Tamiya Enterprise WIP
![Album image #1 Album image #1](/albums/img/7/2/5/300725-28909-93-720.jpg)
Added the metal weight (why is it in this kit?) and glued the sides in.
![Album image #2 Album image #2](/albums/img/7/2/6/300726-28909-60-720.jpg)
Glued the rear structure and sides to the hangar deck. Noticed one thing to late. If I want the elevator in the down position, I've got some precision painting to do.
![Album image #3 Album image #3](/albums/img/0/1/0/326010-28909-79-720.jpg)
The foredeck leaves a nice gap...
![Album image #4 Album image #4](/albums/img/0/0/8/326008-28909-26-720.jpg)
Glued in place with the glue jar as a presse weight.
![Album image #5 Album image #5](/albums/img/0/0/9/326009-28909-39-720.jpg)
![Album image #6 Album image #6](/albums/img/0/1/1/326011-28909-14-720.jpg)
Scratch built a foreward hangar deck from an old credit card.
![Album image #7 Album image #7](/albums/img/0/1/2/326012-28909-70-720.jpg)
It took some filling and sanding to get rid of the gap on the foredeck.
![Album image #8 Album image #8](/albums/img/0/1/3/326013-28909-47-720.jpg)
I'm hoping the ejection marks will become invisible after painting and adding the flightdeck.
![Album image #9 Album image #9](/albums/img/0/1/5/326015-28909-14-720.jpg)
Aft hangar. Same here with the ejection marks.
![Album image #10 Album image #10](/albums/img/0/1/6/326016-28909-14-720.jpg)
Aft deck fitted quite well
![Album image #11 Album image #11](/albums/img/0/1/7/326017-28909-50-720.jpg)
Starboard side of the aft hangar. Some filling and sanding still needed.
![Album image #12 Album image #12](/albums/img/0/1/8/326018-28909-42-720.jpg)
Front hangar.
![Album image #13 Album image #13](/albums/img/0/1/9/326019-28909-89-720.jpg)
Front hangar.
![Album image #14 Album image #14](/albums/img/0/2/0/326020-28909-83-720.jpg)
Added some construction parts to the front of the flight deck. Noticed while uploading there's a small E at the front.
![Album image #15 Album image #15](/albums/img/0/2/1/326021-28909-10-720.jpg)
And some construction parts to the aft side of the flight deck.
![Album image #16 Album image #16](/albums/img/0/2/2/326022-28909-26-720.jpg)
The island, starboard aft.
![Album image #17 Album image #17](/albums/img/0/2/3/326023-28909-93-720.jpg)
Starboard front
![Album image #18 Album image #18](/albums/img/0/2/4/326024-28909-67-720.jpg)
Port front.
![Album image #19 Album image #19](/albums/img/0/2/5/326025-28909-34-720.jpg)
Port, topside
![Album image #20 Album image #20](/albums/img/8/7/2/326872-28909-99-720.jpg)
So much for the renowned Tamiya perfect fit.
![Album image #21 Album image #21](/albums/img/8/7/3/326873-28909-82-720.jpg)
Some minor surgery is needed.
![Album image #22 Album image #22](/albums/img/8/7/4/326874-28909-39-720.jpg)
The kit is a bit older, so I'm not that surprised.
![Album image #23 Album image #23](/albums/img/8/7/6/326876-28909-58-720.jpg)
The funnel is a bit lopsided to portside. Either the welders were drunk back then, or I misaligned the pieces.
![Album image #24 Album image #24](/albums/img/8/2/2/327822-28909-27-720.jpg)
Don't have much time this weekend, but I yearned for painting. So I took this natural black piece of plastic and airbrushed it primer black. Useful?
![Album image #25 Album image #25](/albums/img/2/1/8/334218-28909-72-720.jpg)
large guns in place
![Album image #26 Album image #26](/albums/img/2/2/1/334221-28909-67-720.jpg)
Same here
![Album image #27 Album image #27](/albums/img/2/1/9/334219-28909-71-720.jpg)
Flight deck a bit expanded
![Album image #28 Album image #28](/albums/img/2/2/0/334220-28909-70-720.jpg)
Bits added to island
![Album image #29 Album image #29](/albums/img/2/2/2/334222-28909-36-720.jpg)
Bits added to island
![Album image #30 Album image #30](/albums/img/2/2/3/334223-28909-94-720.jpg)
Gun on the bow added
![Album image #31 Album image #31](/albums/img/2/2/5/334225-28909-23-720.jpg)
Winches added
![Album image #32 Album image #32](/albums/img/2/2/8/334228-28909-91-720.jpg)
This wire needs to be cut up in 3mm pieces. How?
![Album image #33 Album image #33](/albums/img/2/2/9/334229-28909-16-720.jpg)
Taped the wire with scotch tape to the measure. Easy to cut like this.
![Album image #34 Album image #34](/albums/img/2/3/1/334231-28909-54-720.jpg)
After cutting it looks like this
![Album image #35 Album image #35](/albums/img/2/3/0/334230-28909-16-720.jpg)
Machine gun barrels glued
![Album image #36 Album image #36](/albums/img/2/3/2/334232-28909-88-720.jpg)
Machine gun barrels glued
![Album image #37 Album image #37](/albums/img/2/3/3/334233-28909-91-720.jpg)
Machine gun barrels glued
![Album image #38 Album image #38](/albums/img/2/3/4/334234-28909-30-720.jpg)
Island finished. Ready for painting
![Album image #39 Album image #39](/albums/img/2/3/5/334235-28909-78-720.jpg)
Island finished. Ready for painting
![Album image #40 Album image #40](/albums/img/2/3/7/334237-28909-63-720.jpg)
THe painting guide.
![Album image #41 Album image #41](/albums/img/7/4/5/334745-28909-96-720.jpg)
![Album image #42 Album image #42](/albums/img/5/7/7/335577-28909-55-720.jpg)
Cut the planes from the sprues. Dry fit of deck & island
![Album image #43 Album image #43](/albums/img/5/7/6/335576-28909-84-720.jpg)
Cleaned up the planes
![Album image #44 Album image #44](/albums/img/0/3/6/336036-28909-37-720.jpg)
FINALLY found some time to do some painting
![Album image #45 Album image #45](/albums/img/0/3/7/336037-28909-57-720.jpg)
Everything is primed
![Album image #46 Album image #46](/albums/img/9/9/9/340999-28909-24-720.jpg)
Decks painted A.Mig-228 Intermediate blue
![Album image #47 Album image #47](/albums/img/0/0/0/341000-28909-60-720.jpg)
The air group is base painted A.Mig-227 Sea Blue
![Album image #48 Album image #48](/albums/img/8/0/5/378805-28909-64-720.jpg)
Masking time.
![Album image #49 Album image #49](/albums/img/8/0/6/378806-28909-35-720.jpg)
Masking time.
![Album image #50 Album image #50](/albums/img/8/0/7/378807-28909-86-720.jpg)
Masking time.
![Album image #51 Album image #51](/albums/img/8/0/8/378808-28909-78-720.jpg)
Masking time.
![Album image #52 Album image #52](/albums/img/2/8/3/402283-28909-43-720.jpg)
Tried to weather a bit and show the wooden deck through the blue wash. Drybrushing didn’t went as planned.
![Album image #53 Album image #53](/albums/img/2/8/4/402284-28909-36-720.jpg)
A day later. Sprayed with the ab. Looks way better. Not done yet though.
![Album image #54 Album image #54](/albums/img/9/1/6/405916-28909-66-720.jpg)
Resprayed some blue, later blue mixed with tire. Looks better now. Real life tan is less visible
![Album image #55 Album image #55](/albums/img/8/1/1/412811-28909-71-720.jpg)
Painted the arresting wires Revell 91 steel
![Album image #56 Album image #56](/albums/img/8/1/2/412812-28909-82-720.jpg)
Doing a wash the quick and dirty way
![Album image #57 Album image #57](/albums/img/8/1/3/412813-28909-49-720.jpg)
Not exactly what I intended, but nice nonetheless
![Album image #58 Album image #58](/albums/img/8/1/4/412814-28909-71-720.jpg)
Air wing canopies painted Revell 90 Silver
![Album image #59 Album image #59](/albums/img/8/3/6/412836-28909-33-720.jpg)
Dry fit for final assembly of planes
![Album image #60 Album image #60](/albums/img/8/3/5/412835-28909-84-720.jpg)
Props made from 0,13mm clear styrene
![Album image #61 Album image #61](/albums/img/6/6/0/414660-28909-51-720.jpg)
Mock up. Coming together nicely
![Album image #62 Album image #62](/albums/img/6/6/1/414661-28909-74-720.jpg)
Hull was to clean compared to the deck. Starboard
![Album image #63 Album image #63](/albums/img/6/6/3/414663-28909-66-720.jpg)
Port
![Album image #64 Album image #64](/albums/img/6/6/6/414666-28909-68-720.jpg)
Added anchor and some rust streaks
![Album image #65 Album image #65](/albums/img/6/6/7/414667-28909-16-720.jpg)
Port quarter
![Album image #66 Album image #66](/albums/img/6/6/8/414668-28909-75-720.jpg)
Port side
![Album image #67 Album image #67](/albums/img/6/6/9/414669-28909-40-720.jpg)
Starboard anchor
![Album image #68 Album image #68](/albums/img/6/7/0/414670-28909-79-720.jpg)
Starboard quarter
![Album image #69 Album image #69](/albums/img/6/7/1/414671-28909-13-720.jpg)
Starboard
![Album image #70 Album image #70](/albums/img/6/7/2/414672-28909-30-720.jpg)
Attempt to make painting easier
![Album image #71 Album image #71](/albums/img/6/7/3/414673-28909-30-720.jpg)
Cut up the decal sheet in plane sized bits
![Album image #72 Album image #72](/albums/img/6/5/5/417655-28909-38-720.jpg)
Sides white
![Album image #73 Album image #73](/albums/img/6/6/2/414662-28909-88-720.jpg)
Tamiya Tan on the boats
![Album image #74 Album image #74](/albums/img/6/7/4/414674-28909-90-720.jpg)
The whole airwing decaled
![Album image #75 Album image #75](/albums/img/6/4/6/417646-28909-57-720.jpg)
![Album image #76 Album image #76](/albums/img/6/5/2/417652-28909-34-720.jpg)
Enterprise
![Album image #77 Album image #77](/albums/img/6/4/7/417647-28909-44-720.jpg)
![Album image #78 Album image #78](/albums/img/6/4/9/417649-28909-76-720.jpg)
![Album image #79 Album image #79](/albums/img/6/5/4/417654-28909-81-720.jpg)
Glueing the sea to the base
![Album image #80 Album image #80](/albums/img/6/5/0/417650-28909-14-720.jpg)
![Album image #81 Album image #81](/albums/img/6/5/1/417651-28909-93-720.jpg)
![Album image #82 Album image #82](/albums/img/6/5/3/417653-28909-28-720.jpg)
![Album image #83 Album image #83](/albums/img/6/4/8/417648-28909-18-720.jpg)
Comments
1 27 December 2016, 18:48
![](/profiles/img/10792-966-s.jpg)
Good start with a real classic kit 👍 I built this kit for nearly forty years ago, so it is not only to follow an interesting project but a little journey back in time. I'm looking forward to your progress.
Cheers, Christian
8 March 2017, 18:27
![](/profiles/img/15656-162-s.jpg)
I currently have a Yorktown on the shelf, so I'follow this interesting project.
8 March 2017, 19:24
![](/profiles/img/28909-839-s.png)
Some progress. I'm getting closer to painting. I want to paint the deck tan and add the white lines on the flight deck. The sides are grey though.
I'm thinking about painting the grey first, then mask the edges.
Second I'm thinking about painting the deck white. Then mask the lines, and paint the deck tan.
I'm afraid this masking could be difficult due to the lines on the deck. Other option is to paint the deck tan first and then add the white lines. I think I'll have the same masking issues in this case.
Any suggestions as to how to accomplish this??
2 April 2017, 12:33
![](/profiles/img/15656-162-s.jpg)
The blue on a white masked deck would need several layers to be dark enough and white could show in the panellines. It would be easier to mask a blue deck.
2 April 2017, 20:21
![](/profiles/img/15656-162-s.jpg)
You could search a decal that goes with the lining, or have one made on white decal paper.
2 April 2017, 20:59
![](/profiles/img/28909-839-s.png)
Mmm the Tamiya instructions in English don't show paint numbers. The Japanese do. Is xf55 different in Japan vs Europe? Can't imagine that one.
Either way, blue deck or tan deck, i've got a masking challenge 🙁
3 April 2017, 19:11
![](/profiles/img/28909-839-s.png)
On this site there's a picture of a natural wood coloured deck: m.warhistoryonline.c..inal-wwii-color.html
This site details several paint schemes for Enterprise, including both the natural wood deck and the blue one: cv6.org/ship/camo-radar.htm
Still haven't decided on tan or blue
4 April 2017, 19:18
![](/profiles/img/15656-162-s.jpg)
The presence of the blue paint on the deck depends on when it was last dyed with this primer. It didn't take long to weather off in naval circumstances.
4 April 2017, 21:30
![](/profiles/img/28909-839-s.png)
Tamiya screwed up. While cutting and cleaning the planes, I noticed there were some Corsairs. As these planes were deployed from 1944, the deck must have been blue. The tan decks were abandoned a few years earlier.
I'll be entering my blue phase soon 🙂
6 April 2017, 19:12
![](/profiles/img/28909-839-s.png)
Okay. Made some mistakes on purpose. Or is this a deliberate deviaton of plans 😉
The decks are painted Intermediate Blue, the planes Sea Blue. I know the decks are supposed to be Sea Blue, but I wanted some more contrast with the planes on deck.
Next stop, hull and Island painted gull grey!
24 April 2017, 16:57
![](/profiles/img/10792-966-s.jpg)
Well Martin, the wooden decks were painted in blue flight deck stain. There is an article on ShipCamouflage. May that helps to clear any question:
shipcamouflage.com/s..BlueFlightDecks.html
I'm with Steven, the deck stain may faded, mainly from the sun, but also from taxing, starting and landing aircraft.
I tried to represent this on one of my earlier builds. Feel free to take a look
modelshipgallery.com..700-cb/cb-index.html
Cheers, Christian
24 April 2017, 18:03
![](/profiles/img/28909-839-s.png)
Christian, you're a gem. Well, a neat flat flight deck is a good place to start and try to do some weathering I guess. Let's see if I can show the mahogany colour by spraying some. Very thinned paint, very thin layers? Low pressure? Better get the 0,2 needle out 🙂
Your Bogue class escort carrier looks fabulous. I'm afraid I won't reach your skill level in this decade, or any other.... You're in a class of your own 👍
24 April 2017, 19:21
![](/profiles/img/28909-839-s.png)
Hi Irving. I recommend an aftermarket pe set. The antennae ar just too thick. So are the gantry cranes.
24 April 2017, 21:36
![](/profiles/img/10792-966-s.jpg)
Hi Martin, I guess I paint (by airbrush) the blue first and then start dry brushing the wooden effects. IMHO you can control the effects much better by dry brushing than by airbrushing.
Thank you for your kind words. Don't worry about how and when reaching anyones level. You should build for yourself and learn from project to project. I do the same and find new challenges in every new project. So we all can learn from each other and get some insipration and feedback here on Scalemates from Scalemates😉
Happy modeling
Cheers, Christian
25 April 2017, 20:02
![](/profiles/img/28909-839-s.png)
Hi Christian,
I'm not worried about what level of building I'm on. It's just a roundabout way of saying how skilled you are. Just awesome.
Most builds here are a true inspiration. And some show I'm not as bad as I say I am 😉
I enjoy modelling, the end result isn't defining for my pleasure. But there is still progress in each build which is nice.
Thanks for the drybrushing tip. I'll give it a go.
27 April 2017, 09:40
![](/profiles/img/28909-839-s.png)
After a long break, finally found some time to mask this baby and paint the hull & island Revell 79 Blue Gray.
9 September 2017, 15:09
![](/profiles/img/28909-839-s.png)
Resurrected this build once more. Glued the island and some small stuff. Added a black wash. The deck came out dirtier than intended, but I like it like that.
Air wing canopies painted. Next roundels and props.
17 December 2017, 14:30
![](/profiles/img/28909-839-s.png)
And the props are done.
The carpet monster (or the mrs) has stolen the 4 deck mounted guns 🙁 Nowhere to be found
17 December 2017, 15:46
![](/profiles/img/15656-162-s.jpg)
If you are referring to the double purpose guns, I didn't even use them in my kit. I found some helicopter antennas showing the right taper and being longer.
18 December 2017, 06:23
![](/profiles/img/28909-839-s.png)
Well I have to find some replacements soon, as she is nearly finished now. Added some dirt to the flight deck, Island and hull. Also some rust on the hull. Decalled the aircraft. I think the planes are a bit too clean for the ship, some chipping might be required. Dinghies are painted tan, will receive some white later on. Then it's up to the last bits: Dirtying of the funnel top, dirtying of the planes and painting of the dinghies. I guess that's it!
Contest: I made some serious errors. Luckily (or dumb enough) the same on both sides. Who can spot them wins a year free subscription to scalemates.com 😉
20 December 2017, 11:17
![](/profiles/img/28909-839-s.png)
Quite a gentle and subtle way to tell me there are too many errors to mention Lode 👍. I glued the anchors upside down 🙁
James, Spanjaard and Mister C, thank you! Three of the better builders over here are complimenting me 😄
21 December 2017, 19:35
![](/profiles/img/10792-966-s.jpg)
Hey Martin, you shouldn't rate your own work that bad! We all make mistakes and learn with every project and no master is falling from sky😉
21 December 2017, 20:12
![](/profiles/img/28909-839-s.png)
I guess everybody here is his own biggest critic 🙂
Mister C I keep learning with every build, mostly from mistakes 😄 But man I have fun and I'm more proud after every build.
Lode I was just joking. Never take my comments too serious when they're 'negative' like above. 👍
21 December 2017, 20:37
![](/profiles/img/10792-966-s.jpg)
That's the way how to do and how to have fun with modelmaking 👍
21 December 2017, 20:48
![](/profiles/img/16046-385-s.jpg)
Nice build Martin 👍
And I also like your "Delfts blauw" working area! 🙂
21 December 2017, 22:18
![](/profiles/img/21096-573-s.jpg)
Anchors are ok, rest of the he ship IS upside down....everything is relative 😉
You can always say it was an experiment with new type of anchors 😉
And thanks for your very kind compliment 🙂
21 December 2017, 23:12
![](/profiles/img/28909-839-s.png)
Well, she's finished. Way better than I expected almost a year ago. But also with fewer pieces than intended. Anyway some time well spent!
Thank you everyone for the attention and supporting comments 👍
23 December 2017, 16:44
![](/profiles/img/15656-162-s.jpg)
A fine result, Martin. Also an origal name tag concept. It seems a tight fit in that display case, did you have it made on purpose or is it one of those Mastertools cases?
23 December 2017, 18:55
![](/profiles/img/28909-839-s.png)
Hi Steven, thank you. She just fits, doesn't she? It's indeed a mastertool case. Part number 9809
23 December 2017, 19:26
![](/profiles/img/21096-573-s.jpg)
Where can I find those cases, y can find a couple of models that could make use of them....😉
23 December 2017, 20:24
![](/profiles/img/28909-839-s.png)
I bought them at dersockelshop.de
Just keep an eye out for shipping costs.
23 December 2017, 21:11