HMCS Bonaventure in 1/350 scale . . . . (Completed 01 Apr 08)

[lastvautour]

HMCS Bonaventure CVL 22 was started 16 Jan 08. Anticipated going down the slip ??
Much more to come.

Canadair Tracker 880 Squadron aboard HMCS Bonaventure circa mid 1960s

http://smm.solidmodelmemories.net/Gallery/displayimage.php?album=32&pos=17

After twenty attempts to get a clear photo I quit. I will try one in sunlight tomorrow.

[lastvautour]

A slightly better shot of the tiny Tracker and the forward section of the HMCS Bonaventure flightdeck.


http://smm.solidmodelmemories.net/Gallery/displayimage.php?album=32&pos=18

[Ken Pugh]

Lou,

Look's like you are hooked on these little carriers with planes on the flight deck.  Can't wait to build one myself.

Ken Pugh

[lastvautour]

Ken, carriers are getting to me. I like the combination of ship and aircraft although the aircraft are rather small. I have an updated photo after I reset the camera to its original factory settings.

http://smm.solidmodelmemories.net/Gallery/displayimage.php?album=32&pos=20
Next to the 50th anniversary commemorative Victory Nickel issued a few years ago, the Royal Canadian Navy CP121 Canadair Tracker(pre-1968) shows its relative size. I am considering ordering decals rather than making them myself at this small scale. The top side will be close to gunship grey and the lower/bottom will be light ocean grey. That will provide quite a contrast. I have glued the wood pieces for the flight deck and have to pass it through the planer to reduce it to 1/8 inch thickness followed by cutting out the outline. The photo above shows the colour scheme of the deck which happens to be quite colourful compared to my USS Enterprise ID model.

[Oceaneer99]

Wow, that's amazing, Lou.  that's a neat color scheme on the Dauntless.

[lastvautour]

Garet, the Dauntless will remain a one of a kind as the colourful finish does not fit with the "ID grey" USS Enterprise.

[lastvautour]

Progress is forthcoming on HMCS Bonaventure. I neglected to take early photos showing the laminated hull. Much like all other laminated projects, it is easier to cut the individual pieces and then glue and trim to shape.

http://smm.solidmodelmemories.net/Gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-498

http://smm.solidmodelmemories.net/Gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-497

[lastvautour]

Main mast comprises of 106 pieces not including the communication's array.

Defensive armament comprises of 4 X  3" twin guns and 8 X 20 mm Boffors

[Oceaneer99]

Lou,

Impressive!  That is a lot of toothpicks.  I see we use the same brand of English chisels.  Also, I noticed that you have a gouge on the bench.  I've read a number of articles about building wooden ships in which the author used a gouge almost exclusively when carving the outside of the hull.  To be honest, I don't own a gouge.  How do you use yours?

Garet

[lastvautour]

Garet, I use my Marple Sheffield gouge exactly as you mentioned, for the outside of the hull.  I frequently use a rubber mallet and hand pressure when I get close to the concave shape I want.  I also have a smaller one for finer shaping.  As to the mast, the structure is cut from my a piece of baseboards which was planned down to .5mm +-. I then used my steel ruler to scribe out .5mm X .5 mm struts. Not all pieces came out exact, so some are slightly fatter than others, but a final outer sanding will even things out. 

[lastvautour]

A few more build photos.

http://smm.solidmodelmemories.net/Gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-693
The Bonnie did not shrink. It was a quiet resting place for the near complete masts

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The island support and gun emplacement are test fitted.

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A demo on where I used my gouge chisel

[Oceaneer99]

Lou,

Ah, yes, now I see what you mean about the gouge.

Garet

[lastvautour]

The shipyard is in full swing. Gun emplacements, island support, life raft station are attached and await putty work to fill the minor gaps. I am quite please with the results so far. USS Enterprise taught me a lot.

http://smm.solidmodelmemories.net/Gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-717

[lastvautour]

http://smm.solidmodelmemories.net/Gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-726
A closer look at the HO4S ready for decals. I think I will purchase these decals also once I see what quality the Tracker decals I ordered. These are just to small to be fooling around with on my printer. A 1/350 decal sheet with serial numbers of my choosing is only $6.00 CDN. + shipping of course.

[lastvautour]

Tracker decals have been received and HO4S decals on order.  Did most of the cutting at last night's darts.

http://smm.solidmodelmemories.net/Gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-759
I love this time of construction where thing look great and the imagination and inspiration are running wild.