Academy USS Kitty Hawk
Comments
4 15 November 2016, 03:43
Patrick HagelsteinHi Robert! For those dimples just use a no.10 or no. 15 scalpel. That way you can incrementally shave de dimple next up to the nearby details. Sounds hard to explain but just don't use any sanding sticks instead or the details will be lost.
16 November 2016, 05:47
Robert W MartelI gotcha Patrick! That's pretty much what I did. I covered the lines w/Dymo tape, shaved the dimples as you described then used a soft 600 stick just to clean it up. It didn't take much at all, and they came off pretty well. Thanks mate!
16 November 2016, 06:05
Ray SeppalaWatching with interest Robert. I have a 1/350 Nimitz (and Intrepid) to build but might have to have a go at one of these smaller builds to see what I am in for!
19 November 2016, 22:41
Robert W MartelRay,
From what I see so far bigger parts are easier to handle. Lots of SMALL parts here. This is 1/800, but a big ship. It's quite a bit bigger than the 1/700 Trumpeter Hornet cv8 for example. Personally I wish I had room for the larger scales, they'd be easier (?). I do have a few of the larger scale Revell's, but the detail is weak compared to the newer Dragon, Trumpy, HobbyBoss.
Ah well, we'll just see how it goes. I'm still having fun!!
27 November 2016, 20:48
Robert W Martel1/7/17
Actually a pretty nice kit, relatively easy to build, but the decals sucked (again). That's 0 for 3 for Academy decals. It looks great though. Next one I'll paint on the deck stripes.
I liked the fact that it had lots of planes, but when it came time to put them on the deck there are way too many. I had 18 left over! If I had put them all on the deck would be completely covered.
8 January 2017, 01:54
Calvin GiffordVery nice job! Glad Academy isn't stingy in giving their carrier kits aircraft! Since the model depicts the Kitty with the Terrier Missile System, you can leave off the S-3's and F/A-18's - those aircraft did not grace her decks until the Terrier System was replaced by the early Sea Sparrow System. 🙂
21 November 2018, 03:23
Robert W MartelThanks Clifford, Yea they give you tons of planes. Besides what's on the decks there's a handful left over that might be able to be used on something else. Heck I wouldn't know the difference between the missile systems anyway, but thanks for that info. I'll keep it in mind when I build the next one.
The Academy carrier kits are pretty decent for their price, I have 4 more.
Have a nice holiday Clifford, I'm hoping to get back into it soon after, next year!
18 December 2018, 18:22
Robert W MartelHey Clifford !!
I've been out of touch on scalemates for a while. Moved into this senior apt in Sept, but haven't been able to get back to modeling quite yet. It's driving me crazy. I've built 1 model this past year. I'm getting close, but it will be a few more weeks at least. I have a lot of catching up to do, bought lots more kits, need to get them in my stash. Too much to do, and I don't seem to be getting much done each day! It's going slower that I had hoped, I'm just dying to get back in the groove!
How are things with you?
30 January 2019, 19:22
Calvin GiffordI'm doing pretty good. Not as difficult to keep warm here in SoCal!!
30 January 2019, 19:25
WoodcoltonHey I'm trying to build this kit for my grandfather because he sailed on it. I just need to know what paint you used for the hull and island
20 June 2021, 06:10
Robert W MartelWoodcolton,
OMG !! I'm sure I cant remember the exact colors I used. I didn't really use any specific colors [that I remember]. Back then I was mixing a lot of my own colors w/ craft paint & varnish, Pledge, some Model Masters, Vallejo ???? I don't think you could go wrong with Tamiya Hull Red. As for the sides and the deck I just mixed up what I thought looked good, I'm sure they aren't really accurate. I just looked at all the pictures I could find, Google up what would have been the normal colors and tried to mix something close.
Sorry I cant be more help.... just go with what you think looks right. It's hard to tell from pictures, different lighting etc. and I'm sure she went through some repainting over the years, she served for 48 years!!
All in all I think the Academy carrier kits are pretty nice. Relatively simple, but good detail, and they give more planes than most other kits.
Good Luck, you'll figure it out. Have fun with it, that's what counts.
Cheers!
20 June 2021, 16:44
Album info
11/15/16
So...if nobody minds I'll go through this one step by step as much as I can, taking pics along the way. At least I'll try!!
I know nothing about aircraft carriers! I know plenty about cars, some about aircraft....but carriers...NADA! I know what the flight deck is, a hanger deck, elevators, island, bow, stern, port & starboard, just learned what a sponson is! As for the rest I have no clue, I see lots of little things sticking out all over and have no idea what they are!
And of course as per most kits, the instructions are no help at all! Unless they have a parts list (a few do), I have no idea what most of these parts are and what they do. Which one is the Oerlikon cannon???? 5 in guns??? etc etc
If anyone wants to chime in with hints, criticism, information, anything, I welcome all comments.
I would really like to at least be able to identify the basic components of a carrier, as I have quite a few I'd like to build.
11/14/16
I got this one at Hobby Lobby this summer (Aug). CHEAP! The plastic ha
