RGL

Every photo from WW2 shows a lot of people around. 

Yes, yes, maybe and no. 900 crew would cost as much as the em whole model plus extras. 
 

it’s just plod work really but nessesary. There is a large about of detail to go but the flight deck does not sit easily on the hull so I need to do the interiors then mask them off so I can paint the outsides. The tricky bits are the stern then the focsle as they will be covered over by the deck, 

Bit more detail work, underside of the flight deck. Most of this won’t be that visible. 

The PE madness starts, the underside of the bow 

Underside of the flight deck, starting on the support beams. I’ve had to remove some of the kit plastic so it will sit flush. Thank goodness there is a wooden deck to go on top of this monstrosity 

Interior walls painted, some washes added, elevator pistons added (cut down main gun barrels). Not much visible through the side roller doors 

Hangar deck continues, three shades of grey and some masking so I can paint image interior walls

If you look at Graf Zeppelin it was very high as well 

Hangar deck - won’t really be that visible but a good muscle memory exercise for the airbrush 

Probably something to do with the weight of the big guns that needed to be counterbalanced below the waterline and the magazines were safer and could be flooded if below the waterline. 

Mr surfacer put in with a big brush to represent barnacles. Then lights coats of black, green then grey,a filter coat and that will until the boot strap and the rest of the hull is done. Now I can do the hangar deck. 

Lower hull done. Red rbrown, then red, then pinkish red, 

Wow, good to see you back! 

And the other side. Note most of this will not be visible on from looking inside the side doors. There are 3 elevators, the AOTS intrepid state there are two cylinders per hoist (I can find no photos of this, but I have used cut off big bore barrels. There is also supposed to be lift wells which would be overcapitalising. I intend to have the side lift down and the two centre ones up. 

So mainly using spares, I’ve started on the interior. 

3 hours ago, Red Rhino said:

Hi RGL: In the States we refer to them as "the Greatest Generation" I think for good reason. I have never made it to the Pacific battlefields, but have stood on both Utah and Omaha Beaches in France in awe of what they did.

 

What is your process for etching the armor belts on the hull. At first I thought they were scribed, but they looked raised in your pictures.

 

Dave

I mask the lines of the hull plates and add layers of primer then etch they plates into the primer.it only needs to be about 1mm

It’s reasonably cheap in Asia, but I’m thinking of just a few on deck during recovery. There’s an excellent colour U tube video from WW2 that depicts it. The commentary is typical 1940’s but wow these young fellas were brave. 

So, after market addition will be paravanes, capstans, doors, cable reels, fire hydrants, life rafts, USN life raft rigging, USN Anchors And still quite a bit of scratch building required and lots of bits from spares. 

So the Pontos set arrived today. A bit of bending to be done. 

So, I’ve etched these plates into the hull, they’ll need an  overspray 

As discussed, the hull of the Trumpeter kit is smooth as a baby's bum. This photo of the USS Yorktown in 1943 shows the hull plate details of this class.

There is also the catapult that Essex does not have and includes catwalk details Ill need to add.

Starting on the hull plates. Nearly a whole roll of masking tape. You can see from this shot of Essex in dry dock in 1945 it’s very subtle and you can hardly see them. There are some attractions or ribs visible but I imagine this would be from the previous 3 years of war service. As I’m doing this early in her service the US Navy dark blue will hardly make it visible. 

Even without the flight deck it’s longer than the Graf Zeppelin. It’s going to suck up a lot of detail. 

Hangar deck goes. Lots of putty now needed, then I can start on the hull pleated. Once that is done I can superdetail the hangar deck. 

So, nothing really fit well so there’s lots of gaps on this level that need fixing. The Pontos set has not arrived yet from Korea but I got extra doors (it appears there are not in the upgrade).