Hi Todd,
It's progressing nicely and those angle brackets are a nice touch. It good to see a kit come a decent amount of PE as standard. It will be a big paint job when you get started. I think I would find it harder once all those complex etched parts are in place.

cheers
Michael

Thank you Michael! In most cases you are correct thinking the attached PE would be difficult to paint up...this will be no different I suppose. With the lack of space from a few project, not to mention the size of this one...LOL!! I opted to attache what I can to keep everything more self contained. I am hoping to get some priming done soon, at least on the hull section...we'll have to see how it goes!!

Todd, looking good! I have this ship in the stash so am watching intently as you progress along. Keep up the good work!

Thank you Thomas! You should enjoy the kit. As I kind of mentioned here and there throughout the build, there are a few things to just keep an eye on...one being the EPM's which show up mainly on the underside of most of the deck components including the Island walkways. Some are a real easy fix with sanding or filling and sanding but other are a bit tricky if you choose to handle them. Punching out some appropriate sized disks out of thin styrene sheet stock is one. Also watch the seam between the flight deck and the top of the hanger deck. there are some areas that will need some attention.

Okay then...snow has been cleared around the house...back to the bench!!

Howdy guys!

Thought I would take some time to make a final update as it pertains to the construction end of things. I had a little time last night and banged out the island...actually 1.3 times to be exact. Seems when you do an awesome job and have everything set to snap some pics, the modelling gods reach down from the heavens and wreak havoc, whisking the piece you were working on right off the table and onto the floor! LOL!! Needless to say, I needed to reattach several small parts after tracking down where they shot off to!!

Okay then....the hull! I know you seen it, that is why there is the one pic!!



Onto the Island.



I am thinking things look okay. There are a few details missed here and there, but for the most part, this is a solid representation of the ship and any of those minor items could be easily scratched up with rod or flat stock.



For anyone thinking of picking up the kit, or who already have it, you may want to take it slow and easy on the large antenna rig and mast. Both, while not terribly complex...well the rig anyway, they can be a bit wonky to fit together. I actually had the rig come apart before getting it together and ended up soldering it together for a bit more strength.



I also found it easier and stronger to solder all of the radars together.



The keen eyed will notice the mast leans a bit. I don't actually have that attached in the picture.



There was no clear explanation in the instructions about a set of stairs leading up to the bridge section from the deck. And as you might have guessed it, there is not and extra in the kit...so looks like I might be digging in the parts bin of hitting the PC looking for some ladders later.

One small bad criticism on this kit, is the railings. The kit supplied railings are in full sections...



Personally I would have thought the pre-sectioning of railings might be part of the norm on newer kits. While not impossible to make these work, oh, btw, there are two sheets of these railings; the railing posts do not line up with the the offsets, bends and corners...inside and out. So this will be one item that will take me a bit longer to work out before everything is done!

Thanks for tuning in!!

Well done!

I need to learn soldering. I like stainless steel in 1/700 PE for it's added durability, but, can it be soldered too?

EJ

Thank you EJ! You should be able to solder the SS PE. Of course I have not actually tried as of yet. I might try and dig some remnants out and give it a shot!! One thing to remember when soldering anything is the flux...or soldering paste. Best to use the stuff you have to apply rather than the sore filled solder.

Really good to see this one back on the bench T. Love all the PE details, really makes the old gal come alive.

Thanks Rob!! Appreciate you swinging by and having a peek!! The question will be how "alive" it might be when I am done!!

Hi Todd,

I am late again, took me some two weeks to catch up as it seems... Great job, and good to hear that you recovered from your wrecking tour as well without any permanent damage At times, those modeling gods are really bastards ups, didn't mean to say that - or did I?

Looking forward to your updates!

Cheers

Jan

LOL...thanks Jan! I somewhat recover from the crash! I am waiting for the time to actually sling some primer! These things are huge when it comes down to it! LOL!! I am working the base while I juggle the time to prime everything. If I can get all the snow that fell last night out of the way today, maybe I will slide some time in cave into the schedule!

Looking mighty good there Todd:

Your progress here is the most progress I have seen of this kit and I like what I see. I have always liked the Angle decked Essex's and this looks like a beauty. Looking forward to your next update.

Cracking stuff Todd,


Getting inspired to move mine up the build order.

Si

Mark & Si, thank you both! Appreciate the feedback as I push on! The snow we are getting in New England are bogging things down. Every couple days we get dumped on with 12 inches of snow lately...LOL!! With any luck this will make it to the priming booth soon!

Not much...but it is something! Considering how much paint it actually takes to color this one!!

Primer!!!!!










Like I said...not much, but it is primed!! I chose black because it gives me a nice base to work with for pre-shade painting. Next comes the color...I am plotting how to attack this one at the moment but should be able to figure things out on the fly!

Thanks for tuning in!!

Hi Todd,

Looks good black, glad to see some progress,

looking forward to see some colour go on.

Si

Todd its great to see this big guy sailing forward.
Im interested to see how the black works out as a preshade as my FFG theoretically will be at this stage soon. I was actually planning to prime gray and preshade black like on an aircraft model, but this is also intriging.

Ill be watching,

Bryan

Great to see you back at the bench on this one, Todd!

The Intrepid's really looking menacing in all that black primer!

Good stuff !
Russ

Thanks Fellas! It's taken me some time to free up some time and of course bench space for this one!! LOL!! I am in the process of getting ready for and AMPS Nationals the end of this month into the first couple days of May. It is keeping me busy at the bench but building and painting samples to use for demos at the show..LOL!

I am kind of hooked on the black primer! In terms of pre-shading, it saves a lot of time for me! Once I figure out some masking I can fire up the AB again and sling some color!!

Thanks for hanging int there!!

Wow, she's really taking shape!

Will you bring her to Baycon this year?

Thanks Michael! Now there is a thought!! Judging by how looong it has taken me o get to this point, I might actually get it finished before then!!! LOL!! Trying to dig up a piece of wood for the base today for this beast!

Sailing along with black Primer, looks great moving away with the traditional Grey primer and prehistoric -shade

Cheers!!!

ER

Thanks ER! Just another way of doing things is all!! I like the black a lot! Nice and clean look to it! Then I can build up the highlighting where, when and how much I want as I go!

This is coming along nice. Yeah, I can imagine the amount of paint it took to cover this kit. Did you use your airbrush or spray can? That can determine the time involve as well, which can vary dramatically from one to another.

Thanks Mike! I did use the airbrush this time. I am thinking of going rattle can if I ever go with one of these monsters!! The priming itself didn't take too long actually! Just way to much pain...LOL!!!