This model has been in progress for about 4 years, since the MSW 2013 "Enterprise" campaign. I didn't get very far in that campaign, except for the air wing, and i can't promise it will go much further, but i have ideas so lets go with that.

In the near future we expect to have a "FLATTOPS" campaign here. I will build a new CV-6 airwing for that campaign, and hopefully push forward this project.

I am indebted to 'Mr. Paul Budzik, who has been scratchbuilding CV-6 in 1:350 , and has made available a set of dwgs of CV-5 Yorktown, which is very close to CV-6 as built, for my purposes.

In hopes of ever finishing, I have constrained the project to "flight deck and up", and limited interiors to those visible through open hatches. wish me luck.

PB destroyed the earlier campaign thread, so i'll start by re-posting some build photos to date with commentary -

to begin, the Island, locating portholes and hatches -

I have cut open some hatches, which are almost always seen open in contemporary photos


the island structure with uptake bulkheads in place



I am torn at this point , weld it closed and move on, or create a complete doll-house style detained interior ...

The uptake structure was the first thing i made, some 1/2" tubing cut into quarters and some flat sheet welded together

yielded this

I built the tripod mast, this went fairly well, working directly from the dwgs



here are the three components together with a few airplanes

whole bunch of aircraft, constrained to what is available in 1:144 scale, and not a great color, more and better to come.

started working on the flight deck


this piece represents about the middle third of the total length of the ship. i have fixings to make the full length in the future.

most recently have been working on the pilot house and battle lookout station. some complicated geometry, but I think I have handle on it.

lets get a flat tops campaign going, and i'll get some more done on this.

Hi Jonathan,

I love your build so far. I too had a CV-6 going for the Enterprise Campaign which failed to get finshed on time for the campaign close... but I did eventually finish it - so there's hope!

Hi Jonathon,
It looks fantastic so far. I hope for our sake the Flattops campaign gets you to finish this. I will try and build Merit's Enterprise if the campaign goes ahead.

cheers
Michael

Great work Jonathan,

I do so enjoy watching scratchbuilders do their stuff.

Great project.

I have put in the application for the Flattops campaign, I am hoping we will be able start formally recruiting in the next week or so.

Cheers

Si

lookin' good!! Always thrilling to watch a build, especially when everything is scratch-built.

Have to admit, when I first saw the title of this thread, my thought was that you were building CVAN-65 Enterprise. Imagine my surprise when I read you were building the uptakes!

Brilliant! It's going to be HUGE.