1/350 Trumpeter Enterprise CVN-80

[Phil Smith]

I recently purchased Trumpeter's 1/350 USS Ford, aiming to build a representation of the forthcoming USS Enterprise. The benefit is that you can apply a good deal of artistic license. The drawback is that (at this rate) by the time I'm done the real thing will leave port and I will see where I went all wrong.

The kit is beautifully molded with a generous amount of PE, and it better be given its price tag. Alas, and somewhat surprisingly, there is no hangar deck beyond a floor. No walls. But I like scratchbuilding, so no problem. I'm using a fair amount of artistic license with this interior, but did research a bunch of published USS Ford photographs to understand the general arrangement, placement of details, and markings. As I expected, there are no decals produced by third parties for the deck, so I produced these myself and have commissioned a third part to print them. If you're interested, let me know and provide your email via private messaging and I will email free of charge.

In the meantime, the hangar deck is the focus for the moment. This will occupy my time for awhile, in part due to the aircraft I need to build. I've started by building one F-35C and 1 F-18 Growler. Many more to go...

[marijn van gils]

Wow, great work! That will be one spectacular model!

I also really like the weathering on the F18.

[SG1]

Beautiful start! Planes are amazing!

[Edoardo81]

Very interesting!!

[henkdepater12]

wow great start, did you found some 3rd party PE kits? I have seen the Nimitz and the Enterprise are supported but Tamiya's Nimitz is not equipped with F14's but only the older stuff.

[TF17Greg]

Wooow those planes are amaizing...plus beautiful start

[ModelMonkey]

Very nice!

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[Phil Smith]

Sadly, my 1/32 Corsair dropped to the floor and smashed to pieces. About about 100 hours of work was lost. After about an hour of mourning, I purchased a replacement kit and in the meantime kept working on the 1/350 Enterprise (CVN-80).

The scratch built hangar is finished. Now comes the business of filling it up with planes, equipment, cargo, and crew. This process is likely to take a long time. First to be glued in are two MQ-25 autonomous refueler aircraft from 3D Wild. The printed aircraft are solidly made, relatively easy to paint, and the decals excellent. I assume these aircraft will be entirely gray in color once operational. In addition to the aircraft, I also started putting in various cargo, in this case a bunch of cardboard boxes on wooden pallets. I also glued in three pallet jacks - really tiny things.

Next on the list are two F-35Cs, maybe three F-18s, and an MV-22 Osprey, as well as ongoing addition of cargo, vehicles, and, eventually, people.

The objective is to make the cargo deck look busy and cluttered, a beehive of activity.