USS Enterprise (CV-6) by PvG Aussie - FINISHED - I Love Kit - 1/350 Scale - PLASTIC

[ddp]

Aussie, the ship did not get the quad 40mm aa guns til Oct 1942 which is post Midway. as you are supposedly doing the Battle of Midway time period then you need 4 quad 1.1" aa guns, 32 20mm aa guns & no 40mm aa guns. look at the link.

http://www.cv6.org/ship/armament.htm

 

[PvG Aussie]

Greetings all.

What a day!

The 1.1in Quad Gun had these parts

 

and I only had one to make. 😊

(The photo looks like a blob, but I'm sure it will look great when painted.)

 

The parts for the 49 20mm Oerlikans was a little different!

(Yes, that is a part immediately to the right of the pin.)

 

I haven't finished as we have mosquitoes bigger than these guns!!! 

 

(Build time to date is 125 hours)

 

I'll stop now before I go crazy doing the impossible! These Oerlikan parts are just too small. 🥵

Cheers,

 

Edited September 25 by PvG Aussie

[PvG Aussie]

Hi Folks.

Not much time today. Only two hours.

After spending all day yesterday working of these,

I had time to finish one more step with my 49 Oerlikon guns.

I added the pedestal and the shield supports.

 

If you didn't believe these pieces are smaller than mosquitos ...

Pick the mosquito in the next image! 🤔

 

And you wonder why I'm going crazy! 🤪

Tomorrow I will hopefully add the shields.

 

(Build time to date is 127 hours)

Thanks for the support. (I need it!)

Cheers,

 

Edited September 26 by PvG Aussie

[PvG Aussie]

An exciting day for me!

I finished all the guns, including the 49 Oerlikons.

I added the shields.

 

Then spray painted all the guns.

 

Then painted the Oerlikon barrels.

 

It's not very exciting for you, but a great relief for me!

😁

 

Advice for next time. Possibly do things in this order:

1. Fold the gun housing and glue in the barrel being

careful NOT to cover the hole on the bottom of the housing

2. Glue the pedestal to the support frame.

Glue 1 & 2 together using the hole in 1 as a guide.

Add the shield.

(Build time to date is 134 hours)

Thanks again for the support. This big hurdle is crossed.

Cheers,

Edited September 28 by PvG Aussie

[PvG Aussie]

On 9/25/2024 at 12:43 AM, ddp said:

then you need 4 quad 1.1" aa guns, 32 20mm aa guns & no 40mm aa guns.

My local gun shop is all out of these. I'll just have to use the ones in the kit. Besides, they're all so small that the Oerlikons are the only recognisable ones. Cheers, Peter

[PvG Aussie]

PE, PE and more PE!!!

The Bow Flight Deck has over a hundred pieces.

  

  

 

The Stern Flight Deck was a little easier with about 80 pieces.

 

 

It seems a shame to have to paint them as they look great.

They were very fiddly but extremely rewarding. 

Thoughts for next time:

Don't add the external walkways as once added to the 

underside of the flight deck, they are very fine, keep getting in the way 

and need constant repair.

(Build time to date is 153 hours)

Thanks for the continued support.

Cheers,

 

 

 

 

Edited October 1 by PvG Aussie

[PvG Aussie]

More PE!

I love it. 🙃

 

I finished the Stern Platform today.

Only one image because the camera had a mind of its own. 

 

An enjoyable day.

(Build time to date is 160.5 hours)

Cheers,

 

[PvG Aussie]

Two days of tedious PE work!

Enjoyable tasks but all had to be done using tweezers through a magnifying light.

Progress is slow and very time consuming.

Forward section on the port side.

 

Mid section on the port side.

 

Thanks for the continued following and encouragement.

(Build time to date is 172.5 hours)

Cheers,

[PvG Aussie]

Three great days since Thursday.

Even though my team lost in the Rugby League Grand Final, 🥺

 

I did manage to finish the port side PE.

 

I also finished the starboard side PE,

 

and ... started on the island PE!

 

The Pontos set has been pretty good but not perfect.

Quite a few parts are wrongly labelled in the instructions

and many of the images are just not helpful because of the camera angle.

It is often the case of guessing which way to bend the pieces.

Most frustrating if pieces break because I've folded them the wrong way!

Some parts also seem spotted or stained. 😣

 

Have I mentioned my expensive but very useful friend.

Great for bending any PE.

 

Thanks for tuning in and your support. 

(Build time to date is 201 hours)

Cheers,

 

 

Edited October 9 by PvG Aussie

[PvG Aussie]

A somewhat relaxed day today.

😎

I'm convinced that modelling is the ultimate example of escapism!

We focus so much on the tiniest of tasks and forget everything else,

totally concentrating on what we are trying to perfect.

☺️

Anyway, I did more work on the island today.

(Please ignore the yet to be cleaned up, glue mess on the deck!)

I added the drawing pin to remind you that this is a fun 1/350 scale build.

 

I also primed and painted all the window frames, added internal plastic sheeting,

and masked off the windows so I can paint all over later.

 

More island additions tomorrow.

Thanks for all the recent comments and support.

(Build time to date is 206 hours)

Cheers,

 

 

Edited October 9 by PvG Aussie

[ddp]

it is called the "island" as the "tower" that i presume you have not got to yet goes ontop forward of the ship's funnel.

[PvG Aussie]

Two days of work on the island.

Very finicky, but very rewarding.

 

How small can things get? 😵

Some parts were so small that I could only see them with a magnifying glass.

Some being the size of a flea, and almost impossible to apply to the model!

 

I managed to achieve a fair bit to do with the island,

 

and have nearly finished the 'island ladder'.

 

This is truly a most challenging build due to the scale!

Thanks again to those following this slow progress.

🙃

(Build time to date is 222.5 hours)

A BIG SHOUT-OUT TO THOSE IN FLORIDA. MAY YOU WEATHER THE STORM SAFELY.

Cheers,

[PvG Aussie]

The show goes on!

Working with minuscule pieces. Difficult to appreciate because of the size.

Fun for all and very entertaining!

 

Today's features include:

Forward and Aft FD Radars, Fire Control & Ready Service Platforms,

 

and, the main act ... four loudspeakers (and lots of fiddly bits).

 

Thanks for coming to the show!

(Build time to date is 228.5 hours)

Cheers,

🎪

 

 

[ddp]

the aft fire director is pointed the wrong way as should be pointed aft just like the forward director is correctly pointed forward. look at Sheet 3 - Outboard Profile Starboard of the plans i had linked earlier on the orientation of those directors. during the battle of midway, the ship did not have radars mounted on those directors til later in the year.

"Mk 33 Director

Description:A power-driven fire control director, capable of obtaining firing solutions for targets moving at up to 320 knots, or 400 knots in a dive. Designed and initially installed without fire-control radar.

Installations:1941 - Mid 1942:Two Mk 33 directors mounted fore and aft of the island. No fire-control radar.

 Late 1942 - 1943: Two Mk 33 directors with Mk 4 fire-control radar. The Mk 4 could detect large aircraft at up to 40,000 yards with an accuracy of 40 yards. It was less effective against low-flying aircraft and only capable of detecting large surface ships at 30,000 yards."

http://www.cv6.org/ship/camo-radar.htm#radar

[PvG Aussie]

@ddp I deliberately did this to see who was awake! It's not yet glued in place. Just there for the photograph.😂

Cheers, Peter

[ddp]

what about the radar on the directors?

[PvG Aussie]

WHAT A WEEKEND!

Apart from my youngest grandson's 10th birthday, 

🎂

 

I finished the (except for the post painting additions):

Funnel,

Main and Fore masts,

CXAM and SC Radar, and

Fire Control & Ready Service Platforms

 

Then the fun started!

I started with the F4F-4 Wildcats

The part sizes were insane!

 

I managed 12 Wildcats and the wings for 5 SBD-3 Dauntless.

 

But the comment has to be made:

Luckily, I ordered 10 F4-4 Wildcats and 10 TBD-1 Devastators 

and also bought one of these

 

The extra 20 planes were all grey and easy to work with.

However, the I Love Kit/Trumpeter kit planes were clear!

Almost impossible to work with as it was difficult to pick details or see where the glue ended up!

I will only use a few of the kit planes for the hanger deck.

Fortunately, I have the Pontos and Infini PE kits to enhance my build.

 

Anyway, it is good to be a modeller!

Thanks to those who spur me on during this build. It is much appreciated.

(Build time to date is 250 hours)

Cheers,

 

 

 

 

[PvG Aussie]

Today was a relaxed day.

I managed to make 12 TBD-1 Devastators.

I have to leave many resin and PE parts until after I paint because of access difficulties.

 

That means the total planes are:

12 Wildcats (10 on the flight deck & 2 below)

5 SBD-3 Dauntless (All on the flight deck)

12 TBD-1 Devastators (10 on the flight deck & 2 below)

I have decided on a 'launch' configuration with one Wildcat 'in the air'.

 

 

I think I now have to dry test all the completed sections and paint before assembly.

The Hangar Deck will be first.

 

Thanks for your support and comments regarding my progress and approach.

 

(Build time to date is 256.5 hours)

Cheers,

Edited October 15 by PvG Aussie

[ddp]

what colors are you going to do the hanger bay & deck?

[Coyote_6]

Looking good Peter!  Nice choices - she's gonna look great.

[PvG Aussie]

7 hours ago, ddp said:

what colors are you going to do the hanger bay & deck?

The hanger bay look is a softer version of this with white weathered walls, ie. The deck is a light grey with lots of stains.

 

The flight deck is a stick-on dark blue from the Pontos set which I plan to weather and possibly add a little blue.

[ddp]

try this.
"Same deck color (#20 Deck Gray), but pre-war aviation spaces (including cruisers and AV's at least) were painted in an aluminum color and it wasn't until 1942/1943-ish that this changed on the older carriers (we don't have the full details on this yet, but we have textual records that at least confirm the aluminum paint)."

https://members.boardhost.com/Warship/msg/1727704824.html

http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=12986&p=957444#p957444

[PvG Aussie]

If you can't be happy as a modeller,

then there is something seriously wrong!

 

Another great day!

 

Last night I attached the fore and hanger deck sections to the hull.

The fit was perfectly easy!

 

Today I spray painted everything else!

Even the clear plastic windows came out great!

(except for the Fire Control Platform where the paint spray reached the inside of the windows.

 

Some of my other paint jobs.

 

A great day!

Tomorrow, I hope to add some missing pieces and possibly weather the island, hull and bulkheads.

I hope I sleep tonight and not worry about wrecking the paint tomorrow. 🥵

Thanks for the growing support.

(Build time to date is 263 hours)

Cheers,

 

[PvG Aussie]

7 hours ago, ddp said:

try this.
"Same deck color (#20 Deck Gray), but pre-war aviation spaces (including cruisers and AV's at least) were painted in an aluminum color and it wasn't until 1942/1943-ish that this changed on the older carriers (we don't have the full details on this yet, but we have textual records that at least confirm the aluminum paint)."

https://members.boardhost.com/Warship/msg/1727704824.html

http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=12986&p=957444#p957444

I might give the deck an aluminum wash. 

Cheers,

[ccoyle]

Great paint job! It does, though, kind of hide just how many pieces of PE you had to apply to the superstructure. I admire the skill and patience of anyone who can work with that stuff successfully.

[ddp]

do the hanger deck in gray with the side walls & i think the ceiling in aluminum. the top 6 to 12' of the elevator wells are in black but confirm that in the links i posted.

why did you leave the radars on the directors when not on til later in the war but definitely not at the Midway battle?

Edited October 16 by ddp

[Coyote_6]

Man - that island looks amazing after paint!  Awesome!

[PvG Aussie]

@ddp aluminum walls ok. Radar, as in the kit. So, it isn't Midway, I'm not worried.

Cheers

[PvG Aussie]

10 hours ago, ccoyle said:

It does, though, kind of hide just how many pieces of PE you had to apply to the superstructure.

Chris, it is a shame to 'blend' in the brass, but that's ok. I have the satisfaction of remembering what goes into these 'Pontos' builds.

Thanks for your very satisfying comments.

Cheers, Peter

 

[PvG Aussie]

Weathering must always be subtle

because it is very easy to go overboard!

(Excuse the pun.)

😊

So, last night I weathered the island using

Tamiya Panel Accent Color (black)

I just painted in spots and then vigorously followed up with a dry soft brush.

I'm happy with the result.

 

Because the hull was already weathered enough, I only added a few rust spots

made from a mix of brown, red, blue and yellow acrylic paint.

 

I also attached the port side bulkheads.

It's a terrible picture, sorry.

(Poor conditions ... rough seas!) 🙄

Thanks for the continuing support.

(Build time to date is 267.5 hours)

Cheers,