Carrier Builders Yard, whats on the Slipway

[Mark McKinnis]

Hello again.
I have a rather stupid question again:
I have decided to go for the USS Nimitz as is in the box and i want to order the Starfighter decals for the planes but i am not sure if among the types of the airwing are the Vigilantes and the S-3s at the same time as the F-4 and A-7s or they got replaced by the F-4 and A-7 at some point.I am asking this because the 1/700 version for the complete airwing for Nimitz doesnt include any markings for these types of planes(Vigilante and S-3) so i am assuming they got replaced by that time (around 1977).Starfigher doesnt do a complete set for the Nimitz airwing in 1/350 before 1980 as far as i can tell from their website , so i want to know which decals i am going to need and how many for a complete airwing (how many squadrons etc)

Hi Angeleyes,

CAG-8 Jul 1976- Feb 1977
100 VMFA-333 Shamrocks F-4J
200 VF-74 Be-Devilers F-4J
300 VA-82 Marauders A-7E
400 VA-86 Sidewinders A-7E
500 VA-35 Black Panthers A-6E/KA-6D
600 RVAH-9 (*1) Hoot Owls RA-5C
610 VAQ-130 Zappers EA-6B
010 VAW-116 Sun Kings E-2B
xxx HC-2 DET.2 Fleet Angels SH-3G

CAG-8 Dec 1977- Jul 1978

100 VF-41 Black Aces F-14A
200 VF-84 Jolly Rogers F-14A
300 VA-82 Marauders A-7E
400 VA-86 Sidewinders A-7E
500 VA-35 Black Panthers A-6E/KA-6D
600 RVAH-6 (*1) Fleurs RA-5C
610 VAQ-135 Black Ravens EA-6B
700 VS-24 Scouts S-3A
730 HS-9 Sea Griffins SH-3H
010 VAW-112 Golden Hawks E-2B

CAG-8 Sep 1979- May 1980

100 VF-41 Black Aces F-14A
200 VF-84 Jolly Rogers F-14A
300 VA-82 Marauders A-7E
400 VA-86 Sidewinders A-7E
500 VA-35 Black Panthers A-6E/KA-6D
600 VFP-63 DET.5 (*1) Eyes of the Fleet RF-8G
610 VAQ-134 Garudas EA-6B
700 VS-24 Scouts S-3A
730 HS-9 Sea Griffins SH-3H
010 VAW-112 Golden Hawks E-2B

I am assuming that you are talking 1/350 scale? Yankee Modelworks used to have the RF-8's and RA-5C decals for those cruises in 1/350th. Corsair Armada does the RF-8G in 350 scale and they are quite nice! Trumpeter does the RA-5C. I would exercise artistic licsense and throw on an A-3D as well just because they are really cool!

Good Luck,

MM

[rx79gez8gundam]

Thanks again to Cliffy! The Saratoga Master Ship Plans pdf you posted was a godsend. I printed them out at Kinko's in full scale to the Revell kit's 1:542 (59cm long from bow to stern), and have been pulling measurements off of them directly for making pieces. I have completely reworked the island, with an all new starboard side radar addition, reworked exhaust stack, new walkways, new mast, improved antenna mounts, and other corrections to my previous attempt. I will post pics later tonight if I can. Next up is to rework the hangar deck and add detail, add in the weather decks on either side of the jet engine shop, and make a new port forward CIWS sponson. Then comes rebuilding the underside of the flight deck between elevators 3 and 4, and correcting some issues with the flight deck and catwalks. I also got some great help from the photo archive, especially on the port side of the island.

[Hippy Ed]

Thanks again to Cliffy! The Saratoga Master Ship Plans pdf you posted was a godsend. I printed them out at Kinko's in full scale to the Revell kit's 1:542 (59cm long from bow to stern), and have been pulling measurements off of them directly for making pieces. I have completely reworked the island, with an all new starboard side radar addition, reworked exhaust stack, new walkways, new mast, improved antenna mounts, and other corrections to my previous attempt. I will post pics later tonight if I can. Next up is to rework the hangar deck and add detail, add in the weather decks on either side of the jet engine shop, and make a new port forward CIWS sponson. Then comes rebuilding the underside of the flight deck between elevators 3 and 4, and correcting some issues with the flight deck and catwalks. I also got some great help from the photo archive, especially on the port side of the island.

Pics! Pics!! WE WANT PICS!!!

[Cliffy B]

Thanks again to Cliffy! The Saratoga Master Ship Plans pdf you posted was a godsend. I printed them out at Kinko's in full scale to the Revell kit's 1:542 (59cm long from bow to stern), and have been pulling measurements off of them directly for making pieces.

Pics! Pics!! WE WANT PICS!!!

Glad I could help man! I did the same thing when I found them on that site for my 1:700 builds.

Like Ed said, PICS, PICS, PICS NOW!!!!!!

[rx79gez8gundam]

Will try again to post some. I spent the last two nights adding more and more detail and antennas. I've got the new mast started, still have to add the support bracing and radar platforms to it. I'm dreading redoing the hangar deck, since I have yet to find any decent pics of any of the Forrestal class showing wall detail, placement of control cabins, etc. The Master plans will help a lot as far as basic layout, but detailing is going to be seat of the pants.

[rx79gez8gundam]

Island is nearly done. Have added the various flat antennas around the edges, the support lattice under the starboard rear antenna platform, ship's whistle on the upper mid port side, and begun work on the new mast. Still have yet to make the new AN/SPN-43 radar antenna, the Mk 48 Mod 1 antenna, and the forward twin whip antennas. The AN/SPS-48 radar has been made to rotate, the others I have randomly fixed in various positions rather than pointing them all the same direction. I did point the three SATCOM antennas in the same direction. The new Mk 91 Sea Sparrow directions are a huge improvement over the original kit pieces, themselves grossly oversized. I've also added some of the various piping on the sides of the island using .010" brass rod, and repainted the starboard side "60" with gull gray over the white where it covers the updraft vents for the exhaust stacks. I've added photos of both pre and post-painting, as well as comparison with my original kit's unmodified island. For a novice, what do you all think?

[Mark McKinnis]

That looks great!


A definate improvment over the kit out of the box!

I am looking forward to seeing the rest of the ship. I wish that some manufacturer would do a nice 1/700 Forrestal Class and upscale it to 1/350!

Well done.....

Mark

[Cliffy B]

Amazing what a little detailing can do for those old box kits. Superb job man!!! Glad those plans helped.

Only nitpick would be even out the bottom of the 6 on the starboard side. When you look at the bottom edges of the numbers the 0 is nice and straight along with the right hand edge of the 6 but then it goes downhill to the left hand side. Just put a piece of tape along the edge and brush on some Haze Gray and you'll be set.

Keep up the good work man. Can't wait to see what you do to the rest of her

-Mike

[Hippy Ed]

That looks great!


A definate improvment over the kit out of the box!

I am looking forward to seeing the rest of the ship. I wish that some manufacturer would do a nice 1/700 Forrestal Class and upscale it to 1/350!

Well done.....

Mark

Well said!!

[rx79gez8gundam]

Started working on the new hangar deck. Ripped out the old, and used the plans Cliffy supplied to lay out the floor of the new hangar deck. I'm using O scale model railroad 3 1/4" car siding for the hangar deck walls, and have cut the oval hangar openings flush from the inside. Once the new hangar is finished as a separate module, I'll install it and build the transitions between it and the hull openings, which will allow for far more detail.
I've got more of the radars built for the new mast, will post pics once I get further along with the hangar deck. Thanks for all the feedback so far!

[Hippy Ed]

Started working on the new hangar deck. Ripped out the old, and used the plans Cliffy supplied to lay out the floor of the new hangar deck. I'm using O scale model railroad 3 1/4" car siding for the hangar deck walls, and have cut the oval hangar openings flush from the inside. Once the new hangar is finished as a separate module, I'll install it and build the transitions between it and the hull openings, which will allow for far more detail.
I've got more of the radars built for the new mast, will post pics once I get further along with the hangar deck. Thanks for all the feedback so far!

Now we need pics!!!

[Cliffy B]

I concur with Ed, PICS NOW!!!!

[Hippy Ed]

I concur with Ed, PICS NOW!!!!

[rx79gez8gundam]

Gimme a chance to build something worth taking pics of first! Right now I just have a pile of assorted plastic shapes.

Still trying to figure out how to incorporate my lighting this time around. My old hangar had the LED strip attached to the underside of the flight deck, but since my new hangar will have an actual detailed overhead, I'm not sure how to have the lighting show through. I've thought about cutting small holes, as if it was the overhead lighting, but I'm not sure the LEDs will shine thru properly without a diffuser of some sort. I suppose I can use orange translucent plastic, which should work somewhat and give the appearance of high pressure sodium lighting, but still unsure if it will properly light up the hangar or not. Suggestions?

[EX_Birdgunner]

Hi Everyone,

First, since I am new to the forum please first read my into post here: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=115874.

Second, let me just say that this Carrier Builders Yard fourm is what inspired me to try doing a carrier in the first place so I decided to cross post my first Carrier WIP post in order to get some helpful feedback form you experts here. So I hope I am not doing a forum faux pas by cross posting. I will give general updates here while getting more specific in the WIP post.

I will be doing the USS Carl Vinson CVN-70 from her 2001 cruise as she was one of the carriers that began combat operations after the tragic events of Sept 11th 2001. CVN-65 Enterprise was the only other that I could learn and will be doing that one at a later date.

I will be using the Revell 1:720 kit. I know this is a deflated way to start a WIP but I am finishing up some research and was hoping the more experienced here could let me know if there is anything special that I need to do with the kit in order to build the Vinson of 2001. I have some Trumpy aircraft coming to me in the mail and plan to use the kit a/c for the hanger bay I will be scratching.

I am about to crack plastic on this one. From what I have seen online I think I can get away with a mostly OOB build. Does anyone know of any major modifications that I will need to do, other than the hanger deck of course?

I saw a PE set by GMM, should I get it? Or save my money for the Trumpy kit waiting on the side? you might be able to see it at the bottom of the pic.

Finally I want to show the Vinson launching aircraft but can't find any good wide shots online. Does anyone have a pic of what it would look like? A quick google search had mostly close-ups of aircraft launching. I am looking for a more overall shot of the entire carrier so I can see what the other aircraft are doing during launch operations. Any advice is appreciated.

Here is a pic of the box to wet your appetites!

Thanks,
Denis

[kidcurrie42]

Welcome Aboard Denis,

Yes i would get the GMM set for your build, not too sure about the differences between the kit and a 2001 Carl Vinson, i suggest visiting the Navy site and going through the Carl Vinson pics for 2001.

Happy Modeling

John

[EX_Birdgunner]

Welcome Aboard Denis,

Yes i would get the GMM set for your build, not too sure about the differences between the kit and a 2001 Carl Vinson, i suggest visiting the Navy site and going through the Carl Vinson pics for 2001.

Happy Modeling

John

Hi John,

Thanks. I have already been to the Navy site and looked at/downloaded pics from 2001. From the initial looks of things she can be built OOB. I guess I will find out as I go along in the build process.

As for the GMM set, thanks for the advice. I will have to wait a bit before I am able to buy it so I will press forward with what I can until I get the PE set. In the meantime I got 6 boxes of Trumpy aircraft in the mail today to add to the kit's airwing. Man those are some small planes.

I can't wait to get started. Wrapping up a couple of aircraft kits and then I am ready.

Cheers,
Denis

[rx79gez8gundam]

Question for Cliffy and anyone else with Forrestal class info; I'm having one HELL of a time finding decent hangar deck photos to work from that show the walls with any kind of clarity for detailing. I've managed to find a couple of Bay one showing the forward and starboard bulkheads, though the forward is obscured by an F-14 unfortunately. I haven't found much of anything useful showing Bay 2, and Bay 3's pics show the relative position of its escalator but not a clear enough view to model it. The rear of Bay 3 is also usually obscured by the many boats stored therein. I have looked on all the links provided, and managed to find a link to all the old cruise books and perused their photos. The plans Cliffy provided are great for the general layout, but don't help at all with actually showing the look of the walls, as they are all overhead style. I'm particularly confused on the forward bulkhead, as the plans appear to show the main deck level extending forward significantly as open area with a couple of small workshops in the port forward corner, then O1 level appears to extend back almost to the port forward elevator, and O3 level extends again further back to almost even with the elevator. If I'm interpreting the plans correctly, aircraft can only be parked as far forward as just past the port forward elevator under the O3 level overhang, even though the Hangar deck proper and Main level actually go much further forward. Was this are just 1 level high storage space? The only pic I found is the aforementioned one with the F-14 effectively blocking my view anything below the O1 level. I also need, if anyone has it, a good pic of the escalators in Bays 2 and 3. The plans show placement, but not appearance.
In other news, the new Hangar deck is laid out and temporarily installed in the hull, with the new transitions built between the outer hull openings and the hangar deck openings. The Revell model turned out to be fairly spot on with the measurements from the Master Plans, even with having to do some rounding of measurements in millimeters. I've used a template to etch in the various weapons elevators, and have the side walls installed. I haven't decided if it's worth detailing the overhead yet, or just having the pod hangers from the ceiling. Once the hangar is complete, I will set it aside as a complete unit and focus on the hull exterior again, then install the hangar deck module and move back to the airwing. I'm feeling confident now with my abilities than I can remove the stubs the aircraft currently have and fab more convincing landing gear, possibly gear doors as well. 1:542 seems to be forgiving enough to allow such things without looking outsized. I'm also playing with the idea of "opening up" a couple of aircraft in the hangar deck for maintenance, such as the radomes, access panels, etc. The idea of a "hangar queen" F-14 on supports in the corner of the bay with half her access panels open and work carts surrounding her screams realism to me.

[rx79gez8gundam]

Update pics






Still have to make the Bay 2 escalator, add the various service plates and battery chargers, the armored doors for the openings, and a LOT of watertight doors, plus of course painting.

[roym]

Hi all, back again! Been busy. Been to two model shows since I was last on here. Can't believe it's been almost a year since I was on...

Lost a lot of photos from the camera due to a memory card incident, lost a few of the Kitty Hawk's build, quite a lot of the 1/144 Space Shuttle stack I had going on ARC, and worst of all my son's 10th birthday....

Anyway, here's a few more to keep you going...

The last update was here..

Then begins the long journey of PE railings. The effort required is intense, but the results justify the means. Here we are starting at the stern area.



another view of where she's at...



It was about this time that after I got all the side decks glued on, after adding the PE beforehand, that the build drove me to drink, and worse, this........

As always, some great work going on here...