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Trumpeter 1:350 USS Essex Late WW2 Trim

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  • #61
    Thanks Gun! Building ships is fun so break one of them open.

    There was a disclaimer on the Total Navy's site that PE orders take a long time. I suspect that he stocks none of it and is simply a go between. What really attracted me to his website was the brass standoffs that I'm going to use on the display base. While I bought them from him, I also saw all the PE I wanted including the GMM stuff and Eduard's little 1:350 Navy people. I didn't put any characters on the Missouri and was thinking of adding them to this build. But the waiting is ridiculous and I'm getting very close to having to stop working or I'll be painting myself in a corner.

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    • #62
      Essex: Island Construction

      Good news! Just got the word that my GMM stuff is on the way, and just in time too.

      Built the island as far as I'm willing to go before having the PE and the instructions in my hand. For example, I'm thinking about building all the masting in brass (as I did in the Missouri) to ensure they stay together and so I can solder the PE antennas to them when warranted. I did decide to chisel off all the molded-on ladders and will put PE ladders on.

      The island needed a little filling here and there and I had to sand/file all the overhanging deck edges to remove the mold lines as I did with the platforms on the hull itself.

      Click image for larger version

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      I installed the funnel and filled its joints too, but stopped putting on the funnel cap since I know there's PE going on top and may want to install that with the cap off the funnel.

      Click image for larger version

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      With the island on hold I went back to working on the bow. I brush painted the decking Deck Blue and the anchor chain and chafing plating semi-gloss black.

      Click image for larger version

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      The wildcats aren't painted yet since they're Navy Blue 5N, which I did next. In this case I wanted to airbrush it. I thought I had none left of the Life Color 5N, and decided to attempt to mix my own and got very, very close. I wanted to use Tamiya color for my mix, and used Nato Black, White, Flat Blue and Red. First I tried using a darkened Field Blue, but it's a bit on the green side. Here's the swatch test I used in getting the mix.

      The center color is Life Color Navy Blue 5N

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      After staring at test number five and the sample, I thought I caught a tiny bit of purple so I added a tiny amount of red and got it very close. #7 is my last trial and it's very, very close. So I went to find one of my mixing bottles (that have the same threads as my Badger bottle adapter) and what did I find? A 1/3 full bottle of Life Color 5N that was still okay and just needed a little thinning. So I used that to air brush the front bulkhead and the flight deck supports. I did the latter while still on the sprue so I could spray the backsides. l then glued these to the deck with med CA. I tried the front part of the flight deck onto the hull and you certainly can't see much of my fancy anchor chain and painting. But I know it's there.

      Click image for larger version

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      • #63
        Essex: Bow Railings Start

        With just over an hour in the shop I put on the bow 40mm gun tub and started installing the bow railing (an old GMM piece. I figured that being a dark blue color, you won't really be able to tell the older GMM from the new stuff that's coming next week. Besides I wanted to do some railing work.

        For long railings a trick is to tape it to the hull where you want it before adding CA. Otherwise, you're wrestling with some very flimsy brass that will not cooperate. CA is applied from the back. You'll have to go back and touch up the paint to hide the shiny adhesive. I'm using Tamiya Tape which isn't too tacky. You don't want a tape that will pull the railing back off when you try to de-tape.

        I located where the chocks were and removed a bottom horizontal rail at each location.

        Click image for larger version

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        So that's one more rail down and lots more to go. When I was a kid building many, many box-scale Revell ship kits, I longed for the ability to add "real" railings to them. To me, railings make the model. Only one, the USS Buckley Destroyer Escort, was a large enough scale that it had stanchions where you used thread to create the rail. I loved that model.

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        On monday work will continue. When the rest of the PE comes, I'll get back to the island. I'm thinking about how to build the tripod mast out of bras.
        Last edited by Builder 2010; 03 Feb 18,, 16:30.

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        • #64
          B2010,

          Well, speaking of Tri-pod Masts........Here are a couple shots of my BB-38 Main Mast that is completely scratch-built (with exception of the basic kit parts for the Fire Control House):Click image for larger version

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          I used Plastistrut white, styrene round rods for the legs and cut out the platforms from Evergreen white styrene sheet and Eduards PE. I had drawn up scaled CAD drawings for the masts/platforms, etc. from her 1931 refit drawings.

          After making the NEW JERSEY's 1968 foremast from brass & PE (which was a bitch!) I decided on PENNSY that the plastic might be the way to go. It was from an ease of construction point of view. The PE was still very difficult to get in place correctly, but after patience and perseverance took hold, it worked out. I may replace the black beads (insulators) with something more to scale when I return to this build. BB-38 is in "Stash" mode for a later construction - all parts back in boxes.

          Hope this helps,

          Hank

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          • #65
            Essex: Discussion about Masts and things.

            Hank! What scale is that beautiful work? Your craftsmanship is impeccable. It's really nice to see!

            I was thinking about doing it all in brass, since the GMM set has all the decks and lattice work that goes inside the tripod. It even includes early and late versions of same. You can see the details in this chunk of the instructions. And look at what you have to do to create the wind deflectors.

            Click image for larger version

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            The Total Navy order arrived today. The GMM PE is exquisite and will look very nice. Some of it is extremely small and will push my envelope of patience and care. When I'm done, I'm going into brain surgery.

            The base standoffs look really nice too.

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            The new GMM PE is custom designed so the front railing I put on yesterday is going to come off and the correctly designed part is going on. The new one has the diagonal braces at the ends and correctly spaced cutouts for the deck chocks, plus the rails are much thinner and scale looking (more delicate...).

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            • #66
              B2010 wrote:
              Hank! What scale is that beautiful work? Your craftsmanship is impeccable. It's really nice to see!
              Well, Thanks!! Much appreciated.

              The kit is a Trumpeter 1:200 scale ARIZONA (same as my NEW JERSEY model) and will be built as USS PENNSYLVANIA to her 1939-40 configuration. Several of us over on The Ship Model Forum (you know, the OTHER guys!!!) decided to do a PENNSY version as she has always been the Slighted Sister. But, the two ships are NOT alike and much as in the case of the IOWAs, one size does not fit all. Consequently, the main mast of PENNSY was altogether different than AZ's mast and I drew up scaled drawings to document this. THEN I went to NARA II last March and was able to scan in the 108"x36" 6 sheet PENNSY drawings from 1931 and realized I had pretty much copied what was already done - but, that's ok - I only had some very minor differences in my take-offs, so I am not going to change anything except possibly the rigging, as noted earlier. My drawings, however, document the PENNSY superstructure differences and the main deck equipment differences. Actually, PENSY's A/C cranes are different also from AZs and there are other differences in the deck equipment arrangements, etc. Model Monkey (Shapeways) offers 1:200 PENNSY parts (cranes, vents, etc.) as I had helped out with his designs. One interesting item that I found (and purchased!!!) a 1:200 scale SOC-3 scout plane kit - can you believe that??? And I haven't seen another one anywhere!!! 3 little planes in the kit which will work perfect for this build. I am going to do this as a waterline version at anchor. This will be a real challenge as I've never done a "water" base before.

              Your pedestals look very nice and will be a classy touch to the overall display of your model. I think as you already have a brass starting point with your tripod mast, why confuse this issue? Stay with brass and just take your time and so forth. I had to make 3 sets of the legs before these came out acceptable. Cryo works well if you have a way to mount your legs in some sort of holding device - I made a cardboard cutout with the 3 leg holes at a specific height above the kit deck. Once I had the first platform in place and glued, it was fairly straight-forward from then on. When I built my 1:200 scale NEW JERSEY foremast, I used brass tubing that was about 99.5% correct in diameter and I couldn't find anything that was to size. It will never be noticed.

              Good luck and post photos (which I know you will!)!!

              Hank
              Last edited by bbvet; 04 Feb 18,, 01:39.

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              • #67
                If you build her before her refit in Apr 44 you won't use the wind deflectors. That was her only refit of the war and when she switched over from Measure 22 to the disruptive scheme. Also when her mast braces changed.

                I think its pretty coll that GMM included the forward LSO platform. The Essex was designed so that she could steam backwards at 25kts and recover planes from the bow. I don't think that was ever done.

                Like Hank wrote, Just take your time. You do outstanding work

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                • #68
                  Thanks guys. Seriously your opinion really matters to me...a lot. When were the other two 40s put on that port forward sponson? I may be getting my chronology twisted since I'm doing the measure 21 paint scheme, which I didn't know was the early one. But since I modified the sponson, does that put me with the splinter pattern? Which, BTW, I do NOT want to do. I have no desire to do a camo paint scheme.

                  I'm getting excited about building a boat in 1:200. You can really see the difference doubling the size makes regarding what can be included and how well it can be executed. Of course Hank's skill has a lot to do with it.

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                  • #69
                    Originally posted by Builder 2010 View Post
                    Thanks guys. Seriously your opinion really matters to me...a lot. When were the other two 40s put on that port forward sponson? I may be getting my chronology twisted since I'm doing the measure 21 paint scheme, which I didn't know was the early one. But since I modified the sponson, does that put me with the splinter pattern? Which, BTW, I do NOT want to do. I have no desire to do a camo paint scheme.

                    I'm getting excited about building a boat in 1:200. You can really see the difference doubling the size makes regarding what can be included and how well it can be executed. Of course Hank's skill has a lot to do with it.
                    You can still make her Measure 21 . She only wore MS 32 from Apr-Nov 44.

                    But you also have to modify the island. She lost her forward quad 40 and her pilothouse was extended.

                    Click image for larger version

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                    • #70
                      Essex: Discussion about Masts and things cont.

                      So... is that pic with the extended pilot house? I have an intrepid book which shows the island as of 1944.

                      Here it is. What configuration is this?

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                      How about that lattice work under the aft portion of the main mast platform? That's gonna be fun to do in 1:350! I may not do it...

                      Did any Axis ships have that much electronics in WW2?
                      Last edited by Builder 2010; 04 Feb 18,, 21:37.

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                      • #71
                        Yes thats refit mods. Got the picture from here

                        http://www.navsource.org/archives/02/09.htm

                        Lattice work? Are you referring to the radar platform support?

                        Pontos simplified it. I know the model in P-Cola doesn't have it.

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                        • #72
                          Yup! That's the lattice to which I was referring. So... let me see if I got this straight. According to that site you noted, Measure 21 was put back in 1945 so I can go with that, and it would require the pilot house mod, but then there's another 5 - 40mm quad mounts that show up; 3 under the island on the port side and 2 more hanging off the catwalks on the aft starboard side. I can easily craft these additional mounts, but don't have the materials for the gun sets themselves unless I want to use the kit guns with the GMM dress up parts. Hmmmmm..... There are more 20mm gun sets, but I'm going to worry about them. The Intrepid had the same mods it looks like (probably all the early Essex-class CVs had these).

                          In looking what I already glued up (prematurely I'm thinking), it's not going to be easy to modify the front of that bridge. Any suggestions?
                          Last edited by Builder 2010; 04 Feb 18,, 23:53.

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                          • #73
                            No, The Essex never got the sponsons on the port side of the island. Do you have a pic of the new ones on the Starboard side?

                            Edit- Looking at my shipcraft book. The Essex got 2 sponsons with one mount each starboard aft. 1 large with 2 mounts port forward ( I think that is the 2 you added where the side catapult was)

                            She was the least modified of the class. To busy fighting the war.
                            Last edited by Gun Grape; 04 Feb 18,, 23:59.

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                            • #74
                              Essex: More about 40s

                              Gun, this was the last pic in the NavSource Essex page. They said it was drawn by the Russians. It shows the five extra 40 mounts. Here's an annotated version.

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                              You can make out the words "Essex" in Cirilic. They may have been referring to the class, not the specific ship... perhaps.

                              The Essex did not get the doubling of the bow and stern tubs, but it may have gotten these extras on the sides.
                              Last edited by Builder 2010; 05 Feb 18,, 15:43.

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                              • #75
                                I know for sure, or at least according to every reference I've read, that she did not get the sponsons under the island.

                                Here is a pic taken after her only overhaul. No 40s under her island


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                                Last edited by Gun Grape; 06 Feb 18,, 00:03.

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