1/700 Korean War Bon Homme Richard (CV-31)

Started by Michael Smith · 14 · 3 months ago · 1/700, Bon Homme Richard, CV-31, Dragon, Korea
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    Michael Smith said 4 months, 1 week ago:


    Next project - a 1/700 Korean War Bon Homme Richard (CV-31). I’ve built this kit before as a 1945 BHR - now going to do it as a 1952 (second tour in Korea) to show how far the original configuration went as an attack carrier before going in the yard the next year for its SCB-27C/SCB-125 modernization. So should be “mostly” out of the box.

    2 additional images. Click to enlarge.

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    John vd Biggelaar said 4 months, 1 week ago:

    This is a nice subject, Michael @mcsmith1964
    Looks quite challenging to me but I'm sure you will tackle it with your skills.

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    Carl Smoot said 4 months, 1 week ago:

    With my first ship build still under construction, I am now understanding just how different these are from aircraft models. Mine is 1/350 and that's small enough. 1/700 scale is really small. My hats off to you for doing these kits. I would like to do a carrier someday.

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    Spiros Pendedekas said 4 months, 1 week ago:

    Excellent entry, my friend @mcsmith1964! Looking forward to it!

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    Michael Smith said 4 months, 1 week ago:


    Good first day on CV-31 ‘52. Steps 1-5 finished, most of 6 and some of 7. In other words, the hull is almost complete (including decals and 40mm mounts) and the island, complete with clear bridge windows, is about half done on its little stand. Hull paintwork done, including black boot topping.
    As you can tell I’ve pulled out CV-31 ‘45 for reference purposes.

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    Spiros Pendedekas said 4 months, 1 week ago:

    Excellent progress, my friend @mcsmith1964!

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    John vd Biggelaar said 4 months, 1 week ago:

    Really good progress, Michael @mcsmith1964

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    Michael Smith said 4 months ago:

    Finished the prep work to attach the flight deck. That meant cutting some the flight deck catwalks off and otherwise tweaking the flight deck and hull to make the two mate better.

    Also added the hangar detailing for the lowered elevator #3, relying heavily on drawings in the Roberts "Anatomy of the Ship - Intrepid" and this photo of the Boxer (CV-21).

    The drawings helped me scale the walls, set the walls back the appropriate distance and add the small observation platforms - and add the curtain walls that I'd never noticed were there.

    It's a bit more accurate from the last time I did a lowered #3 ... in 1993!

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    Spiros Pendedekas said 4 months ago:

    Great job so far, my friend @mcsmith1964! Nice scaling of the walls!

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    John vd Biggelaar said 4 months ago:

    This looks really good, Michael @mcsmith1964

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    Michael Smith said 3 months, 2 weeks ago:


    Hull joint more or less done. Deck striping going down. Fortunate to have several good color photos of flight deck activity on CV-31 off Korea in 1952 so I can get the deck markings correct.

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    Spiros Pendedekas said 3 months, 2 weeks ago:

    Coming along nicely, my friend @mcsmith1964!

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    George R Blair Jr said 3 months, 2 weeks ago:

    Carriers are always a complex build, Michael (@mcsmith1964), especially when you scratchbuild missing structure to make it more accurate. Looking good.

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    John vd Biggelaar said 3 months, 2 weeks ago:

    Some nice progress, Michael @mcsmith1964