The Chinese Carrier: My review and Build of the 1/350 scale Trumpeter model kit #5617

JEFFHEAD.COM - PLA NAVY CARRIER ^ | March 15, 2012 | Jeff Head

[Jeff Head]

As many of you know, I have been tracking the growth and modernization of the Chinese Navy (PLAN) for a number of years. Particularly their acquisition and refit of the former Russian Varyag which they launched last August.

I also have a hobby for building 1/350 scale model military vessels and recently decided to build modern carrier strike groups (including the carrier and all of their escorts) for each major power.

Trumpeter, a well known mode company announced the release of the new Chinese Carrier in January and I was able to get one directly from Hong Kong before they made any mass shipments to whole salers in the US. This is my review and build of that kit and my progress to date. (Be forewarned, the thread is pictorial intensive and I will add more as I complete the model according to the schedule I report here in this thread):

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My Review and Build of Trumpeter's 1/350 scale Kit #5617,
The new PLA (Chinese) Navy Aircraft Carrier (STOBAR)
(The refurbished and refitted former Soviet Carrier Varyag)

Introduction and Purchase

Late in 2011, Trumpeter announced their new 1/350 scale model for the People's Republic Army Navy (PLAN) aircraft carrier that had been launched and undergone initial trials in August of 2011. Since I have been gathering 1/350 scale models to build Carrier Strike groups for the various nations that can deploy them, I was determined to buy it. I am a member of the US Naval institutie and the son of a father who was a US Navy combat officer in World War II in the PTO. I have been interested in naval matters my whole life.

In addition, I have a web site where I have tracked the growth and modernization of the Chinese Navy for the past ten years called, The Rising Sea Dragon in Asia. One of the most visited pages on that site is my detailed tracking of this very carrier, since it was sold by the Ukraine to China and towed to the Chinese Naval Shipyards in Dahlian,

I found it available first on eTamiya in Chinaand placed the order, only to find that they had not gotten them in yet and it had to be back ordered. I asked for a refund and they said they would give it to me, but then renigged and instead offered me an in-store credit. This is an expensive model and I was not happy. But it worked out okay because I used the credit later to buy the new 1/350 USS Iwo Jima, LHD-7, Wasp Class Amphibious Assault ship...a very sweet model but that will be a discussion for another day.

As it was, Lucky Models in China advertised that they had it and so I ordered it there and within a few days they shipped it to me. I received in in early February, one of the first purchases of the kit in the United States.

What all is in the Box

First of all, the box is large and has great graphics of the vessel (artist depiction) and the markings on the carrier and the contents.. It is packed very well. Here it is with the box, the open box, and with the plastic sprues in their bags on our Queen sized bed: (Click on any of the following pics for a higher resolution pciture)

Here's a better look at each bag. There are a total of thirty plastic sprues in 16 bags, the hull pieces, and a photo etch kit for detail metal parts. On the order of just under 1000 pieces for this model overall. Fine detail you come to expect from Trumpeter, with the full hull or water line version available. The upper hull is in a single piece and the lower hull is a single piece molded in red with the forward dome a seperate piece. Lots of finely detailed and small plastic parts for every sensor, weaponss system, chaff/decoy systems, antennae, sensors, life raft, and part that you can imagine. I was a little disppointed in that the bridge and flight control windows were not cut out and available as clear or smoked plastic, and that there was no hangar deck. If you want hangar spaces, you will have to scratch build them, which is what I do. Anyhow, here are the pics of the many detailed parts:

The decal page is extensive to fully makr the vessel and the deck. The instructions are extensive There is no official name or pennant number for the vessel yet. Numbers that are most likely are either "01" for their first carrier, or "83" for their next large training vessel which they may class her as for political purposes. But make no mistake, with the weapons outfit, and the Chinese J-15 Strike Fighters (which are modernized Chinese rebuiilds of the Russian SU-33, this carrier will be fully operational and capable once the crew is trained up and the aircraft are embarked.

This model is really a remake of the Trumpeter Russian Kuznetsov Carrier in 1/350 scale, which was the earlier sister ship of the Russian Varyag. The Varyag was left about 80% complete with the Ukraine when the Soviet Union fell apart and was never completed. She was later sold to China and towed there where she began her long refit and was ultimately launched as this vessel. There are a couple of sprues of Kuznetsov parts you will not use, and new PLAN parts for the Island, the weapons, the sensor fit, and for the aircraft, particularly the different Chinese helos used. The paint scjheme is also quite a bit different, as are some of the deck markings.

Dry fitting, initial repair and removal, and initial painting

The kit fits well together, but upon putting the larger portions together it became apparent that once I reached a point where they were to be glued, ample use of clamps and rubber bands would be required to hold the parts closely togethere and minimize gaps. In addition, there were several areas along the sponsons, particularly forward, where detail from the Kuznetsov had not been removed. Meaning they simply used the same mold from the Kuznetsov and you will have to remove those details. The largest removal involves sanding down the forward VLS missile silos on the Kuznetsov to smooth areas as they exist on the PLAN Carrier, which uses ther FN-3000L missile launcer adn Type 1030 CIWS instead. This involved the use of my drimmel tool, grinding blocks and sand paper. There are other areas where similar removal was required for various antennae and other equipment mounts, as well as drilling to make way for Chinese antennae not in place on the Russian carrier.

As you can see in the previous pics, I also began painting. The PLAN Carrier is a very light gray, so I used Light Gray from Master Modelrs. For the flight, though the carton and the paint schemeshows the deck in a single color, the actual deck is painted in two colors. A medium gray for the non-landing strip (parking, movement, elevators, etc.) and a darker gray for the landing strip. I used Deck Gray for the non-landing areas and Engine Gray for the landing strip. Here are the finished inityial deck paintings and the initial upper hull painting.

Scratch build of Hangar, Upper Hull and Lower Hull attached, Deck Attached

So, the model came with no hangr spaces provision. I used the flat pieces meant for the waterline version bottom to create hanger spaces at each elevator. I sized them, cut them, glued them in place and then painted them as follows:

It was then time to glue the upper hull and lower hull together. I used extensive rubber bands to pull them tightly together, and then used sprue left overs to glue the two pieces together from the inside for further support so that when they dried and the rubber bands were removed, they were very firmly and tightly in place and not prone to pull apart in the least.

I then used the same methods to attach the flight deck to the upper hull. Clamps and rubber bands were used to firmly attach the parts. Once they were together I began some railing attachments, using Gold Medal Model's excellent Kuznetsov photo etch detail kit. Alhought a lot of the sensors are not correct for the PLA Navy carrier in that kit, those sensors are included in the photo etch parts that came with the model, but there were no handrails of any sort, and none of the mesh around the deck edge in the supplied photo etch set, which are all available in the Gold Medal Work's set.

Putty fills, Sanding, Weapons Systems Build and Attachment

Once the deck was attached, it was time to fill in any gaps between the deck joints and grind/orSand them down and repaint them. This was done with classic model putty in white, my dremmel tool, grind stones where necessary, and then sand papers of various grades as appropriate. I did the same to some areas around the elevators and sponsons where some hgaps existed as well.

Then it was time to build the major weapons system. There was one issue here, The plans in the model call for a single Type 1030 CIWS system on the Starboard forward sponson. But photographs of the actual vessel indicate that there is also a FN-3000L missile system located there. I contacted Lucky Model and Trumpeter and informed them of this and asked for the additional piecves necessary to fix it. I also used other actual photos in building and painting these systems accurately.

Picture of PLAN Carrier showing starboard forward sponson with both the Type 1030 CIWS and FL-3000N Missile launcher


The various weapons systems employed by the PLA Navy Carrier, the CIWS, the Missile launchers and the ASW Rocket launchers, as seen on the actual carrier

There are many parts that go into the missile launchers, the CIWS, the ASW Rocket tubes, and the decoy/chaff launchers. Both plastic and photo etch. Be careful in cutting these away from the sprues because they are easily broken and mishandled. I completed all of the weapons and then added them to the sponsons where they we intended to go, including the additional missile launcher.

Building and painting the Island

The Island for the PLA NAvy Carrier is very detailed. One disappointment, unlike some of the other new Trumpeter models, the windows on the bridge and other control spaces (flight ops, etc.) were not cut out and there is no clear or moked plastic windows available. I suspect this is because they did not want to have to create complete new tooling for the Kuznetsov carrier which they relied on heavily for this kit.

So, I painted the windows in with weathered black, which is a painstaking but gratifying and enjoyable experience. In addition, there are a lot of walk ways all around the ildand all the way up to the stack and the main mast where the sensors and main radar are located. The Gold medal Model Kuznetsov phot etch kit with all of the various hand rails comes in handy here. More painstaking work.

Many many small plastic parts for all of te antennae and sensors, and a lot of photo etch parts provided with the kit for supports, andtennae, and other pieces. I worked after work and on weekends for a couple of weeks to put the island together, but it was a very fun experience and came out well.

I put the entire thing together from a structual standpoint without the main domes, mast or stack, and then painted it. I used Light Gray for the decks and housings, I used Brown for the fore and aft deck oveer the control rooms, white for the ra-domes, and then various metallic colors (steel, aluminum, silver, etc.) for the vents on the sides, various sensors, and spotlights. then worked on the main mast and stack and got all of the antennae on and painted them. I then added all of th domes adn railing and then did a lot of touch up painting to finish it off. Ultimately final coas will be applied before and after decaling, with the final coat being a clear Dull coat from Model Master.

Finally, placing the Island on the flight deck (though I am not gluing it on yet), looks very nice. The carrier is taking great shape.

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STATUS as fo March 15, 2012

This is where I have gotten to date. My plan over the next few weeks is the following, and I will update this posting as I go along:

1. By March 18th, 2012: Complete antennea, landing lens system, launches, life boats, and other instrumentation along the flight deck and other main hull decks.
2. By March 25th, 2012: Complete all railing, meshes, and other photo etch parts along the flight deck and other main hull decks, including props and rudders.
3. By April 2nd, 2012: Complete all deck markings and decals on the flight deck and the rest of the carrier.
4. By April 16th, 2012: Complete all aircraft and deck equipment building, painting, decals, and aircraft and equipment placement.
5. By April 23rd, 2012: Paint and place all all 1/350 scale personnel on the carrier, complete carrier and place on stand.

At that point I will be finished with my PLAN Navy Carrier from Trumpeter. At that point I will do my priniple PLAN Escort for the carrier, Trumpeter's DDG-170, Lanshou Type 052C destroyer. This is the Chinese Arleigh Burke-like destroyer with PARS, battle management and VLS air defense missiles. After that, I will build Hobby Boss's PLAN SSN attack submarine, the PLAN SSN-405, ChangZheng5, a Type 091 Han class SSN, for escort duties. Then, rather than build the other three surface combatants (Trumpeter's DDG-168, Guangzhou; DDG-139, Ningbo; and FFG-570, Huangshan) as part of the Chinese Carrier Strike Group, I will build the initial portion of the US Navy Carrier Strike Group.

That US CSG will be centered on Tamiya's 1/350 scale USS Enterprise, CVN-65. I will build Trumpeter's USS Bunker Hill, CG-52 an AEGIS Cruiser, Trumpeter's DDG-82, USS Lassen an AEGIS destroyer, and the Los Angeles Class attack sumbmarine, Testor's SSN-764, USS Boise (It was actaully the San Juan, but I built and marked it as the USS Boise) which I have already completed.

Then back to finish the Chinese CSG, and then finish the US CSG with the following four vessels: Trumpeter's USS Iwo Jima LHD-7, Trumpeter's USS Freedom, LCS-1, Cyber Hobby's USS Independence, LCS-2, Hobby Boss's USS Texas, SSN-775. When a USS Gerald R. Ford comes out, I will add it to this group along with another AEGIS Cruiser and Burke DDG.

Outside of the new Trumpeter Type 054A FFG-570 Huangshan which comes out in May, I already have all of these vessels and the photo etch sets to go with them. I will post seperate postings/threads/pages for each build as I go through it.

Once the US and PLAN groups are built, I intend on building complete Russian (centered on Trumpeter's Kuznetsov) and UK (centered on the HMS Queen Elizabeth if it is available then, and if not then on Airfix.s HMS Invinsible) strike groups as well. Once the models are available, I'd like to build a Japanese group centered on their new 22DDH carrier and the Hyuga, an Italian Group centered on the Cavour, a French Group centered on the De Gaulle, a Spanish Group centered on the Jaun Carlos, and ultimatly an Australian Group centered on the new Canberra. If they ever build the models, an Indian group centered on either the Vikramaditya or their new ADS Carrier the Vikrant would also be nice. You can see all of these carriers at my site:

All of these along with their escorts will be in 1/350 scale. Literally years worth of building.

WORLD-WIDE AIRCRAFT CARRIERS

...and most of their surface escorts at:

AEGIS AND AEGIS-LIKE VESSELS OF THE WORLD

Jeff Head
March 15, 2012

[lentulusgracchus]

I already have a complete USS New Jersey (the 1980s modern refit), a [Spruance] Class Destroyer, and a Flight II LA Class attack sub.

When I visited the Des-Sub Piers in Norfolk in December, I counted eight US fast-attack, one Trident, and a British fast-attack, their big new one (considerably larger than the Los Angeles-class boats nearby). Several were having "some work done" behind tarps and scaffolding around their conning towers. Now, that would be a slightly unusual model -- SSN with scaffolding.

[Jeff Head]

My son in law is career Navy and a submariner. His bopat was the USS Ohio, the SSGN conversion. Was part of the conversion crew then stayed with her for a few years until he reached CPO, now he’s in the squardron and goes out to several boats.

I was able to get on the Ohioo twice with my son-in-law. Met the exec the first time and the CO the 2nd. Great experience and those Ohio boats are BIG boatd, displacing over 14,000 tons.

[Jeff Head]

Thank, ken, for your kind words and encouragement.

I have been greatll blessed to be alive, and to be able to do all that I can. None the less, I have been left with sigbnificant disability. I go back every few months to check on the hardware they put in me and to make sure no new cancer has returned.

So far so good., and I attribute it to the prayers and faith of so many faithful folks all over the country and to the will and wisdom and love of a merciful Father in Heaven and His Son Jesus Christ.

My Dad was a combat officer in the Navy in WW II in the PTO. My room was adorned with naval ships and aircraft. I particularly liked the F-4U Corsair and always felt it would have given the P-51 a run for its money.

I built a 1/144 scale Cutty Sark, and now own a 1/85 scale USS Constitution. Fully rigged, it’s over 44” long and is quite the conversation pieces. It’s stillan officially commissioned US Naval vessel and is crewed there in Boston. They take her out for special occassions and she is still sea worthy. Amazing vessel and story.

Now I am back into the modern military vessels and the goals I have established for myself there.

BZ and God’s speed.

[Jeff Head]

Here's my latest update, progress as of March 18th:

Finishing the main deck and hull

There was still a lot of work to be done with the main deck. Quite a bit of instrumentation and various equipment. All of the antennae, all of the life rafts and various ship's boats, and finally all of the hand railing for the sponsons, on various levels of the hull and on the deck itself, as well as the webbing.

The boats, life rafts, instrumentation, antennae, webbing, netting, and handrails were made up of probably 300 or more pieces.

When these were complete, it took several days to attach them all and then painstakingly cut all of railings and nettings and attach them. Lots of touch up painting as I went. Some people install most of the parts and pieces and even handrailing before painting...I prefer to paint as I go, installing painted pieces and then tocuhing up any necessary areas either from paint affected by the glue, or glue spots on the paint itself.

Then it was time to attach the Island. The vessel itself still needs the rudders, props, shafs and supports, but otherwise is complete. I have yet to add the decals on the deck, and there are a lot of them which will be painstaking but very gratifying. Then, we'll build the air wing and deck vehicles and equipment, paint them, add decals, and place them. But for right now, she's looking pretty good.

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STATUS as of March 18, 2012

This is where I have gotten to date. My plan over the next few weeks is the following, and I will update this posting as I go along:

1. By March 25th, 2012: Complete props, shafys, and rudders.Complete all decals and painting of main flight deck.
2. By April 16th, 2012: Complete all aircraft and deck equipment building, painting, decals, and aircraft and equipment placement.
3. By April 23rd, 2012: Paint and place all all 1/350 scale personnel on the carrier, complete carrier and place on stand.

At that point I will be finished with my PLAN Navy Carrier from Trumpeter. At that point I will do my priniple PLAN Escort for the carrier, Trumpeter's DDG-170, Lanshou Type 052C destroyer. This is the Chinese Arleigh Burke-like destroyer with PARS, battle management and VLS air defense missiles. After that, I will build Hobby Boss's PLAN SSN attack submarine, the PLAN SSN-405, ChangZheng5, a Type 091 Han class SSN, for escort duties. Then, rather than build the other three surface combatants (Trumpeter's DDG-168, Guangzhou; DDG-139, Ningbo; and FFG-570, Huangshan) as part of the Chinese Carrier Strike Group, I will build the initial portion of the US Navy Carrier Strike Group.

That US CSG will be centered on Tamiya's 1/350 scale USS Enterprise, CVN-65. I will build Trumpeter's USS Bunker Hill, CG-52 an AEGIS Cruiser, Trumpeter's DDG-82, USS Lassen an AEGIS destroyer, and the Los Angeles Class attack sumbmarine, Testor's SSN-764, USS Boise (It was actaully the San Juan, but I built and marked it as the USS Boise) which I have already completed.

Then back to finish the Chinese CSG, and then finish the US CSG with the following four vessels: Trumpeter's USS Iwo Jima LHD-7, Trumpeter's USS Freedom, LCS-1, Cyber Hobby's USS Independence, LCS-2, Hobby Boss's USS Texas, SSN-775. When a USS Gerald R. Ford comes out, I will add it to this group along with another AEGIS Cruiser and Burke DDG.

Outside of the new Trumpeter Type 054A FFG-570 Huangshan which comes out in May, I already have all of these vessels and the photo etch sets to go with them. I will post seperate postings/threads/pages for each build as I go through it.

Once the US and PLAN groups are built, I intend on building complete Russian (centered on Trumpeter's Kuznetsov) and UK (centered on the HMS Queen Elizabeth if it is available then, and if not then on Airfix's HMS Invinsible) strike groups as well. Once the models are available, I'd like to build a Japanese group centered on their new 22DDH carrier and the Hyuga, an Italian Group centered on the Cavour, a French Group centered on the De Gaulle, a Spanish Group centered on the Jaun Carlos, and ultimatly an Australian Group centered on the new Canberra. If they ever build the models, an Indian group centered on either the Vikramaditya or their new ADS Carrier the Vikrant would also be nice. You can see all of these carriers at my site:

All of these along with their escorts will be in 1/350 scale. Literally years worth of building.

WORLD-WIDE AIRCRAFT CARRIERS

...and most of their surface escorts at:

AEGIS AND AEGIS-LIKE VESSELS OF THE WORLD

Jeff Head
March 18, 2012

[humblegunner]

Lookin’ good!

[Jeff Head]

Thanks, she is coming together nicely.

Getting all of the landing positions, parking positions, landing strip, cats markings, safety markings, take-off lines and other main deck painting and decals will make a guge difference in her appearance.

Then building the small 1/350 scale aircraft (each is a miniature model itself) airwing of 8 J-15s (Chinese rebuid and modernization of the SU-33) 6-KA-27s, 4-KA-31s, 2-D-8s and 2-D-9 helos will really add.

Weathering them and the hull will also add to the realism.

Anyhow, after that I am going to either do one her principles escorts (that’s the current plan) or I am thinking of jumping right into the 1/350 Tamiya USS Enterprise for caoparison. I have assempbed a modern airwing (she came with 8-F-4s, 6-A-6s, 8-A-7s, 4-E-2Cs and 4-F-18Cs - actually some of those I bought back then to add to what she came with) of 8-F-18Ds, 4-F-18Es, 4-F-18Fs, 4-EA-6Bs, 4-E-2Cs, 2-C-2 Greyhounds, and 4-SH-60 helos.

PLenty to do...then all 3-4 escorts of each and in the US case, the amazing USS Iwo Jima LHD-7 which has 1400 pieces and includes a full hangar deck and a full well deck. I intend to develop a wiring scheme for her that includes small LED lights for both decks and the flight deck that I will run out into the stand which will include batteries and three small toggle switches for the various lighting.

May scratch build an entore flight deck for the enterprise and do the same, come to think of it.

[humblegunner]

Weathering them and the hull will also add to the realism.

True, that was one of my favorite aspects.

I used to build dioramas with my Tamiya armor.
Plaster walls and buildings with battle damage, etc. Fun stuff.

[Jeff Head]

I’ve never really done dioramas, though I have seen a lot of them. Some guys do amazing things with the sea. Others build them at, or coming into detailed dock facilities. I prefer setting them together in their CSGs or other groups on their stands.

If I had an entire room for the purpose of display, it would be nice to take about half of it and make it a huge diorama with the various CSGs, Phibrons, SAGs etc. arrayed in allied formations facing the agressor forces arrayed in a similar fashion. But the CO at out house has not approved the appropriations for the funding! LOL!

[GreenLanternCorps]

A long time ago I was looking at the updated Iowa class, not sure who made them. These days, I’d have to see what was out there.

Unfortunately I’m not going to have the time in the near future for a large project like that. I do want to get my older two boys into building models starting with snap-tite and working their way up.

I also have an Monogram F4F that has been partially painted but still on the sprues since 1999...

[Jeff Head]

Tamiya made a great 1/350 scale version of the New Jersey which is the one I built. They still market that model.

Here’s a link it...about 80 bucks:
http://www.oakridgehobbies.com/default/tamiya-u-s-battleship-bb-62-new-jersey-ship-plastic-model-kit.html

I’ll post some pictures of the one I built. Had it since 1991 and she still looks good. Went so far as to buy the etched photo railings for the vessels at that time which really improves the look.

Nowadays the etched photo kits have the ladders, stairs, railings of various types (2-3-4 rail) most of the sensors in accurate detail, a lot of the platforms, even the extrieror watertights doors if you are willing to cut out the door locations of those you want to show open.

I bought the phot etch metal kits for the Kuznetsov (Russian carrier of the same class) and used it for this model. The model itself came with a small set that had the a lot of the sensors, but the railing and other platforms that matched the Chinese build I used off of the Kuznetsov kit.

[trisham]

I love the Carriers! I was on one at the age of 9 or 10, and I had just bent over to tie my shoe when what I didn't realize was an "elevator" started moving up. What a surprise! :)

Well done. Thanks for the update!

[Jeff Head]

For those interested, here's my latest update on this Chinese 1/350 scale aircraft carrier model build:

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Completeing the main deck markings

There are many decals for the main deck landing and takeoff positions and the safety markings and parking spots. Some of these decals are long and the builder may be advised to cut some of the longer ones in two for placement without damage.

As always, clean the surface well with water and mild soap or cleaner to ensure all oils are removed. A possible initial spray of gloss coat is possible, but I have had good experience without that and so just cleaned what I had already painted.

Then it was time to begin the landing area and take off area for the fixed wing aircraft. Please note, that the deck has these markings etched into it, but many of the dashes and lines have small potrusions for detail. These need to be sanded, ground, or cut away so the decals will lay flat on the surface and avoid portrusions and deformation of the decals. I accomplished this with an exacto knife and sand paper and then repainting those areas effected.

With the deck markings and the detail thus far, it makes for some good looking close ups, for example, here's the Optical landing system along the outside edge of the deck. The railings and ladders are now all in place.

Next is to finish the props, propellers, and rudders, and then the big job of building, painting and detailing the airwing. I intend to have ten J-15 fighters, four KA-27 ASW Helos, three KA-31 AEW Helos, two Z-9 transport helos, and two Z-8 SAR helos along with a full compliment of deck equipment on the deck and visible in the hangar or on the elevators.

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STATUS as of March 26, 2012

So, once again, this is where I have gotten to date. My plan over the next few weeks is the following, and, as usual, I will update this posting as I go along:

1. By April 16th, 2012: Complete all aircraft and deck equipment building, painting, decals, and aircraft and equipment placement.
2. By April 23rd, 2012: Paint and place all all 1/350 scale personnel on the carrier, complete carrier and place on stand.

At that point I will be finished with my PLA Navy Carrier from Trumpeter. Then, I will build my priniple PLAN Escort for the carrier, Trumpeter's DDG-170, Lanshou Type 052C destroyer. This is the Chinese Arleigh Burke-like destroyer with PARS, battle management and VLS air defense missiles. After that, I will build Hobby Boss's PLAN SSN attack submarine, the PLAN SSN-405, ChangZheng5, a Type 091 Han class SSN, for escort duties. Then, rather than build the other three surface combatants (Trumpeter's DDG-168, Guangzhou; DDG-139, Ningbo; and FFG-570, Huangshan) as part of the Chinese Carrier Strike Group, I will build the initial portion of the US Navy Carrier Strike Group.

That US CSG will be centered on Tamiya's 1/350 scale USS Enterprise, CVN-65. I will build Trumpeter's USS Bunker Hill, CG-52, and the Los Angeles Class attack sumbmarine (which I have already completed), Testor's SSN-764, USS Boise (It was actaully the San Juan, but I built and marked it as the USS Boise) which I have already completed.

Then back to finish the Chinese CSG, and then finish the US CSG with the following five vessels: Trumpeter's DDG-82, USS Lassen an AEGIS destroyer, Trumpeter's USS Iwo Jima LHD-7, Trumpeter's USS Freedom, LCS-1, Cyber Hobby's USS Independence, LCS-2, Hobby Boss's USS Texas, SSN-775. I already have completed Tamiya's 1/350 scale USS New Jersey battleship to the late 1980s upgrade and modernization (with the Tomohawks, Harpoons, CIWS, and SH-60 helos). When a USS Gerald R. Ford comes out, I will add it to this group along with another AEGIS Cruiser and Burke DDG.

Outside of the new Trumpeter Type 054A FFG-570 Huangshan which comes out in May (and which I have pre-ordered), I already have all of these vessels and the photo etch sets to go with them. I will post seperate postings/threads/pages for each build as I go through it.

Once the US and PLAN groups are built, I intend on building complete Russian (centered on Trumpeter's Kuznetsov) and UK (centered on the HMS Queen Elizabeth if it is available, and if not then on Airfix.s HMS Illustrious) strike groups as well. Once the models are available, I'd like to build a Japanese group centered on their new 22DDH carrier and the Hyuga, an Italian Group centered on the Cavour, a French Group centered on the De Gaulle, a Spanish Group centered on the Jaun Carlos, and ultimatly an Australian Group centered on the new Canberra. If they ever build the models, an Indian group centered on either the Vikramaditya or their new ADS Carrier the Vikrant would also be nice. You can see all of these carriers at my site:

All of these along with their escorts will be in 1/350 scale. Literally years worth of building.

WORLD-WIDE AIRCRAFT CARRIERS

...and most of their surface escorts at:

AEGIS AND AEGIS-LIKE VESSELS OF THE WORLD

Jeff Head
March 26, 2012

[wagglebee]

That is fantastic Jeff!

[Jeff Head]

Thanks.

It is really an enjoyable hobby...but it is also, along with my:

Rising Sea Dragon in Asia Site

an effective alternative means to documenting and warning about what our adversaries are putting together.

We need to understand the depth and breadth of their buildup and understand the implications so we can respond to it before it becomes to advanced and thus much more difficult to contain.

[Jeff Head]

Completing the Airwing - April 19th, 2012

Wow, the entire airwing has taken about as long as the rest of the ship together. I had purchased some additional SU-33s to be painted and configured as J-15s and some extra helos. My airwing thus ended up being 14 J-15 fighters, 4 KA-28 ASW helos, 2 KA-31 AEW helos, 2 Z-9 ASW/SAR helos, and 3 Z-8 AEW, transport helos. That's 25 aircraft altogehter. The first part was to build them. The aircraft had 18 pieces each and so were a pretty good model themselves for each. The helos generally had 11 pieces each. So, for all of the aircraft, there were abpiut 350 pieces...many of them very small and delicate.

Then, painting the aircraft, finishing the smaller detail partsa, and adding the decals and rotors for the helos was able to be accomplished.

All of the above took almost 4 weeks to accomplish, working on it after work and on weekends when I could. We did have a five day break when I took a trip with my wife down to San Diego for one of our daughter's weddings which also gave me the opportunity to visit Naval Base Cornado and the anchorage across from there. So that added to the time.

Now, for the PLAN Carrier, will come th eplacing of the aircraft on deck and the building and painting of the deck equipment...tow bars, fork lifts, pus trucks, carts, etc. And finally the paining and placement of the 1/350 scale personnel I have purchased. I expect the painting and placement of those very small individuals will take some time too.

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STATUS as of April 19, 2012

This is now where I have gotten to date. My plan to finish the carrier is the following, and, as usual, I will update this posting as I go along:

1. By April 23rdh, 2012: Complete all deck equipment building and painting and aircraft and equipment placement.
2. By April 30th, 2012: Paint and place all all 1/350 scale personnel on the carrier, complete carrier and place on stand.

At that point I will be finished with my PLA Navy Carrier from Trumpeter. Then, I will build my priniple PLAN Escort for the carrier, Trumpeter's DDG-170, Lanshou Type 052C destroyer. This is the Chinese Arleigh Burke-like destroyer with PARS, battle management and VLS air defense missiles. After that, I will build Hobby Boss's PLAN SSN attack submarine, the PLAN SSN-405, ChangZheng5, a Type 091 Han class SSN, for escort duties. Then, rather than build the other three surface combatants (Trumpeter's DDG-168, Guangzhou; DDG-139, Ningbo; and FFG-570, Huangshan) as part of the Chinese Carrier Strike Group, I will build the initial portion of the US Navy Carrier Strike Group.

That US CSG will be centered on Tamiya's 1/350 scale USS Enterprise, CVN-65. I will build Trumpeter's USS Bunker Hill, CG-52, and the Los Angeles Class attack sumbmarine (which I have already completed), Testor's SSN-764, USS Boise (It was actaully the San Juan, but I built and marked it as the USS Boise) which I have already completed.

Then back to finish the Chinese CSG, and then finish the US CSG with the following five vessels: Trumpeter's DDG-82, USS Lassen an AEGIS destroyer, Trumpeter's USS Iwo Jima LHD-7, Trumpeter's USS Freedom, LCS-1, Cyber Hobby's USS Independence, LCS-2, Hobby Boss's USS Texas, SSN-775. I already have completed Tamiya's 1/350 scale USS New Jersey battleship to the late 1980s upgrade and modernization (with the Tomohawks, Harpoons, CIWS, and SH-60 helos). When a USS Gerald R. Ford comes out, I will add it to this group along with another AEGIS Cruiser and Burke DDG.

Outside of the new Trumpeter Type 054A FFG-570 Huangshan which comes out in May (and which I am pre-ordering two of), I already have all of these vessels and the photo etch sets to go with them. I will post seperate postings/threads/pages for each build as I go through it.

Once the US and PLAN groups are built, I intend on building complete Russian (centered on Trumpeter's Kuznetsov) and a UK group centered on the HMS Queen Elizabeth if it is available, and if not then on Airfix.s HMS Illustrious which I have already purchased. That group will also include two Type 45 Daring Class Airfix models which come out in May and which I am on the advnced order list for, a Trafalgar SSN (which I already have) and an Astute SSN (which I also already have purchased.) Once the models are available, I'd like to build a Japanese group centered on their new 22DDH carrier and the Hyuga, an Italian Group centered on the Cavour, a French Group centered on the De Gaulle, a Spanish Group centered on the Jaun Carlos, and ultimatly an Australian Group centered on the new Canberra. If they ever build the models, an Indian group centered on either the Vikramaditya or their new ADS Carrier the Vikrant would also be nice. You can see all of these carriers at my site:

All of these along with their escorts will be in 1/350 scale. Literally years worth of building.

WORLD-WIDE AIRCRAFT CARRIERS

...and most of their surface escorts at:

AEGIS AND AEGIS-LIKE VESSELS OF THE WORLD

Jeff Head
April 19, 2012

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[humblegunner]

SWEET!

[Jeff Head]

Steady progress. Hopefully the next update she will be complete and then I can move on to the next one. I may jump directly to the USS Enterprise, I am having so much fun with the carriers!

[MinuteGal]

Interesting reading, as usual. Thanks for sharing your loving, painstaking work with us.

Can you tell us where you work on your models (basement, spare room, garage???) and where you display your works of art once you complete a project?

I just like to get a glimpse into your personal creative world....in other words, do you have a studio of some kind?...display shelves???

I used to do miniature wall art in cloth, felt and other materials. The kitchen table at night was all I had for a work place in those long-ago days.

Leni

[Jeff Head]

Sure.

We have an area in our master bedroom, off to the side, that was intended for a desk and like an office area. We've turned it into my model shop.

I have a desk with a computer, and then along the rest of the length of the wall a long table with a glass top/cover where I build. Along the wall above that we have modular shelves installed where I keep the kits and things, and then along the table itself I have a bunch of organizers for parts, paints, glues, putty, tools of all types, etc.

Across the way, we have put in a bunch of shelves between there and the bedroom to display the models once they are finished...but I am running out of room there. Some to the ones my wife deems appropriate are therefore getting honored spots in other parts of the house.

I built models for a few years about 20 years ago, but when we moved and I changed jobs, it went to the side.

Now, since malignant bone cancer surgeries, recovery and rehab, the wife felt it would be a good thing for me to get back into. And she was right, it has been.

[MinuteGal]

Thanks for the description of your "studio". Perhaps some day you can post a photo of the work area and your shelves with completed models adorning them.

Maybe some day, also, you can conduct guided tours through your place like going through a Naval Museum, LOL. I'd pay a million to see your handiwork in the flesh, so to speak. Till then, your pictures will have to do.

Now get back to work!

Leni