U.S. Aircraft Carrier CV-9 Essex (Trumpeter 05602) Build Log (Finished)

[Boris KampKeymaster @boris-kamp]

Before I started this build log I already made great progress with this build. Im sorry I didn’t take you guys along the ride from the start but here’s everything before the actual start of the log!

001 The Boxart JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

002 The Sprues etc JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

003 nice paint scheme JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

004 instructions JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

005 all in the box JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

006 The Toms Modelworks PE Set JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

007 The Toms Modelworks PE Set JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

08 The PE Bender i bought for this build JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

009 next are some radars JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

009 started on some small AA guns JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

010 next are some radars JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

011 next are some radars JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

012 next are some radars JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

013 next are some radars JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

014 next are some radars JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

015 Working on some other heavier AA guns JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

016 Working on some other heavier AA guns JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

017 Working on some other heavier AA guns JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

018 Working on some other heavier AA guns JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

019 Working on some other heavier AA guns JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

020 Working on some other heavier AA guns JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

021 adding PE JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

022 adding PE JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

023 adding PE JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

024 adding more PE JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

025 adding more PE JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

026 adding more PE JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

027 adding more PE JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

028 Detailling some heavy guns JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

029 Detailling some heavy guns JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

030 Detailling some heavy guns JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

031 Adding detail to the rescue boat JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

032 Adding detail to the rescue boat JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

033 Adding realdoors JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

034 Adding realdoors JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

035 Adding realdoors JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

036 Adding realdoors JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

037 Adding realdoors JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

038 Adding realdoors JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

040 some nice stairs JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

041 Compare the two JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

042 Finished the masts JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

043 Finished the masts JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

044 Finished the masts JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

045 some small stairs JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

046 some small stairs JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

047 some small stairs JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

048 working on the lower front deck JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

049 a PE overview JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

050 a PE overview JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

051 Adding PE doors to the main stucture JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

052 Adding PE doors to the main stucture JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

053 Adding PE doors to the main stucture JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

054 should be some walkways here JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

055 step by step creating the walkway JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

056 step by step creating the walkway JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

057 step by step creating the walkway JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

058 step by step creating the walkway JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

059 step by step creating the walkway JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

060 step by step creating the walkway JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

061 step by step creating the walkway JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

062 step by step creating the walkway JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

063 added it to the front JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

064 added it to the front JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

065 added it to the front JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

066 added it to the front JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

067 added it to the front JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

068 detailling the main structure JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

069 detailling the main structure JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

070 detailling the main structure JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

071 detailling the main structure JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

072 detailling the main structure JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

073 detailling the main structure JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

075 creating a radar tower JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

076 creating a radar tower JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

077 creating a radar tower JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

078 creating a radar tower JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

079 creating a radar tower JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

080 creating a radar tower JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

081 creating a radar tower JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

082 creating a radar tower JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

083 creating the main radar tower JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

084 creating the main radar tower JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

085 creating the main radar tower JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

086 creating the main radar tower JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

087 creating the main radar tower JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

088 creating the main radar tower JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

089 creating the main radar tower JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

090 creating the main radar tower JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

091 detalling the underside JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

092 detalling the underside JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

093 detalling the underside JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

094 added JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

095 some more pics of the main structure JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

096 some more pics of the main structure JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

097 some more pics of the main structure JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

098 some more pics of the main structure JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

099 some more pics of the main structure JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

100 and more JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

101 added walkways along the upper deck JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

102 added walkways along the upper deck JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

103 added walkways along the upper deck JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

104 added walkways along the upper deck JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

105 added walkways along the upper deck JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

106 added walkways along the upper deck JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

107 really detailled the elavator JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

108 really detailled the elavator JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

109 added fencing to the sides JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

110 added fencing to the sides JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

111 added fencing to the sides JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

112 added fencing to the sides JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

113 added fencing to the sides JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

114 added fencing to the sides JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

115 more shots of the elavator JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

116 more shots of the elavator JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

117 more shots of the elavator JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

118 some gun platforms JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

119 painted with primer still alot to do JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

120 painted with primer still alot to do JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

121 painted with primer still alot to do JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

122 painted with primer still alot to do JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

123 painted with primer still alot to do JPG USS ESSEX CV9 In Progress Pictures

[Boris KampKeymaster @boris-kamp]

Last week I finished most of the detail work on the USS Essex aircraft carrier, below are the pics

This is what the island looks like at the moment:

I added some speaker boxes, they are only a few millimeter in size! Note the supports.

Some more speaker boxes

Here you can see the mast I built with the thinnest brass wire I could find

One more shot

Almost fully equipped

The shots above are test shots, and the guns and radars etc are not fixed yet, just temporarily.

I am about to airbrush the USS Essex CV-9 ‘s island with its final color.
Any big errors? Please let me know since I have 0.01% knowledge of warships.

Thanks for watching!

Boris

[Boris KampKeymaster @boris-kamp]

The last few weeks I have been busy with the USS Essex Aircraft Carrier from Trumpeter.
I want to get it finished in the coming months because this build has taken enough time.

I have done the following since the last update:

• Airbrushed the main island and done some minor weathering.
• Added arresting gear to the flight deck
• Added flotation baskets to the railings of the flight deck
• Added some catwalks underneath the front and rear of the flight deck
• Added the route to the rescue boat.
• Airbrushed the vertical surfaces of the hull
• Airbrushed the wooden part of the flight deck

Please see the following pictures for the result
The escape route to the rescue boat:

Here you can see some arresting gear and flotation baskets I added:

A close-up

The added catwalk between the two gun positions, right under the flight deck:

Some more flotation baskets and arresting gear

A lot of baskets next to the island location

The new catwalks right under the flight deck:

top shot:

I added some real chains to the anchors, they will be visible, you’ ll see:

Ready for painting!

The next few pictures show the airbrushed flight deck and vertical surfaces of the hull:

142 1 350 USS Essex CV 9 Painted the flightdeck and vertical surface of the hull

143 1 350 USS Essex CV 9 Painted the flightdeck and vertical surface of the hull

144 1 350 USS Essex CV 9 Painted the flightdeck and vertical surface of the hull

145 1 350 USS Essex CV 9 Painted the flightdeck and vertical surface of the hull

The next three shots show the island, what do you think of it?

146 1 350 USS Essex CV 9 A view of the island

147 1 350 USS Essex CV 9 one more island shot

148 1 350 USS Essex CV 9 the rear of the island

A lot to do left, much work is needed for creating all the small 20 mm guns, still have to make most of them.
All the steel decks need to be painted by hand, like on the island. When painting is done I can start adding the detail items, such as the guns, masts etc.

Weathering is the final step.

I wonder how you think about it so far, let me know!

regards,

Boris

[Boris KampKeymaster @boris-kamp]

I finally fixed the hull of the 1/350 USS Essex CV-9 to the flight deck itself. All the 20 mm Oerlikon guns are fixed in position on both the flight deck and the island of the aircraft carrier. The 40mm Bofors guns have been fixed as well.

I applied the decals on the flight deck, that is the reason you see the strange stain around the dotted white line, that’s from the gloss varnish. Anchors are placed in position with real anchor chains on the lower deck (no pictures yet, sorry). I fixed some other small details, but most important for me was the first weathering! that means we are getting somewhere, yay, cant wait to finish it finally som I can move on.

I never built a ship before, and thus never weathered a ship before. With the help of some good pics I found out that a lot of vertical streaks are seen on the USS Essex CV-9 Carrier, so I placed dots of oil on the hull and started sweeping down with a wide brush with white spirit.
I think the weathering came out pretty well, take in mind that I only did the vertical surfaces of the hull. I have to work to do the rest of the carrier.
Rust streaks are the next step on the hull, after that I will start weathering to the flight deck and everything above.

Here you see an overview picture of the weathered hull of the carrier:

Here is a better pic of the weathering

One more overview shot:

You can see the big difference between the weathered hull, island and the non weathered positions in front of the island.

Note the anchor

The last shot

Still a lot to do, but I am making progress 😛
Please let me know if you have any corrections or remark.

Regards,
Boris Kamp

[Boris KampKeymaster @boris-kamp]

This was the last part of the build log! The final result with an overview of all the build and final pictures can be seen here in my USS Essex CV-9 Showcase
I hope you guys enjoyed my build log, if you have any questions, feel free to ask and I’ll be happy to help you out!

[Anthony Fuentes @sprueman]

great work

[Boris KampKeymaster @boris-kamp]

Thanks Anthony (-:

[Author]

Posts