1:350 CVN-65 Enterprise PART I

CVN-65 Enterprise 1:350, large photo-etched set, part I

An extensive assembly of photo-etched parts intended for detailing a plastic model of the aircraft carrier CVN-65 Enterprise in 1:350 scale. The set is issued in two parts and this is the first; the second part deals with further parts of the ship. It is not a model of the ship but a collection of metal accessories that are fitted to a model in the course of a build.

Why photo-etched parts on large ship models

With ships in 1:350 scale a substantial part of the appearance is made up of features that are thin in reality: railings, ladders, platforms, radar antennas, gratings and stairways. Injected plastic cannot produce them in a matching thickness, and where it holds them at all they look coarse. Photo-etched sheet of hundredths of a millimeter solves the problem, and on a model of a ship this large it changes the overall impression more than any other measure. The extent of the particular package is printed on the packaging and drawn out in the instructions.

The real subject

USS Enterprise with the designation CVN-65 was the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. It was distinguished by the extraordinary length of its hull and, in the first years of its service, by an unusual angular island with flat antennas. It lasted decades in service and went through a number of refits, so its appearance changed markedly over time.

Working with the set and who it is for

• glue railings in longer stretches and place the joints at bulkheads
• degrease the photo-etched parts and spray them with primer while still on the fret
• use thin super glue in a minimum amount for gluing
• count on long work, as this is a build for many evenings
• the set is intended for experienced builders of ship models

This is a supplementary set for a kit, not a model in its own right. The kit, glue and paints are not included in the package.