USS Kitty Hawk CV-63 Trumpy 1/350

[themongoose]

I think I will go ahead and start a thread on this one. Be forewarned it’ll be a long term build, with my goal being to complete it by IPMS NATS July 2024   Lol
I had all my woodworking tools out to make a base for another model so decided to start this one with the extra wood I had. The base will be critical because my plan is to have the deck raise and lower with linear servos so that the hangar bay can be seen 
in addition to the kit ive got the BigEd set, Enterprise railings and decks for extra detail as i go along, 2 Orange Hobby YTB tugboat kits and 2 similar tugs from Small Scale models on Shapeways, 2 4” extension 12v micro linear servos, a big box of 3d printed planes and misc stuff for the deck from L’Arsenal on the way, and hopefully alot of MOJO!
Here’s the layout, it’s the Navy pier at Guam, circa 2008 final cruise fit out is my plan. I’m going to have 4 tugs putting her into the pier…basically a 2’x4’ display. 

[tcoat]

[Joe Rix]

Oh my holy ever living gawd!!! This is going to be the epic of all epic builds Chris. Is this the kit you won at the Vegas Nats raffle? I am sooo following this.

[stikpusher]

The “S#!tt¥ Kitty”!
This sounds like quite the project with all the additions and motorization servos.

[themongoose]

Jun 22, 2023 13:46:05 GMT -5 stikpusher said:

The “S#!tt¥ Kitty”!
This sounds like quite the project with all the additions and motorization servos.

Yeah sounds like she was in bad bad shape toward the end and they were doing minimal maintenance and scrubbing on her! I’ve looked at many of the shots and not actually sure i want to weather her as she looked then. It was bad, with rust all over the hull.

[themongoose]

Jun 22, 2023 12:10:52 GMT -5 Joe Rix said:

Oh my holy ever living gawd!!! This is going to be the epic of all epic builds Chris. Is this the kit you won at the Vegas Nats raffle? I am sooo following this.

Yep! This was my mega-raffle win at the 2021 NATS in Vegas 

Fun fact…it was missing sprue A! Fortunately trumpy has a great spare parts setup now and they had 3 in stock. I’m awaiting an airmail shipment as we speak. I almost had to give up on this one   as there are zero KH sprues out there for sale. I was shocked.  

[Leon]

This is going to be awesome with all the plans you have for it!

I'll be following along.

[chromdome35]

This is my WOW face! All that aftermarket and a 2'x4' dio...Go big or go home! I love it. Those cutouts on the edge are going to be for the dock?

[stikpusher]

Jun 22, 2023 14:51:06 GMT -5 themongoose said:

Jun 22, 2023 13:46:05 GMT -5 stikpusher said:

The “S#!tt¥ Kitty”!
This sounds like quite the project with all the additions and motorization servos.

Yeah sounds like she was in bad bad shape toward the end and they were doing minimal maintenance and scrubbing on her! I’ve looked at many of the shots and not actually sure i want to weather her as she looked then. It was bad, with rust all over the hull.

I guess that was her nickname on the other carriers. Like the Forrestal was the Forest Fire (bad humor I know, but that’s the military). Anyways I heard about that name for the Kitty from a friend about 20 years ago who was on the Stennis… I heard other names for other flattops, but don’t remember those…

[406 Silverado]

The only Kitty nickname I’ve ever heard of with that rhyme is Kittyhawk Models. Lol

This one promises to be a good show and with such a large display we are “GUARONTEEEED” entertainment for quite some time. Build away Chris. This outta be GOOD!

[themongoose]

Jun 22, 2023 17:25:59 GMT -5 chromdome35 said:

This is my WOW face! All that aftermarket and a 2'x4' dio...Go big or go home! I love it. Those cutouts on the edge are going to be for the dock?

Yep, dock(pier) and the 4 barges that are tied to it. There are 2 pilings, 1 on either side of the pier, that i will add once i get to that part of the build. They are sketched in for now. I’m going to have to finish building my cabinets in the basement now so i have a place to pit this! I made the width 23” so it will sit on a standard countertop :-)

[jeaton01]

Gonna be fun.

[Joe Rix]

Jun 22, 2023 14:55:26 GMT -5 themongoose said:

Jun 22, 2023 12:10:52 GMT -5 Joe Rix said:

Oh my holy ever living gawd!!! This is going to be the epic of all epic builds Chris. Is this the kit you won at the Vegas Nats raffle? I am sooo following this.

Yep! This was my mega-raffle win at the 2021 NATS in Vegas 

Fun fact…it was missing sprue A! Fortunately trumpy has a great spare parts setup now and they had 3 in stock. I’m awaiting an airmail shipment as we speak. I almost had to give up on this one   as there are zero KH sprues out there for sale. I was shocked.  

Whoa! That could have been a major bummer. Especially after all the effort you went through to get that shipped home from Vegas. I am really glad that Trumpeter came through for you. That information on their customer service is good to know.

[Steve Zuleski]

That is one huge base!

[armornutii]

   Gonna watch this Chris, IF they ever pop a CV-61 Ranger circa 1988-1991 I'd be on it like a fat kid on a twinke.
     Your display would inspire me to do a San Diego pier side of her as I seen her for the first time. Thread bookmarked.
   Model on Garth!!

[themongoose]

Well the rest of my rice paddi for the Billy Sparks build hasn’t shown up yet so I’m hot and heavy on the carrier!
I started on the 2 tugs i have. The other 2 are in production at Shapeways and will arrive middle of July.



6 coats of gesso, every other one sanded to smooth it oit.



And finally some color. Over the summer i pocked up a 0.5 needle and a fan spray nozzle for the Grex airbrush. It really paid off on this big thing! Paint is Createx acrylic out of the big plastic bottle. Add 50% water and spray at 60psi wah hahaha

[406 Silverado]

Holy Schmokes Chris!!! Those tugs from Shapeways had to set you back a “purdy penny”…..or two at that!!!

[themongoose]

Jul 2, 2023 21:51:05 GMT -5 406 Silverado said:

Holy Schmokes Chris!!! Those tugs from Shapeways had to set you back a “purdy penny”…..or two at that!!!

Yeah, unfortunately the Orange Hobby tugs are near unobtainium. Felt lucky to find 2. Shapeways was cheaper then OH, at $35 for 2 tugs, but without the extra PE. I also tried a different material. More on that once they arrive.

[406 Silverado]

Jul 3, 2023 5:38:39 GMT -5 themongoose said:

Jul 2, 2023 21:51:05 GMT -5 406 Silverado said:

Holy Schmokes Chris!!! Those tugs from Shapeways had to set you back a “purdy penny”…..or two at that!!!

Yeah, unfortunately the Orange Hobby tugs are near unobtainium. Felt lucky to find 2. Shapeways was cheaper then OH, at $35 for 2 tugs, but without the extra PE. I also tried a different material. More on that once they arrive.

That aint too awful bad on the price. I thought it was going to be over $100. My 1/48 scale P6 Catapult was CRAZY expensive. Looking forward to seeing those tugs on the bench as well. Sheesh there's alot going on here!!!

[deafpanzer]

AWESOME! You are off to a great start and I hope to see it at Madison too!

[themongoose]

The 1st 2 tugs are in primer. No PE was lost in this event 








lots of detail painting for next weekend   These are crazy nice models in themselves. Wait till i show the picture of the fire hose and nozzle. I have them separate and won’t add to the tug till I paint them. I still can’t believe i was able to assemble them!

[406 Silverado]

Jul 5, 2023 18:04:58 GMT -5 themongoose said:

The 1st 2 tugs are in primer. No PE was lost in this event 








lots of detail painting for next weekend   These are crazy nice models in themselves. Wait till i show the picture of the fire hose and nozzle. I have them separate and won’t add to the tug till I paint them. I still can’t believe i was able to assemble them!

I hear you on these tiny vessels being models all to their own. That had to be a very tedios process of adding all of that PE and railing on these. Are these from Shapeways or did these come in a kit? Beautiful work so far and your efforts are to be applauded Chris.

[Leon]

Those tugs look really nice! Looking forward to seeing them finished.

[themongoose]

Those are the Orange Hobby ones. 2 pe frets and a resin fret each. Got about 12 hours in them so far. Fortunately about 40% of the tug is black so that’s a time saver. I think I’m going to brush paint them at this size. Been debating which way to go.
Tonight i got the twist out of the hull. Very very happy with that. Ordere a 12v power supply and a connector i can use to mount in the base so it’s easy to plug in. Having loads f fun!

[406 Silverado]

Jul 5, 2023 21:12:37 GMT -5 themongoose said:

Those are the Orange Hobby ones. 2 pe frets and a resin fret each. Got about 12 hours in them so far. Fortunately about 40% of the tug is black so that’s a time saver. I think I’m going to brush paint them at this size. Been debating which way to go.
Tonight i got the twist out of the hull. Very very happy with that. Ordere a 12v power supply and a connector i can use to mount in the base so it’s easy to plug in. Having loads f fun!

Do you have something to put next to them to give us an idea of the actual scale size Chris. Glad you were able to get the twist out of the hull.

[themongoose]

Jul 5, 2023 21:14:44 GMT -5 406 Silverado said:

Jul 5, 2023 21:12:37 GMT -5 themongoose said:

Those are the Orange Hobby ones. 2 pe frets and a resin fret each. Got about 12 hours in them so far. Fortunately about 40% of the tug is black so that’s a time saver. I think I’m going to brush paint them at this size. Been debating which way to go.
Tonight i got the twist out of the hull. Very very happy with that. Ordere a 12v power supply and a connector i can use to mount in the base so it’s easy to plug in. Having loads f fun!

Do you have something to put next to them to give us an idea of the actual scale size Chris. Glad you were able to get the twist out of the hull.

Here’s a pic pre-paint taken on my mat. 1cm squares

[deafpanzer]

Those PE rails look fantastic! Thank you for reminding me why I haven't started any of my ship kits... LOL

[stikpusher]

Looking forward to seeing all of this under a coat of paint.

[406 Silverado]

themongoose Now THAT'S frickin' CRAZY right there!!! I knew these had to be small but I had no idea they were going to be this small. JEEEZ!!

[themongoose]

Jul 6, 2023 11:17:59 GMT -5 deafpanzer said:

Those PE rails look fantastic! Thank you for reminding me why I haven't started any of my ship kits... LOL

And you know what drives me nuts about ship kits(1st time around this got auto corrected to s*** cats lol)… They don’t come with any rails most times and you gotta spend a ton of extra money on it! Glad I finally found they have some generic railings