1/350 scale CVN-90 USS United States Stealth Aircraft Carrier

seadude · January 30, 2024, 10:59:42 AM

I'm going to squeeze in another update here. But after this one, it'll be quite awhile before the next one as I previously mentioned further above.
Since I want as many features on the model to be stealthy/faceted as possible, I decided to add new life raft canisters made from hexagon rod instead of the more traditional round shape.
The number of life raft canisters an aircraft carrier or other navy ship carries is determined by the size/class of the ship as well as what the total crew complement (+10%) is.
The Gerald Ford carrier carries an average of 98+/- life rafts. Though I've seen this total slightly increase when looking at various pictures from time to time.
For large ships in the US Navy, the Navy uses the 25-person Mk.7 life raft and/or the 50-person Mk.8 life raft. The Gerald Ford carrier uses the Mk.8 type.
I tend to have an aversion to using photoetch for various reasons (Eyesight being the main one as well as trying to get the PE bent correctly.) and I really can't afford to blow money on fancy resin aftermarket accessories, so I decided to scratch build my own life raft canisters and racks that they hang from. It's a very tedious process of building them as the styrene parts I'm cutting and using are very small. I'm probably going to have roughly the same amout of life raft canisters on my model as what's on the GF class carrier. Though I might have "slightly" more. We'll see.

philp · January 30, 2024, 05:29:51 PM

Looking good and I was kidding about having it ready by Madison but I really would love to see your battleship with the Plasma guns at the show if you can figure out a way to get it there.

I am asking about a What-If SIG table. I think Brad has all the paraphernalia but haven't heard if he is coming. I am probably flying but might bring a plane or two.

I think your ship could do well in the show but if you don't want to enter it, don't feel like you have to. I am hoping the Tiger Meet goes over well as I love a big display area at the show and most attendees just say they want to see models whether in the contest or otherwise.

Anyway, look me up when you are there.

seadude · January 31, 2024, 05:11:44 PM

And they're done............except for painting. And I will never again build anything like these. Too small and put a strain on my eyesight.

Contrary to popular belief, life raft canisters on navy ships are not white.
They may have been white a few decades ago, but they are now painted the same color as the hull of the ship which is usually Haze Grey.

NARSES2 · February 01, 2024, 01:37:12 AM

I salute your perseverance

seadude · February 11, 2024, 05:24:26 PM

seadude · February 21, 2024, 05:22:00 PM

Work on my carrier model is now on hiatus. For how long, I do not know. But I'm hoping it's only temporary for a short time.
Reason being is due to monetary issues and not having funds right now to buy extra parts and accessories.
Sorry, folks.

kerick · February 21, 2024, 07:32:01 PM

Your hands may not be touching it but I know your brain will be working on it! And that doesn't cost anything!

Old Wombat · February 22, 2024, 12:57:17 AM

Quote from: kerick on February 21, 2024, 07:32:01 PMYour hands may not be touching it but I know your brain will be working on it! And that doesn't cost anything!

What he said!

zenrat · February 22, 2024, 01:14:15 AM

We can wait. Just get back to it when you can.

seadude · July 21, 2024, 05:06:08 PM

I really had high hopes when going to the IPMS/USA Nationals Model Convention the past few days that the vendor known as 3D Wild would bring some of their stuff (Mentioned in Post 229 further above) to the vendor area. NOT!

I was really looking forward to buying some of that stuff so I could get back to work on my carrier very soon. But instead, the majority of stuff they had on their tables was World War II.

So now ordering the stuff I need and getting back to work on this project will again be delayed.
The only saving grace is that I bought some 1/350 scale photoetch doors, hatches, life rings, stairs, ladders, and fire hose racks that I needed to detail the model. And I got a package of 1/350 scale USS Enterprise aircraft carrier decals too that I needed in order to add the flight deck markings.

kerick · July 21, 2024, 05:53:18 PM

Sounds like you picked up the things that are basically timeless. Something to work on until the order arrives.

seadude · August 07, 2024, 01:24:49 PM

Well, a lot of the "small stuff" is completed. Most I did weeks or months ago. But a few things I just recently did the past few days like the landing instrumentation tower as well as the four Mk.38 25mm chain guns. Those guns were a PITA.

I must have lost at least 5 brass gun barrels. AND THEY WERE DAMN TINY TOO! But Thank God I had extra boxes of the guns. That really saved my bacon so to speak.

Possibly next week, I'll start ordering some other 3D printed parts so I can get back to work on this beast soon.

TOP ROW (Left to Right):
a) Six NULKA decoy launchers,
b) Scratch built LSO (Landing Signal Officer) platform,
c) Scratch built safety net for underneath the LSO platform,
d) Optical Landing System aid to be located amidships on the port side,
e) Four main laser defense turrets for the port bow, port aft, starboard bow, and starboard aft weapon sponsons,
f) Two additional laser defense turrets for port and starboard amidships areas,
g) Landing instrumentation tower which is usually located aft/behind the island superstructure.

SECOND ROW (Left to Right):
a) Four propellers,
b) Two "golden" anchors,
c) 35 pieces of blue painted 55gal. drums,
d) Eight pieces of Mk.36 SRBOC chaff launchers.

THIRD ROW (Left to right):
42 pieces of fuel hose reels. Used black thread wound around the reel to simulate the black hose.

FOURTH ROW (Left to Right):
19 pieces of ordnance jettison ramps which are located around the circumference of the flight deck.
I won't use all of them. Carriers only have an average amount of 12-14. All ramps are scratch built.

FIFTH & SIXTH ROWS (Left to Right):
60 pieces of scratch built life raft racks. Life raft canisters made from hexagon rod to make them more
"stealthy". Two canisters per rack. 120 canisters total.

LOWER RIGHT CORNER:
Four Veteran Models 1/350 scale Mk.38 25mm chain guns. Used a tiny dab of blue paint to color the optics on the left side of each unit.

philp · August 07, 2024, 05:53:10 PM

Great attention to details.

kerick · August 07, 2024, 08:10:17 PM

Awesome stuff! Ships do have an awful lot of parts.

NARSES2 · August 08, 2024, 12:36:18 AM

Quote from: kerick on August 07, 2024, 08:10:17 PMAwesome stuff! Ships do have an awful lot of parts.

My thoughts exactly