Purplethistles Super Sara ***IN PORT***

[Purplethistle]

My choice for this one, the Italeri USS Saratoga.
The last time I built a carrier I was at school!

[Dazzled]

The Italeri carriers go together very nicely. Just an FYI though, 3 of the Forrestal class, including Saratoga, had their forward sponsons removed in the early 1960's so if you're building it in a later configuration you might want to leave these off.

[Purplethistle]

I'll look for that detail, Cap'n. The website, "US Navy cruise books" has photos taken over the years, and so far I've been concentrating on the markings of the Airwing, but there should be contemporary photos of Sara herself.

[jamesaw]

I sent you some Stars and Bars along with the planes. Starfighter models do a lot the airwing markings in 1/700 (used them on mine and believe me, they're a lot of work but worth the effort if you have the time)

[Purplethistle]

Many thanks Howard, they arrived today and to further motivate me I've dug out one of my Sara t-shirts!

[Dazzled]

Cool. Now you can have a reference picture just by looking in the mirror

[Purplethistle]

Cool. Now you can have a reference picture just by looking in the mirror

As long as I remember the boat's number isn't '06'

[Purplethistle]

Hmmm, a week to go now, and as of last Friday I had the hull cut down to waterline and the two halves joined and.....errr....that's it!

LOOKS LIKE A DNF!

There followed a flurry of island assemby and deck spraying (photo to follow) with reasonable progress

MIGHT GET THIS DONE ON TIME!

Then the voice in my head says, "This would look so much better with the JBDs up and a/c taking off with little steam trails of cotton wool type teased fibres" and wee figures of twisted wire, basically tons of minutiae

LOOKS LIKE A DNF!

Much reassessing and counting of parts (including considering jumping ship, so to speak, and doing a Dunkirk "Small boat" dio) but have resolved to go for it.

MIGHT GET THIS DONE ON TIME!

The kit goes together nicely enough, but the painting instructions are vaguely general or is that generally vague? Have also now found that the decal sheet does not seem to have all the deck markings that appear on the diagram

Oh how I'm hankering to do something like a nice familiar tank or something!

[Purplethistle]

...and the Airwing gets started...

[feanor]

Ayup PT...

Coming on nicely mate.

[jamesaw]

Looking good. I find these Italeri kits really fit together well.

[Purplethistle]

Cheers chaps. I'm in need of encouragement (and possibly therapy) after a hard shift at the decal face! every single decal (except the ones that seem to be missing ) has broken up so far. One of the lines that runs the length of the landing area broke into ELEVEN bits!

[Purplethistle]

The Demon Decals.....


The Vigilante is a tail sitter.......hmmmm, how to get ballast in that nose?

[Clashcityrocker]

Carrier looks good. Stick the Vigilante nearer the front end

Nigel

[jamesaw]

Considering the aggravation you had with the decals, it looks excellent.