Alright boys and girls here she is. I plan to add deck details in the future, but for all practical purposes, i have finished. Note the dollar bill on the name plate section just to give you an idea how big this thing really is (38 inches). I added the GMM p/e set and bought a few extra sets of aircraft. There is a hanger deck that is open and I placed quite a few aircraft in there, but photography is not easy, so You'll have to take my word. Took about 3 and a half months to build (including aircraft), but I wasn't working at the time. Kit is complex and time consuming, but it is a straight forward ad well thought out build. Part fit is quite good and I didn't have to spend hours shaving and shaping parts

Say Steve,
that came out really really nice!

I recall you commenting on the railings on the island and it does look better with them on.

You're planes are fantastic! Man they came out looking really nice as well. How were the decals? In fact, how long did it take to complete each plane? Are those the kit planes or another maker?

Can you take some close ups of the E-2C and and the RA-5? Do you plan to populate the deck with handlers and others?

Dang..it does look nice. Can't wait to see the Lex.

Steve

Steve,

indeed, this one looks really nice. I do not know if it are the pics, but it looks as if she has just come of the slipway. And indeed, the thing is huge. The railings do indeed make a huge difference.

One question: how did you paint the windows of the island? First paint the island, then the windows?
The antenna looks impressive as well...

Congrats with a great model...

Harm

Ahoy Steve!

Yes Man! You have a very nice Nimitz there!
As Steve mentioned just missing the crowd!!!

I like the subtle weathering on the landing zone
Congratulations Steve! Now for the Lady Lex!


Skipper

Looks good Steve.

OK to answer a few questions

Yes Steve all aircraft are kit aircraft. Trumpeter sells boxes of the same planes it sells with the kit so to augment the 22 that came with the kit I picked up 12 more F-4's, and 6 ea of the A-6's and A-7's. The planes are little kits in themselves. The kit E2 is on an elevator with folded wings the one on the deck is a Tamiya version.

As to the island All I did was add some clear styrene for the windws but I hand painted the island so as not to overpaint the windows

Rui you noticed the weathering on the back...I had to go back and look at photo, I hadn't realized it had come through. I've got crash carts and tuggers that came with the kit I hadn't put on, and some great PE parts like those Stokes litters and bicycles to place and a bunch of little people, but I may hold off for a while. I'vestarted an airplane to unwind and then may build a tank. By then it'll be Dreadnaught and time for the BISMARCK.

Yes Steve - I've got an eye for dirty things :-)
Take the break, enjoy and then finish this "little" Gem

Skipper

The more I look at your Nimitz, the more I want one. I checked the price of one last night...Yikes! Although, the Hornet is in my price range ( I know I know what's another $79.00?.....a 1 /72nd Flower Class Corvette)and I thought it would be a good one to cut my teeth on. I think I'll save my change and buy the Nimitz in late 06. Operation Over-run is about to commence...I have all my stuff in place and ready for a (hostile now)takeover of the basement family room.

I can envision one of these puppies gracing it.

Muhahahahahahaha

Thanks for the inspiration Steve...I've been back working on my Swiftie since you posted this.



Steve

My sister (the lawyer) got it for me for Christmas. Just keep hunting Ebay, I think she got it for $130 or so The GMM pe set is also stupendous, but the kit will look really great even without it. You can get railings cheap if you are so inclined, but as I pointed out on initial deployment she didn't have them around the island decks. I went for a little bit later though pre- F-14 deployment so the rails may be correct as they were installed sometime around then. Who cares....I LIKE 'EM !!!!!!! The rest of the GMM PE has things like those detailed mini antennea on island , the radars, and the safety netting around edge of dec that the kit has, but the brass just looks better. If you don't like the F-4's Trumpeter has Tomcats and Hornets you an substitute. You can pick up 6 airplnes a box for as little as $5ea depending onif you get in China or US. The only change I would recomment to the kit is not to use string for the arrestor cable. I cut it off after I looked at it and after I installed the excellent dec decals I used stretched sprue. That's right....all the deck markings are decals that come with the kit. I got an extra set to use for my Enterprise from a guy who didn't use them but opted to paint his on.

I don't know, I like your choice in aircraft. I think if I were to build one, I think I would use the same group. To me, those planes were just....sexier... :-)

You get the point.
Did the RA-5 come with kit?

Steve

They gave you one Vigilanti with the kit as well as 1 hawkeye and 1 helicopter. I had one of the Tamiya type 1 kits and a bag of planes someone gave me so I had an extra helicopter and hawkeye and a couple of Prowlers to add to the deck. I scatched the fuel tanks for that Intruder "gas tank" you see at the launch pad. I might buy some F-14's for the ENterprize when I get around to building her in a year or so. So many kits so little time ship wise I have the Bismarck, New Jersey, Hornet and Lexington as well as some modern Frigate and the Liberty ship...I won't be running out of 350 scale anytime soon also planning on picking up the NC someday. There is also suppossed to be an HMS Hood and an Alabama coming down the pike