That USS Independence looks very nice. She's a relatively unusual looking ship, for the U.S.N. anyway. Those Akagi's are also coming along nicely.

Here is some more progress on my 1/700 USS Hornet.



I used Kenny's, Gators, Gator Masks for the camo job. Any issues with the camo are my mistakes, not the masks. The colors used are Poly Scale acrylics. They look darker than the colors on the instructions. I think I might have tried making them lighter, for scale effect.



The deck and island are just dry fitted here. I have to paint and add all the AA guns.



I hand painted the camo on the island. Kenny's mask comes with masks for the camo here, but I should have painted the island before adding all the various levels, searchlight platforms. I couldn't fit the masks over the protrusions. I fully plan to build the 1/350 version of this kit and I will use the larger mask for it.





I left open some of the hangar doors so I could display some of the Hornet's air group that was below decks while the B-25s took off. I plan on putting one of each, a Wildcat, a Devastator, with wings folded, and this Dauntless. I really don't think you'll be able to see them very well though.



The 1/700 kit, unlike the 1/350 kit, comes with all 16 B-25s. Each one consists of six parts, the main plane, three landing gear, and two props. I managed to lose one of the main gear already. Putting this one together I kept thinking, "I'm going to have to make 16 of these!"

I hope to finish this kit up by early next month for the Hobby Town contest.

Excellent work here, gentlemen!
BZ,
Guido

Nice work on the USS Hornet Rodger. I am building the same kit and have Kenny's masks also. Any tips on using the masks?

If you haven't already don't put on all the extras, bridge levels, searchlight platforms, etc, onto the island. just put the main items, left and right, top, front and back, together. That should allow you to use the island masks properly.

The really great thing about the masks are they can be put down over and over again, to allow you to get them just right. I'm not sure I had them right, as they seemed too short for the length of the hull. You just have to work with them until you get them right.

One thing more. They vinyl the masks are made from seem to stick to itself better than anything. Don't get them folded over on themselves or you risk tearing them when you try to separate them.

ajkochev, have you had any luck working out what replacement guns are available for the Akagi? I havnt had much luck on the 20 cm or the 4.7"/45 AA freestanding guns. Any ideas?

Here is some more on my Hornet.



Construction is just about complete except I have to put the boats on, after I finish painting them, and some small odds and ends here and there.





Mainly I have to do quite a bit of touch up painting. I have to paint things I got the wrong color the first time, or didn't paint at all.



I left some of the hangar deck doors open so I could show some of her own planes ready to be spotted after Doolittle took off. Unfortunately I forgot this was where the boats were stored so I doubt they will be seen at all.



Here is a perfect example of measure twice, glue once. I glued the deck down late one night with just room light on and the next morning notice I left a huge gap on the starboard side aft. DOH! Oh well, I'll do better next time in 1/350.

I have the B-25s to assemble and paint. When I do this again in 1/350 I think I'll do them first. The thought of assembling and painting 16 tiny aircraft is rather daunting right now.

Sorry for the wait, I've been a bit busy. Haven't really got that far yet on the guns. But I have some Ideas. Sadly I focus on modeling a ship and not history or gun size. Here is my plan based on gun placement.

For all the smaller AA I'll be using the Fine Molds Nano Dread equivalent.

The lower guns in the aft near the water line will be the kits but with cut syringe needle barrels and putty blastbags.

Circular enclosed guns aft of the funnel will be the kit's, modified to look like the 1:350 Akagi kit ones.

Port side larger guns will be the hardest. possibly the barrel piece from the new W fret that comes from the kit with a scratch build base.

HTH Anthony

Some Akagi Progress. First photo shows some corrected and scratch built platforms. I used the Lion Roar Triangle perforate bar sold separate from the Akagi super set. While I started out using the popular Omami build found here:
http://www.h3.dion.ne.jp/~mokei/e-gallery-akagi.htm
I have since switched to the many reviews and builds of the 1:350 Akagi on the internet.



This photo shows the remade funnel area and the backs of the circular guns.



I went crazy and made some internal detail for the middle elevator. I may no be able to add it. A few of my other mods might prevent it from fitting. I'm going to make the PE deck elevator removable so it can be displayed both ways if possible.

Excellent progress guys!

You're right, Anthony, going to other websites on complex builds is smart modeling--why re-invent the wheel?

--Karl

Extending the hanger. I used the old kit's hanger. It is not the most accurate in shape, but the catawalk from LR set fits this shape and I cannot be bothered replace those PE..


Extension work of boat deck 60% Still trying to figure out how best to paint the thing. Also waiting on latrice support from the 3 deck akagi to arrive before gluing.


Test fitting to locate the structural support below the island

Great work folks. I'm really interested in seeing those Akagis done.

Lawrence – nice job on the Independence… camo job came out real nice. Looking forward to some wingies on it!

Anthony – really nice detailing on your Akagi, and at 700 scale! Very inspirational for those of us dreading to tackle 700 scale detailing…

Keith – I was planning on doing that same kit! Also ordered the Tom's PE from Freetime hobbies
Would be interesting to have couple Essex class on the same thread. I also ordered (and received) the Warship Perspective "Essex Class Aircraft Carriers in WWII" and Shipcraft #12 (Essex class); let me know if there is any info you may want (I have not really perused them yet at any length), and I scan the pages you need.

Jim – nice start and welcome to ModelShipWrights, or the Land of the Jims (we have like 7 in here.. lol)

Rodger – really nice work… that airwing should be its own Campaign… maybe start a “microscale” campaign at Aeroscale and double dip badges And nice tips on Gator masks, will be using them in my Fletcher soon.

cheers all

This may be a little off topic:
The more I think about it the more I like the idea of an Air Wing campaign. I have at least two full fits of aircraft that are untouched and still in the box. They are not necessarily naval aircraft (F-22, F-35, F-18, B-25, etc) but they are in 1/700 and all combined will be about the same effort as a 1/700 WWI or WWII destroyer. Air craft are not a requirement for this campaign, only the carriers themselves so if someone wanted to lead a mini-aircraft campaign I would certainly signup.

James thanks for the INFO offer will take you up on that in the next couple of weeks I,am hopeing to get myself some books and info from the next show I,ll be at can anyone recommend a good source of info for the Essex that I can keep an eye out for

Ran into a glitch. The rub off rear deck markings (the red and white stripes) peeled off after applicatin. So I tried painting them on. The red bled all under the tape. So then decals but the ones I used were inadaquate. So final solution is to buy an American flag decal and thereby have red I can use. Reason, a blanksheet of red costs $11 and the flag decal cost $4. Kind of ironic putting red stries from an American flag on the flagship of the TF that attacked Pearl Harbor.

Yeah, Steve, but think of all the USN jacks you've created!

--Karl

Thanks for the tips with the Gator Masks Rodger, much appreciated.

I got the fag and cut the stripes. It looked ok. Then I was rooting around in the box section I had put aside and what do I find. Deck decals...don't ask me why i "lost" them. So scratch off all those screwed up buff on stipes and start laying out the decals. So far, it looks 1000% better. The only problem is that the decals really don't like that wood deck. Been very careful and layed down some spray clear laquer over them. Hope that works. Figure if it doesn't get handeled too much and I cover it with the aircraft stike force. I should pull it off. So the time estimate for completion is put off till the end of April. I think I am going to do one of my 48th scale Tomcats to rest my eyes.after doing 350 scale Kates and Zeros

True, I just finished some 1/700 Chinooks and Cobras while I was finishing my scratch build for the ACUTR campaign and my eyes need some rest as well.

Work on the 1:700 Akagi is slow but sure. I took me two weeks just to do the bow and this side quadrant.

Hi Anthony!

Sure the work is slow, but the results are worth it!

Thanks for the Taiho link, too.

--Karl

I have made a start on my build inbetween other builds just got the basic hull done and filled the gaps although this will be a waterline build i still like to add the lower hull for the water effect. Anthony amazing work with the PE this will be my first attempt with stuff and feeling nervous already looking at your build .

I,am in need of some help here already gents could anyone tell me what colour the hanger deck floor would have been is it the same as the flightdeck. Also on the instruction sheet it is calling for what looks like all the shuttering doors to be fitted as closed Q1 are they doors or ventilation shutter and would some of these have been left open. I ask this as i was thinking of leaving some open to show off the inside of hangerdeck ,because if i close it all up as instructions say it,ll not be worth painting at all