IOWA battleship to aircraft carrier conversion.

[seadude]

Added two 20mm gun tubs to the bow of the model ship below the front of the flight deck.


Using Part 16 from Sprue D from a Trumpeter USS Franklin ESSEX carrier kit.


Part 16 from the Trumpeter USS Franklin ESSEX carrier kit which I added a few "odds and ends" to for extra detail. I had to cut some portion on each angled end away otherwise the part would be too long.


This pic shows the "wall" under the forward flight deck where Part 16 will be going. You can obviously see how plain it looks.


Best I could do with my camera. Sorry. But you can see where I put the Part 16 bulkhead.


The "wall" where you see the tiny brass photoetch door was a spare part from a Trumpeter USS Franklin ESSEX carrier kit. Before that bulkhead part was added, the original model wall was just plain styrene.

[nighthunter]

Damn, that's looking good

[seadude]

This will probably be the last update for awhile till I figure out what brands of paint to use and what colors to use for painting this model ship. Once I know that, then I'll have more progress pics later.
For now, I added some small photoetch hatches along the port and starboard walkways near all the weapon sponsons and galleries. Also added some photoetch doors and a few extra portholes on the island superstructure.
Went and built/painted a small sampling of aircraft that I'll have on deck. I don't want to add a lot as that will distract a person's attention away from the main ship itself which is the "main attraction" so to speak.
Built/painted the following:
4 x TBM Avenger
4 x F4U Corsair
4 x SB2C Helldiver
4 x F6F Hellcat
Sorry if they aren't painted or detailed that well. But having really bad eyesight tends to limit my capabilities from time to time.

[NARSES2]

Neat airwing 

[Crackingjob]

This is a very nice what if........great work

[seadude]

Thanks. I'm trying to do the best that I can, but this build isn't that easy. Only 1 official US Navy plan to work from and other scant references, and not much else.
It's just one big build based on guesswork, gut instinct, guesswork, intuition, and more guesswork. 

[Captain Canada]

That is so cool. Glad I came back to check in ! Love the idea of a flat top on that sexy hull. Love the airwing too !

[seadude]

Did some painting on my model the last several days. Couldn't paint any Haze Gray color as I didn't have the money to buy any bottles of that color. For now, the bottom hull was painted Testor Acrylic Insignia Red. Then painted the black boot stripe. Then painted Testor Acrylic 5-N Navy Blue. I'm trying to eventually paint this model in a 1945 Measure 22 scheme. Made the propeller shafts with brass rod. Trying to get the "lines" masked and straight was a P.I.T.A.!     

[zenrat]

 

[NARSES2]

Looking good sir 

[nighthunter]

Looks fantastic

[Old Wombat]

 

[kerick]

That hull bottom is slick!

[seadude]

Here is what I plan to do for adding 40mm guns to my model.

The top row left gun is from a 1/350 scale TAMIYA USS Missouri kit. The gun isn't very detailed, but it does have a gun shield.
The top row right gun is from a 1/350 scale Trumpeter USS Franklin ESSEX class carrier kit. It is well detailed, but does not have a gun shield.
Therefore, as indicated by the yellow arrow, I plan to take the gun barrels from the Franklin ESSEX kit and add them to the gun shield part from the TAMIYA USS Missouri kit.
Although I could've used photoetch accessories to detail the 40mm guns better, I have very bad eyesight and don't like working with photoetch.
What I've done with the guns is a compromise. The best of both worlds, I guess.

[NARSES2]

Neat solution 

From that line up it should keep you occupied for a while