron Men

[sequoiaranger]

As I had mentioned in another thread, I am starting a "Phoenix" build of the USS Enterprise, CV-6. My dad served aboard her, as an junior officer, for all the carrier battles of 1942, including Midway. He was very emotionally "attached" to the ship. When the Enterprise was being broken up for scrap in the late 1950's, my dad got aboard her one last time, and broke down in tears as he left her dismantled carcass.

I built for him two models of the USS Enterprise, which he displayed proudly in his den. The first one, the old Aurora one (1/800?), was supplanted by the larger (1/480) and more detailed Revell one (currently available but first molded in the late 60's I think). When he died a couple years back, I came into possession of it.

Recently, the US Naval Historical Center, who had been hoarding pieces of the actual USS Enterprise flight deck as she was being broken up (for "plankowners"---those who first served aboard her at commissioning), found that there were no more requests (all the plankowners had died off), so released the surplus blocks to the USS Enterprise Association for distribution to later crewmembers and their families; one per family. I had my dad's block. Then, with the paucity of even THOSE requests, the blocks were available, PERIOD. Not for sale, but for remembrances of the Enterprise. I asked for several blocks (they are only 2 1/2" x 4"), explaining that I would like to make a model Enterprise flight deck from the original Enterprise flight deck. This was granted.

Which brings me to my current (actually near-future) project. I had the blocks milled to thin slabs, at great expense, but which are now suitable to use to create a model flight deck for my model Enterprise.

It is still in the deep-thought/measurement stage, but in the meantime, I used small chips of the Enterprise deck wood to make playing tiles for my WW II wargame (largely based on Avalon Hill's VITP). Now, instead of the tile REPRESENTING the USS Enterprise, it **IS** the USS Enterprise.  [The two slightly different tiles--one with larger numbers along the bottom--are for the "regular", and "strengthened" carrier (later in the war the additional escorts and improved damage-control procedures)]



I am thinking to replace all the WOODEN parts of the styrene plastic Enterprise flight deck with real wood. This would leave a plastic rim and occasional strips in a wood matrix. I am in a quandary whether to "paint" over the wood, as the "real" Enterprise looked in the war, or leave the wood merely clear-preserved to show the grain and to emphasize the deck to the viewer.

I don't want to micro-detail the ship, just renovate it. It was a simple, OOB competent build, and I would like it to be substantially the same as my dad saw it in his den for some 25 years.

I have to finish my Douglas Decimator project that has lain dormant over the holidays, but wanted to begin this thread for any who are interested in following the decking project.

[Arc3371]

I wouldn´t paint over the deck

[sequoiaranger]

>I wouldn´t paint over the deck<

Right on, "arc". The more I think about it, the more I realize it is NOT a "make the most accurate Enterprise you can" model, but a tribute model to my Dad and his ship. I deliberately had the blocks cut so that the grain is parallel to the short axis of the ship, to help represent the look of individual planks whilst using the slabs wholesale. Even if I use a diluted wash of color over it to tone down the wooden-ness of it, it might not look like wood to the casual observer. Better to "smack them upside the head" with the wooden-ness of it all to bring attention to the authenticity of the material.

So it's a "whif" after all!

[Sauragnmon]

I'm with arc, SR - don't paint the deck.  If you have enough left, you could always get another one and extensively research her look just after she was commissioned - do her out before the first solid painting, so she'd still have that beautiful natural wood deck.  The wood's earned its stripes, so to speak, and deserves to be shown Au Naturel.  It'd also give the model just that extra piece of pride to show it nice and straight.  I would imagine the wood's already been treated, so it shouldn't have any problems with aging.

[sequoiaranger]

>The wood's earned its stripes, so to speak, and deserves to be shown Au Naturel.<

Yes. I agree. No paint, stain, or wash.

>It'd also give the model just that extra piece of pride to show it nice and straight.  I would imagine the wood's already been treated, so it shouldn't have any problems with aging.<

The blocks of wood were UN-treated. One block that I did not mill has some deterioration visible. The milled and planed slabs I made have all new surfaces, so it demands SOME kind of preservation. Probably clear acrylic, even if "a dull, frosty" appearance.

PS--of the dozens of slabs made, I selected for the Enterprise deck those with the straightest, most uniform, and most parallel lines (the one in the pic a few posts below was a "second" and hacked up for the game tiles). The others I will use to veneer the wooden base I will make for the clear case I had made to display it in. The outrageous cost of the custom acrylic case plus the milling charge will put this project over the $700 mark. But it is not COST that drives or hampers this project. It **SHALL** be done!!

[Brian da Basher]

This is one outstanding idea, SR and my hat's off to you! I agree with keeping the wood in its natural state which will enhance its provenance.

I'm going to really enjoy watching this beauty take shape!

Brian da Basher

[Scooterman]

El'natural is my vote.

[proditor]

I'll jump on the bandwagon and vote for natural wood as well.  Amazing idea man, seriously. 

[lenny100]

to preserve thehistory of a great ship and your farther i would go for the natural wood and explane to any body who stays its wrong just what the wood is and why

[sequoiaranger]

Yeah. Thanks for "pushing me over the edge" on this one, guys.

[nev]

This is cool

[Weaver]

Excellent project, and another vote for natural wood from me. There are a zillion accurate models of the Enterprise, but this one is more like the modeller's equivalent of a commemorative plaque.

[sequoiaranger]

In the following pic I have taken the picture a couple of posts down and CRUDE-ly "photoshopped" the decking and extended it to most of the flight deck to give "us" a feel for how it might turn out. I also crudely made the 40mm's into 1.1's (28mm--boy it was tough reducing the barrel diameter of those little buggers!   ). The "real" model will have wood coverage extending more to the sides, but not much more. Also, the grain of the real decking will be more uniform and straight, more closely resembling the actual deck planking. But you get the idea!

[Sauragnmon]

Looks good I think, it'll be nice to see her with the wooden deck like that.  It's a beautiful concept, man, kudos to you for the outside-the-box thinking that got you into it.

[philp]

Love the idea and I think it would look good either way.

Do you have the contact information for the Organization?  The Enterprise has always been my favorite ship from WWII and the Nuclear version since (or course, love the starships as well).  It would be neat to have a piece of her as a momento or maybe to use as a base for another model.