USS Carl Vinson, CVN-70 Honor Model.

[Rhino]

I arose this fine 'morn to find our drain to the septic tank was plugged. (I'll spare all y'all the REALLY grody details) I dug up the tank lid (hatch?) and easily saw the problem. My snazzy, new Milwaukee Drain Snake wouldn't phase it. I called "The Man", but they said wouldn't get here until Wednesday.
"Rhino, Why is this a modeling subject?"
Because while thinking up away to improvise a local, less than $500.00, septic clog solution, my hands needed to be busy.

I started the masts. Beware Arii fine, brittle plastic!

"It's beginning to look a lot like Nim-itz......" Test fit. Just a couple of pesky, little hull details to finish off and I can paint the major assemblies.

The solution to the septic clog problem occurred when I improvised a redneck jetter. I used a handy-billy submersible pump, 2 5-gallon paint buckets, wrecked a nice garden hose and strung every inch of drop cord we had. 4 buckets of water later, (and more truly grody, stinky details I won't share here) we are happily flushing and bathing once more.
I don't like to lose. Pisses me off.


Carl Musselman sends this picture of a Nimitz class CVN (?) model. This put me in mind to the 1972 movie "Silent Running" even if Bruce Dern isn't visible. Carl tells me after my septic clog solution I am now an honorary A-Ganger. Quite an honor indeed from my vintage submarine vet friend!

 

[moon puppy]

Rhino don't take no crap off no body. Not asking details either, I don't get in anyone's crap myself.

 

[centaur567]

Nothing like fishing for blind mullet. Gary S.

 

[Rhino]

First Reefer gray Floquil primer coat. This gray is also the non-skid deck color.

 

[moon puppy]

Why do the cats angle off like they do?

 

[Rhino]

As the size and weight of Navy aircraft increased, the catapult tracks shifted into available space to accommodate the extra length. Angle off the centerline shoots the airplane out of the direct path of the ship and allows maximum space for spotting the airwing on the flightdeck. Diverging angles of the catapults allow departing aircraft to differ in vector (course) so they don't collide.

A cat stroke is a little less than 3 seconds in a lot of cases. The F-14A, loaded 2,2 and 2 with external fuel tanks at 52,000 lbs launch weight, left the ship at 130 kts in 2.8 seconds. It's the most violent, noisy, exciting thing a human can do without undressing. The trained people that ride down the cat in the US Navy's speedy airplanes, get paid to do it. What a racket!
MEOW.

 

[Rhino]

Along about the time paint starts to lay down well, I find my airbrush is empty! I am unaccustomed to making a model this big (?!). A less than yard-perfect finish would be accurate.

Starfighter Decals are extraordinary! Crazy-thin carrier film, opaque white and they snuggle down over the most dated of contours!
These are made for 1/700-1/720 Nimitz class ships. I'm crowding them on to the Arii 1/800 kit. All the windows are silver, except for the 2 I added to Pri-Fly.
Thanks again for looking in!

 

[moon puppy]

ran out of paint...That's funny. Looks great.

 

[centaur567]

Looks great!!

 

[Rhino]

Ice storm days are good days for model making!
I did a little (?) shading on the underside of the hull and built the p/e anchors as well. The idea was to paint the haze gray today too. So I did!
No paint pictures until I find out of the gray has any runs in it! I have my reputation to think of, after all.

Thanks for looking in!

 

[moon puppy]

 

[Rhino]

The 1/700 Phalanx guns for USS Carl Vinson today! Yippee! The look like they will fit the 1/800 scale ship without too much fuss.
"Gee whiz, that's a lot of CIWS." Carl Musselman.

Once the hull openings are properly painted, I can begin to decal the fight deck. Following that, I can put the "running gear" together, paint her generous bottom and stick her to the stand. Careful final assembly will precede her delivery by a few days. Usually an Honor model makes the show circuit for a little while. Not so much, this time.

 

[moon puppy]

Will any of the radar domes painted like a minion?

 

[Rhino]

Will any of the radar domes painted like a minion?

Like this one?
I shouldn't think so, in this scale.

 

[Rhino]

Bird farm decals begin! I'm using the slightly overscale 1/700 scale Starfighter Decals set, because, well. They're just cooler!
As an added bonus there are LOTS of them!