Building the USS Bunker Hill Aircraft Carrier
Nautical details like port holes, hatches and fire hoses added realistic detail. The large white board with small Japanese flags shows the number of enemy planes shot down by the Bunker Hills pilots.
IMG_1987
Detailing the main deck with a converted AA gun and a wind speed indicator from Harbour hobbies.
IMG_1981
IMG_1980
IMG_1979
The original set up before converting from the Enterprise to the Bunker Hill’s 12 length by adding fore and aft deck sections and adding more details.
The metal elevator covers that bring the planes up from the lower decks are plastic Evergreen pieces cut to shape. I used a T-square and tape to carefully lay out the stripping before painting the deck over a base coat of grey primer.
The 2 corsairs and ground crew are from King and Country. The # 6 identifies the USS enterprise, which was my original design, which I changed later to reflect the USS Bunker Hill for my client
The crane is a converted toy I found on line. The anti aircraft guns are plastic kits, and the deck railings were made from brass strips I soldered together in a jig I made.
The radar tower is made from Evergreen plastic strips, and the radar made from bent screen . The signal flags were found on line,
Painting and detailing complete. I built the 4’ deck using Midwest products 3 x 24” basswood flooring over a foam insulation board foundation, which perfectly depicted the wood planks laid over steel decking used on WWII carriers.
The decks were constructed from foam core board and each corner was carved with a V-shaped tool before carefully bending to get the right shape. White Elmers glue was used to attach everything together.
Portholes and water proof hatches from Harbour hobbies and paint can caps for smokestacks add detail on the large project.
Coming together as the glue dries
The operations “island” is almost complete and ready for detailing and paint. I continually assemble the parts as they are completed to insure visual continuity.
The basic shape of the carriers “island” is completed. The tower is from an old Lionel train light platform bought on ebay. The 2 smoke stacks are spray paint caps.
The interior was reinforced with pink foam insulation to support the rigid shape of the operations “Island”.
Construction of the “Island” as the pieces are continually dry fitted to insure the visual perspective
On a 40” square piece of black foam board,.I sketched out a continuous front and both port and starboard sides of the main structure to minimize gluing situations. Using a V-shaped cutting tool, I carefully cut groves and bent each corner, and then reinforced with Bass wood for strength. I also built in slots for the observation decks to slide into the main structure,
Get In Touch!
952-283-9109
epatrickgallagher@gmail.com