1/700 Tamiya USS Saratoga CV-3

[centaur567]

I have Revell's 1/720 scale USS Enterprise, and I'm a little apprehensive about starting it. The last carrier I built was before I could shave. Just planning to OOB it. Gary S.

 

[Rhino]

I have Revell's 1/720 scale USS Enterprise, and I'm a little apprehensive about starting it. The last carrier I built was before I could shave. Just planning to OOB it. Gary S.

It is said that the 1/720 Revell kit is the most accurate CVN-65 in waterline scale, save the island structure.

1/700-720 Upgrades

Upgrades ARE available! The Island correction set is an excellent casting.
Are you ambitious enough to add the hangar deck?
Mark Tutton makes good stuff and is a trusted friend.

 

[centaur567]

Thanks for the info, but my budget will only allow an OOB. Just as long I have a decent looking model. Thanks, Gary S.

 

[Rhino]

A craftsman such as yourself should have no problem with the 1969 Revell kit!

 

[hamchuck]

It's always exciting to get new stuff. The PE for both the Saratoga and Enterprise from Tom's Modelworks arrived, plus the aircraft. Since Sara was designated as a night operations carrier I got the radar-equipped Avenger and Hellcats. The PE is actually meant for the Tamiya kit, not Academy's, but I figure it should be too hard to make it work.

It might be a while before I get much farther with this one, though. Over the next couple months I'll be doing some travelling.

 

[Rhino]

Fair winds and following seas in your travels! I'm sure we'll still be around when you return.

 

[hamchuck]

I'm finally back into working on the ship. Major assemblies are, um, assembled and the initial paint is on. I poked around online for some help with the colors.

I used this site to research the proper color scheme for WWII US Navy ships
https://www.shipcamouflage.com/warship_camouflage.htm

To match the colors I came across a gentleman's post on another forum from about six years ago who put a lot of effort into coming up with Vallejo mixes. https://app.box.com/s/istm0needbufr1micfa71wvcgyfppi0a

Maybe these sites have been shared before, but here they are anyways.

The camera seems to level out what little difference there is between the flight deck and the rest of the ship. I suppose that's what the Navy was going for, but it does seem a little too monotone. The color overall in the photos is noticeably lighter than it is to my eye also.

Next up is weathering. My experience in this is limited to 'never', so I'll have to put some thought and practice into it.

 

[moon puppy]

Go slow on the weathering. I think I'd start with a dark wash to get those details poppin'. There's a lot of stuff on the flight deck that will reappear once there's a wash in place.
Thanks for the references, I've seen that navy website before but not the color guide. I envy those who have the eye for colors and who can mix paints like that.

 

[hamchuck]

Go slow on the weathering. I think I'd start with a dark wash to get those details poppin'. There's a lot of stuff on the flight deck that will reappear once there's a wash in place.
Thanks for the references, I've seen that navy website before but not the color guide. I envy those who have the eye for colors and who can mix paints like that.

The wash sounds like a great start. I'll keep the weathering fairly light. When she wore this scheme and radar suite she wasn't on station barely two weeks before a kamikaze knocked her out of the war.

 

[moon puppy]

So it would have been very fresh.
I have a photo my nephew took on board the USS Reagan, he was working for the DoD and was able to go out on the shake down cruise and got photos of the first aircraft landing. What stuck out at me is the slight rust around some of the railing. This is a brand new ship and it was already showing some rust! But in the scale you're doing, I wouldn't worry about that.

 

[Rhino]

Fresh out of refit at Bremerton, Sara might have still had that "New Carrier" smell when the kamikaze struck her. Nice job, so far!

 

[hamchuck]

Fresh out of refit at Bremerhaven, Sara might have still had that "New Carrier" smell when the kamikaze struck her. Nice job, so far!

I think Bremerton, my friend . While I'm sure Bremerhaven would have done fine work, they might have been a tad unwilling.

 

[Rhino]

I think Bremerton, my friend . While I'm sure Bremerhaven would have done fine work, they might have been a tad unwilling.

You are quite correct! Apologies. Sometimes, my German-ness just oozes out my fingers, without good cause. I did edit.

 

[hamchuck]

Portholes are painted, 5"/38 guns and directors are fitted and the first dark wash is on. I also lightened up the flight deck color a little. But now I'm mildly puzzled.

My reference photos show big number 3s bow and stern and white guidelines on the flight deck. The supplied decal sheet has subdued guidelines and no number 3s at all.

Could it be that the number and guidelines were painted out/over when she deployed to the Pacific? After all, my reference photos were taken on her post-refit shakedown. I'm not sure what I could do about it anyways, unless there's another decal sheet to be had.

 

[moon puppy]

Al you are absolutely nailing this!

Not sure what to tell ya about decals.

 

[hamchuck]

Al you are absolutely nailing this!

Not sure what to tell ya about decals.

Thanks! I'm pretty sure I'll have to go with the kit decals. I have a vague idea of how I could paint them, but payoff vs practicality isn't promising.
But those long, thin decals are sure going to be a challenge.

 

[Heavens Eagle]

In the photo you posted, it looks like the #3s were painted over and are darker. Not sure of the actual size of your model from the photos as there isn't any scale reference. It looks like the white dashed lines are fairly straight. I would try masking it off with a straight line stern to bow, then carefully cut pieces to mask for the dashes using a ruler and carefully measuring the placement to give the dashes. Then lightly airbrush in the dashes. They would have been slightly worn and weathered so they don't have to be as stark as the decals. Yeah a lot of work but the results are what you are after.
Not sure what paint you are using so if it is Vallejo be careful about how tacky the tape is.

Just offering an alternative.

 

[hamchuck]

In the photo you posted, it looks like the #3s were painted over and are darker. Not sure of the actual size of your model from the photos as there isn't any scale reference. It looks like the white dashed lines are fairly straight. I would try masking it off with a straight line stern to bow, then carefully cut pieces to mask for the dashes using a ruler and carefully measuring the placement to give the dashes. Then lightly airbrush in the dashes. They would have been slightly worn and weathered so they don't have to be as stark as the decals. Yeah a lot of work but the results are what you are after.
Not sure what paint you are using so if it is Vallejo be careful about how tacky the tape is.

Just offering an alternative.

It's Vallejo, and yes I've always found it treacherous stuff to mask over. I'm equally reluctant about trying to mask it or using the decals. I'd have to stencil the #3s also. I suppose Tamiya has a reason for how they did it, but I'm not finding any reference to back them up. Well, I've got a lot of photoetch and gun assemblies to keep me occupied while I ponder on this a while.

 

[Rhino]

I would offer no criticsms, as this IS your Sara and your model fun, but I think you have the earlier, 1942 Rabaul raid Measure 21 paint scheme Rather than the post 1944 refit Measure 32/11a dazzle paint job. Her career as a dedicated night carrier was in the offing.
Either way, she looks very fine!