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Author Topic: Tamiya 1/350 Big 'E' CVN-65 USS Enterprise, R/C Conversion  (Read 11921 times)

ojays

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Tamiya 1/350 Big 'E' CVN-65 USS Enterprise, R/C Conversion
« on: October 07, 2016, 10:05:52 pm »

In the middle of the Gato build I often get lose my bored, so I have started another build on the side.
Weekends my wife and I often spend some time in the country, taking the Gato and all associated with became awkward.

I have now left the Gato for weekends, and am building the 'Big E' at home, just transporting my tools between builds.

Although it is my intention to motorise, I also want to build the hangar deck (complete with lighting) that can be viewed
through the elevator entrances. The bridge/tower will also be illuminated (well that's the plan hopefully)

I purchased several after market items such as PE elevators, deck equipment, extra aircraft and a full PE detail up kits.

Using 'L' shaped plasticard I ran runners the length of the inner hull sides to seat the hangar deck on.
 
The bridge/tower I hollowed out to allow access for the lighting/wiring. The observant of you will also see my deliberate mistake, I opened up an area that didn't need opening. 
Luckily it wasn't too difficult to correct, thank god for greenstuff.

Hopefully the photos will be self explanatory.
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ojays

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Re: Tamiya 1/350 Big 'E' CVN-65 USS Enterprise, R/C Conversion
« Reply #1 on: October 07, 2016, 10:11:47 pm »

Bridge/tower hollowing out for lighting and wiring.

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ojays

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Re: Tamiya 1/350 Big 'E' CVN-65 USS Enterprise, R/C Conversion
« Reply #2 on: October 07, 2016, 10:19:50 pm »

Removal of the moulded in safety nets from around the deck, to be replaced with PE netting.
Removal of the moulded in elevator, a all elevators will be replaced with PE items.
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ojays

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Re: Tamiya 1/350 Big 'E' CVN-65 USS Enterprise, R/C Conversion
« Reply #3 on: October 07, 2016, 10:25:39 pm »

Fabrication of the PE elevators and trusses, plus kit sponsons attached to the hull.
A trial fit of the elevators showed up a small gap, that will require filling with a strip of plasticard
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ojays

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Re: Tamiya 1/350 Big 'E' CVN-65 USS Enterprise, R/C Conversion
« Reply #4 on: October 10, 2016, 10:19:19 pm »

Apologise for the previous posts, hadn't realised they were still in large file format. futures ones in reduced file format.
Laying out the base of the hanger decking with walls and elevator entrances.
These are laid on plasticard runners attached to the hull sides.
The baking paper underneath the parts, is to prevent any superglue that may have leached through from the joints
sticking the part to the work base.
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derekwarner

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Re: Tamiya 1/350 Big 'E' CVN-65 USS Enterprise, R/C Conversion
« Reply #5 on: October 10, 2016, 11:24:07 pm »

ojays.......don't be concerned with the image sizing's you have posted on the 7th ....the larger the image [as permissible within the WEB site rules] the greater detail we all see :-))

Looking forward to the build................. Derek
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Re: Tamiya 1/350 Big 'E' CVN-65 USS Enterprise, R/C Conversion
« Reply #6 on: October 11, 2016, 09:43:23 pm »

Did try to post some more pics in the larger format, a box came up letting me know that I have exceeded the permitted file size.
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ojays

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Re: Tamiya 1/350 Big 'E' CVN-65 USS Enterprise, R/C Conversion
« Reply #7 on: January 28, 2017, 11:34:17 pm »

A little bit more done on the hanger deck today.
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cos918

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Re: Tamiya 1/350 Big 'E' CVN-65 USS Enterprise, R/C Conversion
« Reply #8 on: January 29, 2017, 10:15:28 am »

Hi
looking very nice . I have built this model too and made it RC. One thing to watch is weight . as big as the hull is there is not much below the water line to support extra weight . She is very top heavy  . I add a removable keel  and this made her rock steady and could sail in strong winds


john
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ojays

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Re: Tamiya 1/350 Big 'E' CVN-65 USS Enterprise, R/C Conversion
« Reply #9 on: February 01, 2017, 02:32:25 pm »

Thanks for the info John, I had already realised the centre of gravity was a problem and had been intending fitting a removable keel/skeg.
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ojays

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Re: Tamiya 1/350 Big 'E' CVN-65 USS Enterprise, R/C Conversion
« Reply #10 on: February 01, 2017, 02:42:51 pm »

Had to have a rethink with the hanger deck, after realising I wouldn't have enough room for the electrics and fibre optics.
Have now separated into two separate decks, but have started the ancillaries such as sliding safety doors, watch office, refuelling pipe work, racks for aircraft fuel tanks, chopper blades etc. Purely a figment of my imagination as I have never seen inside an aircraft hanger.
May not suit some but I'm happy with it.
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ojays

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Re: Tamiya 1/350 Big 'E' CVN-65 USS Enterprise, R/C Conversion
« Reply #11 on: February 01, 2018, 11:15:01 pm »

Currently having a mojo moment with another build so, have returned to this one.

I have managed to cut out the area of the propshaft tubes, to be able to fit the shafts and tubes I will be working with.
The threaded shafts are 2mm thread, the props in the photo are not the ones that will be used.
I have a new set of brass ones on order from Protean Design.

Made a start on the tie down holes, but still got about another 100 to do yet.
The kit recesses where too faint for me to just paint, my painting hand isn't steady enough to paint them.
This way I can fill the hole with white paint and wipe away any overspill, they are not as deep as they look in the photo!
I have also purchased some light string for illuminating the hanger deck.

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ojays

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Re: Tamiya 1/350 Big 'E' CVN-65 USS Enterprise, R/C Conversion
« Reply #12 on: February 06, 2018, 11:34:38 pm »

Some more work on the shafts, fitted and blended in with the hull.
A little bit of green stuff for some dimples/scratches.

I have had to make some new 'A' frames, as our little dog managed to eat the kit ones.
I had left them on the floor though, so I suppose it's my own fault.
Made them with square plastic rod, brass tubing lined with nylon tube as a lining.
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ojays

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Re: Tamiya 1/350 Big 'E' CVN-65 USS Enterprise, R/C Conversion
« Reply #13 on: February 10, 2018, 12:31:37 am »

Made start on some of the PE, and fitted the tinted windows.



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ojays

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Re: Tamiya 1/350 Big 'E' CVN-65 USS Enterprise, R/C Conversion
« Reply #14 on: February 11, 2018, 11:25:41 pm »

Decided to make a start on the photo etch add ons for the bridge area.
I can't use all of them as fingers/eyes aren't good enough for the really miniscule items, not to mention my patience.
A little filler needed here and there , but nothing major before painting.

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ojays

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Re: Tamiya 1/350 Big 'E' CVN-65 USS Enterprise, R/C Conversion
« Reply #15 on: February 20, 2018, 11:30:18 pm »

A little more done today, some of the railings on the control tower/bridge.
Not the best of results, but will fettle up when my eyes have relaxed.

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ojays

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Re: Tamiya 1/350 Big 'E' CVN-65 USS Enterprise, R/C Conversion
« Reply #16 on: March 07, 2018, 10:36:24 pm »

Just managed to complete some of the mods needed for the R/C conversion.
Using generic micro rudders, I cut them down to just a little bigger than scale size.
I bonded some plasticard to each side and used filler to build up the profile.
Not perfect but happy so far.
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ojays

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Re: Tamiya 1/350 Big 'E' CVN-65 USS Enterprise, R/C Conversion
« Reply #17 on: June 17, 2018, 11:23:54 pm »

Got some mojo back, so plodding on with some of the mods.
Shaft 'A' frames secured, rudder linkages, measured, bent and fitted.
Fitted magnets and slide fittings to removable decks.
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Re: Tamiya 1/350 Big 'E' CVN-65 USS Enterprise, R/C Conversion
« Reply #18 on: June 17, 2018, 11:58:53 pm »

ojays... going very well  :-)).....

A little confusion.......the Tamya clearly displays inboard turning propellers, however the Big E...[as do all Nimitz Class Carriers] have outboard propellers] ..

[the first image is the kit]
[the second image is the Enterprise in dock]

Saw her in Sydney many years ago......[just from the water up....all we could see was tall grey ...she is huge]....... Derek
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Re: Tamiya 1/350 Big 'E' CVN-65 USS Enterprise, R/C Conversion
« Reply #19 on: June 18, 2018, 11:04:35 am »

Thanks for the pics Derek.
Easy enough to swap the props over when the time comes.
Possibly the inboard turning props would effect the rudders. (just a guess)

I saw her back in the 90's when she stopped off at Marmaris in Turkey.
My wife couldn't understand why we could see right through her (all the hanger doors were open)
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Re: Tamiya 1/350 Big 'E' CVN-65 USS Enterprise, R/C Conversion
« Reply #20 on: June 19, 2018, 05:10:03 am »

Ojays, very fine work sir.  thanks for showing how its done.  Yes, 1/350 scale is great fun, especially working with PE.  Anxious to see her sailing.  I was stationed aboard the USS Ranger CVA-61, back in 1969.  And I thought she was big at the time!  Best regards,  Dennis
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Re: Tamiya 1/350 Big 'E' CVN-65 USS Enterprise, R/C Conversion
« Reply #21 on: July 04, 2018, 10:22:37 pm »

Waiting for some parts from SHG so getting on with the lighting for the hanger deck.
I'm using some battery operated Christmas lights for the deck and Bridge area.
Having problems with my camera so photo's not brilliant.

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dlancast

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Re: Tamiya 1/350 Big 'E' CVN-65 USS Enterprise, R/C Conversion
« Reply #22 on: July 05, 2018, 05:31:48 am »

Totally awesome!   :-))
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ojays

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Re: Tamiya 1/350 Big 'E' CVN-65 USS Enterprise, R/C Conversion
« Reply #23 on: July 23, 2018, 11:00:51 pm »

Given up on my order, so decided to make my own couplings and motor mountings.
Just doing a rough mock up with some old firework rocket stems, to check sizes and fit.
Couplings a mixture of hollow plastic tube & neoprene fuel tubing.
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ojays

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Re: Tamiya 1/350 Big 'E' CVN-65 USS Enterprise, R/C Conversion
« Reply #24 on: January 30, 2019, 12:12:16 am »

While waiting for some suitable weather to launch my A.T.C.H and Corvette, I started looking for another challenge.
 Having not done anything on my 1/350 Tamiya Enterprise since August last year, I pulled it down from the top of the wardrobe, and made a little headway over the last few days.

First off applying the Boatswain Deck Decals NOT!
 The worst set of decals I have ever encountered.
 If they didn't float off the backing paper in pieces, they fell apart when adjusting positions.
 A complete waste of money, and they weren't cheap.
 Even the '65' figures were a quarter of an inch shorter than the moulded figures.

I restorted to masking and stippling, a method I used to use on model aircraft.
 I thin the paint and build up the coats until I'm happy with the opacity. Doing it this way it prevents bleeding under the masking tape.

When I had done the deck markings I gave the hull a coat of colour over the previously applied pre shading (stippled again)
 One more coat should do it.
 I have now started deck weathering.
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