CV-61 USS Ranger WestPac Cruise

[Medicman71]

The flight deck looks awesome! Very well done.

[tcoat]

Thanks guys!
I sort of went all out on the flight deck in an attempt to distract that there is virtually nothing of interest on the sides of the hull below it.

[tcoat]

Nov 6, 2023 11:08:40 GMT -5 Medicman71 said:

The flight deck looks awesome! Very well done.

Or...

[themongoose]

Nov 1, 2023 16:56:29 GMT -5 tcoat said:

Deck step 4 another coat of tinted Rejuvenate to start the blotching and darkening.

awesome! The weathering really livened this up and eliminated that toy look they get with those bright clean decals 

[tcoat]

OK so my buddy from Portland will be here in a month so I need to get aircraft on this deck. The proper aircraft for the '87 cruise would be Sea Kings, Tomcats, Intruders (Navy and Marines), Prowlers, Hawkeyes, Vikings, a Greyhound and of course the Sky Warrior my buddy crewed.
To get the proper aircraft in the appropriate quantities I would need to go aftermarket. I priced this out and although I could get them all in 1/700 (close enough in this scale) it was going to cost me around $250. He is a good friend but that is way to rich for a gift so he is going to get a deck full of what came in the box. So it will be a half dozen Tomcats, a trio of intruders a couple of Hawkeyes, a pair of Sea Kings a few Corsair IIs and three Phantoms. If that doesn't busy the deck up enough they also include a boatload of Hornets I could throw on there making it the strangest airwing mix in history.

They all need some more cleanup before paint but I am getting very tired of folding wings in 1/720 aircraft! Why they would mold them all in flight configuration for a carrier kit is beyond me.

Cranes before and after wash. These pics are GREATLY magnified and they don't look at all blotchy like that in real life.



Tomcat




Intruder




Hawkeye




And a very rare picture of the mating ritual of two Sea Kings. I folded the rotor on one.

[handiabled]

Excellent to see this back on your bench!

[themongoose]

We need more than a thumbs up button for things like that sea king mating ritual 🤣🤣

[tcoat]

OK aircraft all given a basic paint job an kit insignia decals. These are just place holders until my grandson get's his new 3D printer and does me up the proper air wings. My buddy and his wife fly in from Portland Saturday so I had to get it done with what was on hand. Went with just a plain stained wood base instead of doing water as the focus was the flight deck not an overall diorama.












Not a show worthy display or even slightly fancy but will serve as a mantle piece to go with his 1/48 Skywarrior.

[handiabled]

I'm sure your buddy is going to be thrilled! Great looking flight deck!

[kyledehart5]

That’s very cool!! Love this.

[keavdog]

Love the closeup shots. The deck looks super dark in the wide shots but just awesome close up. And the airwing really makes it pop!

[deafpanzer]

WOW! It is looking good after my absence. I am digging the Tomcats with opened wings on the deck!

[tcoat]

Thanks guys. He said he loved it. Showed me where he used to lounge on one of the cat walks, where he tripped over a tow bar and wiped out and said the deck was the perfect level of grunge. You may see him show up on here even though he has never built (and probably never will) a model.

[project510]

Excellent job on this, and a nice gift to your friend!

[themongoose]

A great companion piece!! It really finished up nice. You got some great detail on those aircraft in this scale. Superb!

[ultramaroon]

Jun 29, 2024 11:35:47 GMT -5 tcoat said:

Thanks guys. He said he loved it. Showed me where he used to lounge on one of the cat walks, where he tripped over a tow bar and wiped out and said the deck was the perfect level of grunge. You may see him show up on here even though he has never built (and probably never will) a model.

It's brilliant! Amazing how the memories come flooding back while taking in your artwork.

I'm honored.

[tcoat]

Jun 29, 2024 14:16:36 GMT -5 ultramaroon said:

Jun 29, 2024 11:35:47 GMT -5 tcoat said:

Thanks guys. He said he loved it. Showed me where he used to lounge on one of the cat walks, where he tripped over a tow bar and wiped out and said the deck was the perfect level of grunge. You may see him show up on here even though he has never built (and probably never will) a model.

It's brilliant! Amazing how the memories come flooding back while taking in your artwork.

I'm honored.

You misspelt  honoured. 

[ultramaroon]

Jun 29, 2024 14:18:58 GMT -5 tcoat said:

Jun 29, 2024 14:16:36 GMT -5 ultramaroon said:

It's brilliant! Amazing how the memories come flooding back while taking in your artwork.

I'm honored.

You misspelt  honoured. 

You misspelled misspelled

[tcoat]

Jun 29, 2024 14:26:15 GMT -5 ultramaroon said:

Jun 29, 2024 14:18:58 GMT -5 tcoat said:

You misspelt  honoured. 

You misspelled misspelled

You misspelt misspelled when messing with my master race spelling of misspelt you miscreant. 

[ultramaroon]

Jun 29, 2024 14:32:29 GMT -5 tcoat said:

Jun 29, 2024 14:26:15 GMT -5 ultramaroon said:

You misspelled misspelled

You misspelt misspelled when messing with my master race spelling of misspelt you miscreant. 

Damn shame that model is headed for the closet.

Such a waste.

[tcoat]

Jun 29, 2024 15:25:34 GMT -5 ultramaroon said:

Jun 29, 2024 14:32:29 GMT -5 tcoat said:

You misspelt misspelled when messing with my master race spelling of misspelt you miscreant. 

Damn shame that model is headed for the closet.

Such a waste.

Dude! You are sitting two feet away at my cottage with me using your internet I know perfectly well it ain’t goin to no closet.  

[stikpusher]

Very nice finish and a fine memento of his service time.

[kyledehart5]

Well I enjoyed that banter. 😂. Again, awesome tribute.

[tcoat]

Jun 30, 2024 3:20:50 GMT -5 kyledehart5 said:

Well I enjoyed that banter. 😂. Again, awesome tribute.

 Now that he has joined the forum you ain’t seen nothing yet.  

it will of course mean that future builds won’t get posted until done. 

[ultramaroon]

Jun 29, 2024 15:28:42 GMT -5 tcoat said:

Jun 29, 2024 15:25:34 GMT -5 ultramaroon said:

Damn shame that model is headed for the closet.

Such a waste.

Dude! You are sitting two feet away at my cottage with me using your internet I know perfectly well it ain’t goin to no closet.  

Good point. Closet space is too valuable.

[tcoat]

Jun 30, 2024 9:16:17 GMT -5 ultramaroon said:

Jun 29, 2024 15:28:42 GMT -5 tcoat said:

Dude! You are sitting two feet away at my cottage with me using your internet I know perfectly well it ain’t goin to no closet.  

Good point. Closet space is too valuable.

Be a pile more space in there if you just came out of it.

OH WAIT that sounds wrong!