Model Monkey

Great build! Loved the show.

Beautifully done!

Hi Ollie! Dave (Shar2) is correct. I make SCB-27 islands for several Korean War-era straight-deck Essex ships in 1/700 scale for about $25 USD. They feature open bridge windows. You can find them among other 1/700 scale superstructures here: http://www.shapeways.com/shops/Model_Monkey?section=1%2F700+Ship+Superstructures&s=0 Here are the links to specific islands for specific ships (each island has unique details, the islands are not the same): 1/700 USS Essex CV-9 island, 1952 1/700 USS Yorktown CV-10 island, 1953 1/700 USS Hornet CV-12 island, 1953 1/700 USS Ticonderoga CV-14 island, 1953 1/700 USS Randolph CV-15 island, 1953 1/700 USS Wasp CV-18 island, 1951 1/700 USS Kearsarge CV-33 island, 1952 1/700 USS Lake Champlain CV-39 island, 1953

Hi MIke! Thanks for the interest! Good news! Within the next week or so, I'll have 1/350 bridge decks available with the window configuration that better matches Boxer as well as other ships of the class. I hope to have a set done at the same time that will fit the Trumpeter kit well. As you may know, when the Essex class islands were modified from their World War Two-era configuration into their modernized SCB-27 and/or SCB-125 configuration, they were shortened at the aft end by several feet. The Vietnam-era bridge deck model is intended to fit the Merit 1/350 scale USS Intrepid kit's shorter SCB-27/125 island length. Having said that, the acrylic plastic that these 3D-printed parts is made of cuts and sands easily. They can be modified if you don't want to wait. Hope this helps and thanks again!

Please post pics as you all go along! This kit is impressive in size and subject.

Please post some pics of your work! The Tamiya KGV is a favorite.

1/600 is fav scale of mine. It's just a nice size. Love to see you design a battleship! This new technology is wide open. Push it and reap the rewards and satisfaction!

Nicely done!

Fantastic! That's some world-class modeling.

Love it!

Great work! Best wishes on his next build!

Brilliant!

Excellent!

Brilliant!

When I fit the flight deck to Yorktown, it was with more difficulty than expected for the very reasons you state. After a bit of fiddling, I found that the hangar deck bulkheads were of slightly different heights badly affecting the level of the flight deck (looked more like Akagi than Yorktown!). The bulkheads needed to be sanded a bit so that each bulkhead was the same height and the flight deck rested upon it evenly. This was tricky to make level. A large sanding block was useful and I took it very slowly, checking and double checking. After sanding the bulkheads level, the flight deck elevator openings surprisingly lined up with the hangar deck marks more closely without having to modify them further. Concur that the lift wells were painted gray post-war. Hornet's certainly was. See: USS Hornet CV-12 forward lift well in 1947 If you like, I can make 3D-printed enclosed bridges (navigation and flag bridge) and offer it on Shapeways to save you some trouble.

Ah, yes. Really looking forward to seeing your build. I have a soft spot in my heart for Essexes and it will be great to see one built as she appeared post-war. Not trying to seal your thread, just as a kindred Essex fan, I've been building a 1/350 Yorktown CV-10 as she appeared in April, 1945 in fits and spurts for a while now. The kit is quite a handful but immensely satisfying. Here's a link: http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=32648 You may find something there that will help you avoid a trouble spot or two with the Trumpy kit. Making a 1/350 Saratoga CV-3 as she appeared in late 1944 (from scratch), too. Just love the old carriers. http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=157271 Best wishes! Steve

Very nice work!

From purely a modeling perspective, IMHO, whilst 5D gray is a great choice and looks good, the 5S blue will swallow up less detail and is aesthetically pleasing. For a soon-to-be started 1/350 build, I think I'll go with what the surviving crew members remember, both ship's company and aircrew as a simple way to honor them. Mine will be blue with red turret tops. I'd like to build Pennsylvania, too. I'd build her 5D with colored turret tops.

Excellent! We don't often see post-war straight deck Essexes built and, as you know, they are very interesting designs. If interested, 3D-printed modernized Korean War-era Essex islands are available in my Shapeways store. http://www.shapeways.com/shops/Model_Monkey?section=1%2F350+Ship+Superstructures&s=0 They are available in 1/700 and other scales, too. Best wishes on your build! I'll be following with keen interest.

Brilliant!

Beautiful!

Terrific!

Brilliant! Love the weathering, too.

Superb!

Brilliant!