USS Ronald Reagan, CVN-76, in 1:350 Scale

Jeff Head said:

Just for my friends here on SD...a little progress on the island today:

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A few personnel on the various levels, and the initial metal hand railing.

Lots and lots to go yet. Have to redo the aft side of the island to include the Aft radar tower that was incorporated into the island beginning with the Reagan. Then have all the sensors, radars, lights, and more ladders, railings, life buoys, etc. to add.

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Very nice Master Jeff,,,,,no pressure but we'd like to start those sea trials on March 15th!

I always get a kick out of all the 'craze" over the dates and the in-evitable "slippage" that we always experience with every new "high zoot" capability, thinking of the Ford. We always would rather have it yesterday?? I guess that just the "necessary tension", but I always wonder if things couldn't be a little more functional if folks had a little more time to work all the angles???

Air Force Brat said:

Very nice Master Jeff,,,,,no pressure but we'd like to start those sea trials on March 15th!

I always get a kick out of all the 'craze" over the dates and the in-evitable "slippage" that we always experience with every new "high zoot" capability, thinking of the Ford. We always would rather have it yesterday?? I guess that just the "necessary tension", but I always wonder if things couldn't be a little more functional if folks had a little more time to work all the angles???

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There is SO much new on the Ford...new reactors, (each over 200% more powerful than their predecessors), and all new all-electric system and drive, new electromagnetic catapults, new electromagnetic trapping of aircraft, an all new island, new berthing, new weapons stores and handling, one less elevator with a new deck layout, they intend to ultimately add rail guns and lasers for self defense with all that additional electric power available.

They have to document all of this, test it, write up the SOPs and the operational theory for all of it.

I expect for such a new class carrier with so much innovation for the trials, the testing, the commissioning, etc. to all take up much more time than the later Nimitz class took.

Each Ford class will take less as they go along...but the Nimitz class did not nearly have as high a hill to climb. With the Kitty Hawk class and the Enterprise coming before and all of the technology being so close to those carriers we already had...it just did not take as long.

This is ALL NEW.

They will have and are having similar issues with the Zumwalts, and even the LCS. Both of those are all new classes.

Anyhow, I am not nearly as worried, particularly now that we have grown ups in charge once again.

God bless you my friend...let's be patient.

I hope to see it and be allowed to live long enough to see the tirlas and thin initial IOC for the Ford. I would view it as a real treat and tender mercy from God to live long enough to see the new Enterprise launched...but am not counting on it...hehehe, at least not in the flesh!

Either way, these are going to be awesome vessels...and they will be an ordr or two of magnitude better than anyone else's vessels, although the UK will have similar issues with the new QEs...but still no where near the new technologies being introduced there.

Made a lot of progress on the island today. Her it is wth the masts dry fitted to the island on the ship.

Lots of small details yet...but she is looking good, and looking like the Reagan too!

Jeff Head said:

There is SO much new on the Ford...new reactors, (each over 200% more powerful than their predecessors), and all new all-electric system and drive, new electromagnetic catapults, new electromagnetic trapping of aircraft, an all new island, new berthing, new weapons stores and handling, one less elevator with a new deck layout, they intend to ultimately add rail guns and lasers for self defense with all that additional electric power available.

They have to document all of this, test it, write up the SOPs and the operational theory for all of it.

I expect for such a new class carrier with so much innovation for the trials, the testing, the commissioning, etc. to all take up much more time than the later Nimitz class took.

Each Ford class will take less as they go along...but the Nimitz class did not nearly have as high a hill to climb. With the Kitty Hawk class and the Enterprise coming before and all of the technology being so close to those carriers we already had...it just did not take as long.

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The more interesting for we with Ford we have a new class new design change first since 40 + years last Nimitz a little different with radar mast close Island but very minor difference a Ford you recognize... in addiion we can considered Nimitz very close of Kitty Hawk so in fact first true design change since 50 years.

The main problem is with her price Navy can afford in the future 1 all 5 years for maintain a fleet of 11 ? i see yet the 2th and 3nd finaly possible commissioned 2 years later than planned for spreading the price/budget on 2 years in more in addtion after CVN-70 they are 5 CVNs IIRC build during Reagan's years some was buy in lots by 2 commissioned all the 3 years ! and there the replacement in time seems a big problem, impossible, replacement for 2030's, very possible the CVNs fleet decrease temporarly up to 2040's of up to 2 CVNs.

FORBIN said:

The more interesting for we with Ford we have a new class new design change first since 40 + years last Nimitz a little different with radar mast close Island but very minor difference a Ford you recognize... in addiion we can considered Nimitz very close of Kitty Hawk so in fact first true design change since 50 years.

The main problem is with her price Navy can afford in the future 1 all 5 years for maintain a fleet of 11 ? i see yet the 2th and 3nd finaly possible commissioned 2 years later than planned for spreading the price/budget on 2 years in more in addtion after CVN-70 they are 5 CVNs IIRC build during Reagan's years some was buy in lots by 2 commissioned all the 3 years ! and there the replacement in time seems a big problem, impossible, replacement for 2030's, very possible the CVNs fleet decrease temporarly up to 2040's of up to 2 CVNs.

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If we re blessed to get eight years of Trump...and with him gettting the economy booming as I expect he will...and with him taking a hand to the stagnation, and built in stagnation that political insiders and lobbyistrs bring to the programs...we will see these programs get back in shape and these new technologies come along at the best price possible.

The Ford's are going to end up with lasers and rail gund on them...as will the Zumwalts...and others (like the flight III Burkes ultimately.

I expect Trump, despite the vitriol the liberals and progressives have for him, is going to turn the country around in a way very reminiscent of Reagan...and that will be good for all of these programs.

As it is...my USS Ronald Reagan is coming along nicely. The island uis very near complete now and looking good:

The Build - Building the Ronald Reagan Island - February 5, 2017

So, I started out by building the various levels of the Island, and adding some internal structure, tables/counters etc. and personnel within each level.

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