The Ship Model Forum

Today's new project was to start the scratch building of the mast. The 1957 USS Hornet (CVA-12) mast was far different than the Gallery Models USS Intrepid mast. The kit doesn't provide many of the parts I'll need for this. I ordered some of the radars and have built them and stored them away for safe keeping. Hornet's radar stands all face to the bow or stern. None face to the starboard or port sides until near the top of the mast.. I will have to create the mast top from Evergreen plastic and photo-etch as well as the top extension for the AN/URN-3 Beacon Ant. Unfortunately, no kits provide that Beacon ant so I'll have to scratch build that also. Thanks to my beautiful wife for helping by spraying the accelerator while I held parts in place. Good start I think.

Got some work done on my CVA-12 USS Hornet 1957 mast. The mast and parts from the Gallery Intrepid kit as well as the Tetro photo-etch set do not provide most of the things needed for this mast, thus scratch building is required. I've included a B/W photo of Wasp in 1955 with the update mast including the X Beam that Hornet did not have as well as a page from the Intrepid kit instructions showing how the mast looks from the kit. I had to scratch build the top main beam with it's four cross beams from Evergreen Plastic. Not the best (would have preferred photo-etch but no-one makes it) but it'll do. I've already built the radar sets and stored each securely until it's time to add them. Still have to scratch build the AN-URN-3 Ant and place that atop a pole smaller in diameter than the main mast and then add the support rods for the radar support beams as well as many small items and of course the railings. The entire mast will be airbrushed black prior to be permanently placed on the island.

Pushed through my dread and got the photo-etch on the mast. It wasn't easy since the photo-etch from the Gallery kit (and of course the Tetra set for the kit) are not matches for how the 57 USS Hornet's mast was. I played and fidgeted with both sets to make it work. Not perfect but it looks good. The entire mast (except for the Ant. covers) will be black. Of course the kit and Tetra do not provide all of the ant's. needed. I'll have to figure some things out. Overall though, I'm pretty happy with it. To top that off today I just found a printer on Shapeways that makes the AN/URN-3 TACAN Ant so I won't have to make that myself. Now if someone would produce the four corner Phasor 90 structures I'd be elated!

I masked-off the island top and airbrushed the entire topside of the Island flat black. I realized that when I was using a reference photo for the mast that the CVA-9 (Essex) mast was different the CVA-12 (Hornet) in 1957. Well of course. I looked at a reference photo of Hornet in 57 and the SPS-29 wasn't on the rear lowest mast platform. DOOOOOOH! It was on the rear topside of the island behind the mast. I carefully sawed the SPS-29 off of the mast platform. I then realized that the SPS-29 would need a small additional base added so I cut a piece for that and glued it into place. I then glued the SPS-29 into the correct location. I then used the kit supplied SPN-6 photo-etch and put that together with the kit supplied plastic base piece. I glued the SPN-6 into the correct location of the rear lowest mast platform which now makes my mast correct (Thus far) for Hornet 1957. I airbrushed the mast flat black. Still alot to add and scratch build to complete the mast. Waiting on the 3D printed AN/URN-3 Ant. to arrive so I can add that to the top of the mast.

She's getting more complete, piece by piece! Good work!

I can't get enough of that gorgeous island. Keep up the great progress. Inspires me to press on with my projects.

Maarten Sch�nfeld wrote:She's getting more complete, piece by piece! Good work!

THANKS VERY MUCH.

boomstick68 wrote:I can't get enough of that gorgeous island. Keep up the great progress. Inspires me to press on with my projects.

Thanks so much.

Well looks like this mast will be the final "Mini Project" for a while for me. I've got to pack this build up and work on getting ready for our move to Naperville, IL to be a part of our daughter, son-in-law and precious little grandson's daily life. This is the second hiatus on this project thus far (had a 2-3 month break last year because we thought we were moving up to the Dallas area which did not happen). Disappointed because I'm in a real good groove with this project right now but can't be helped. We have a severe downsizing to get done before our actual move. Of course I'm moving all of my hobby equipment (it's my sanity!). TODAY, I pieced together the kit's part for the mast top (AN/URN-3) base with a piece of Evergreen tubing. I then cut the AN/URN-3 cover from it's 3D printed base. I then placed the AN/URN-3 on top. Very glad I didn't have to make the AN/URN-3 myself!!!! Next will be to place it on top of the mast.

Glued the mast top onto the mast. I'm happy with it. Still quite a bit of photo-etch items to add around the entire mast (mostly scratch-built photo-etch. I'll airbrush this flat black and then pack it away in a good secure box and reluctantly pack the build away so I can concentrate on the down-sizing, then the actual move.

Looks nice. And good luck with that move!

Pieter wrote:Looks nice. And good luck with that move!

Thank you. Looking forward to enjoying each day with my little grandson but I'm already going through withdrawls from not being able to do any work on this project.

Finally done with the move and able to evaluate and start repairing the minor damage done to this project during the move. My work station is done and I just need to hook-up speakers to my stereo so I can work with music. Just a few minor repairs needed (port-side cat walk loose and an area of railing on the Island came off and needed to be set back in place. DONE. Now to get to work. FINALLY!

Well the move has taken alot of my time. I haven't had much time at all to spend on her. Hopefully after the holidays I can get back to some work station time. Happy holidays and let's pray 2025 is a good year!

Well I finally got my work station set-up upstairs and lots of drawers for storage and organization. Made some repairs to the island structure and a couple of radars. Work finally has begun again.

Nicely done so far. I love cutting up a kit and doing a rebuild to a sister or near sister ship. Plan on doing Oriskany one day. She had some special blisters added to her blisters.

Finally back to work of her. Freakin' cold here in Chicagoland! Placed engine crates, storage crates, boxes, oil cans, etc around the ship. Added the 26 ft Whale Boat to the portside. Placed the Direction finders around the ship. Added yardarms to the mast (pictures to follow later) and the ladders leading up to the URN 3 Radar.

26 ft Whale Boat hung on port side.

Got some work done on the mast the last couple of days. Mostly all scratch built since 57 Hornet's mast was far different from the Intrepid kit's mast. Radars are mostly cottage industry products. Placed the Captain's Barge on the starboard side rear as seen in her 57 cruisebook. Boat is cottage industry as well as the lower boat dolly (Swordfish Models)

More work completed on 22 Jan 2025. More work on the mast.