The Build - Decals and final ship details - October 10, 2012
I started out this session by begginning to add the decals. There are the pennant numbers and some other hull markings...like the name of the ship on the stern. There are also depth markings, but I will wait on those to the very end after I add the waterline mark. Also, there are warning lines around the Mk-46 30mm guns and RAM missile launchers.
But the vast majority of the decals were involved with the detail for the landing deck markings...over 52 decals for the landing deck alone.
Then, it was time to complete some of the left-over details for the various weather decks and things for the windows on the bridge and the landing deck. These involved the window wipers which have been finely provided in the photo etch frets. I have not attempted to add these to some of the other vessels, but decided to go ahead and add them here. They were relatively sturdy (for the size they are...which is very small) and they turned out very nicely.
I really like that. Then there were the other details. Like the hand wheels for the anchor chains...very tiny photo etch parts. The .50 cal machine guns on the bridge wings near the watch staion on either side. The Gallery model only provided four .50 cal machine guns...the ships normally go to sea with six. The Gallery model omits the two on the bridge wings...but I like them there and so added them. I will go back and add two others (either from other models, or scratch built) near the bow. Also, the unloading/ditch stations on ether side of the landing deck near the hanger. In addition, the support struts under the small decks that are underneath the bridge wings on either side. These decks have two support struts each and they are not included with the Gallery model, so I scracth built them from other parts in my stach, and added them there.
Several other such details were added that simple continue to add to the realism of the vessel:
Finally, some overall shots of the various sections of the ship as she is structurally completed with almost all of her decals. I also added some shots of the well deck showing her detail in there with the LCU, the LCAC, and the railings along either side of the well deck:
This is a very nicely done vessel.
My final session will be building and adding the aircraft. I intend to have two MV-22 Osprey aircraft in the main landing positions, preparing to depart. Two AH-1A Cobra attack helicopters with their rotos folded on the starboard side of the deck near the forwardf end of that deck, and then a CH-53E Super Stallion, with its rotos folded inside the hanger. Once those are built and added, it will be tocuh-up time and then the completed pictures.
