USS BATAAN (LHD-5)

140920: LHD-5 in the box. 

140920: LHD-5 in the box. 

140921: LHD-5 well deck and upper vehicle deck bulkheads. Not sure why they bothered with the upper V interior - you can't see it! 

140922: LHD-5 fit test alongside her sister (LPD-21 by Cyber-Dragon). I just noticed the visiting aircraft on the pointy end! 

140922: LHD-5 well deck and upper V. Fit is excellent. 

141017: LHD-5 Airwing trial. 

141017: LHD-5 Airwing trial. The MV-22 are visiting from the Dragon LPD-21 kit, 

141022: LHD-5 Well deck markings. These are not included in the kit, but are an easy add-on from cut white decal film. 

141022: LHD-5 Well deck markings. These are not included in the kit, but are an easy add-on from cut white decal film. 

141129: LHD-5 hull mating. Fit could be better here, but not hard to fix. Note detail on anchor hawsepipes, shell bitts, and drain discharge piping. 

141129: LHD-5 hull mating. Fit could be better here, but not hard to fix. Note detail on anchor hawsepipes, shell bitts, and drain discharge piping. 

141129: LHD-5 hull mating. Nuts are secured with 5-min epoxy. 

141129: LHD-5 hull mating. Fit could be better here, but not hard to fix. Note detail on anchor hawsepipes, shell bitts, and drain discharge piping. 

141129: LHD-5 hull mating. Pretty tight fit on well deck bottom. 

141129: LHD-5 hull mating. Had to cut the stringers to get the upper V deck to fit properly. 

141129: LHD-5 hull mating. Secured for welding. 

141129: LHD-5 nose job. I inserted a wedge of white sheet styrene to fill the gap on the stem between red and grey. 

141203 LHD-5 hull painting. Haze grey (Testors Acryl Neutral Grey FS26270) is already applied, and top of boot topping masked to receive flat black from rattlecan. 

141205 LHD-5 hull painting. Masking the boot topping. 

141205 LHD-5 hull painting. Ready for hull red (Rattlecan red lead primer). 

141205 LHD-5 hull painting. Unmasking is always my favorite task! 

141205 LHD-5 hull painting. Quick job with basic tools and paints. 

141205 LHD-5 hull painting. Quick job with basic tools and paints. 

150215: LHD-5 Decal application. Decals are very good and fit perfectly. But there are lots and lots! 

150215: LHD-5 Decal application. Decals are very good and fit perfectly. But there are lots and lots! 

150626 LHD-5 Hull outfitting. 

150915: Starting on the PE catwalks and troop walkways (included in the kit). 

150915: Starting on the PE catwalks and troop walkways (included in the kit). 

150915: Starting on the PE catwalks and troop walkways (included in the kit). 

150915: LHD-5 progress shot. Detail is very good! 

150915: One of the two-piece PE catwalk/troop walkway assemblies. Tried soldering but wound up applying too much heat and distorted the parts. Had to de-solder, flatten, repeat, etc. 

150918: LHD-5 WSC-6 antenna platforms (P&S). 

150918: LHD-5 Aircraft Elevator platform detail. Fit is excellent. 

150920: LHD-5 Progress. 

150920: LHD-5 Progress. 

150922: Trying to represent the panel detail on the WSC-6 domes. 

150925: LHD-5 Aircraft hangar. Nice detail, but you won;t be able to see a thing! Kit aircraft. 

150925: LHD-5 Aircraft Hangar and Upper Vehicle Storage.. Nice detail, but you won;t be able to see a thing! Kit vehicles. 

150925: LHD-5 before closing up the hull. 

151013: Kit provides both plastic and PE options for the SPS-48E antenna. 

151013: Kit provides both plastic and PE options for the SPS-48E antenna. 

151013: Kit provides both plastic and PE options for the SPS-48E antenna. 

151021: MV-22 production line. Kit includes 4 V-22s; I added a six-pack. Two on extreme right are from Dragon LPD-17. 

151021: MV-22 production line. Trumpeter and Dragon MV-22s are very compatible. 

151106: Kit provides both plastic and PE options for the SPS-49 antenna. 

151106: Bending the SPS-49 antenna's boom. 

151108: LHD-5 progress shot. 

151108: LHD-5 progress shot. Note the RAS delivery hose (fine solder on three eyelets from twisted copper wire). 

151108: LHD-5 progress shot. Note the RAS delivery hose (fine solder on three eyelets from twisted copper wire). 

151108: LHD-5 progress shot.  

151110: LHD-5 progress shot. Note PE on SPS-49 antenna. 

151110: LHD-5 progress shot. Stern gate and hydraulic operating arms are a surprisingly good fit. 

160226: LHD-5 progress shot with airwing onboard. Note visiting CH-46 (MV-22 replaced the 46's). 

160226: LHD-5 progress shot with airwing onboard. Note visiting CH-46 (MV-22 replaced the 46's). 

160307: LHD-5 progress shot with airwing onboard. Aircraft are secured with a tiny drop of PVA glue on the main mounts. 

160307: LHD-5 progress shot with airwing onboard. Aircraft are secured with a tiny drop of PVA glue on the main mounts. 

160307: LHD-5 progress shot with airwing onboard. Aircraft are secured with a tiny drop of PVA glue on the main mounts. 

160307: LHD-5 progress shot. 

160307: LHD-5 complete, airwing aboard. 

160307: LHD-5 complete, airwing aboard. 

160307: LHD-5 complete, airwing aboard. 

160307: LHD-5 complete, airwing aboard. 

181014: Convenient prototype reference at NNSY.