By Richard Sliwka
1/350 USS Bogue CVE-9 (Iron Shipwrights)
This is the Commander Series Bogue kit released in 2006. I hadn't attempted a carrier so decided an escort carrier would be a good starting point. This was a relatively easy "build" with a few challenges. The first was the lack of detailed instructions--the kit provided a very basic one sheet diagram. I enlarged the Bogue Class drawing in Freidmann's U.S. Aircraft Carriers and used the photographs in Squadron's Escort Carriers as my basic references. The second challenge was the kit provided bass wood Nautilus Models flight deck--a different medium. I sealed the wood flight deck with Floquil Wood Sealer--it took a half bottle (1 oz.). Then I painted the sealed deck with Model Masters Flight Deck 21 Stain. It took 3-4 airbrushed coats to cover a dark natural grain in the wood; but, it finally worked.
Added flight deck details were the fore and aft safety railings and the underside catwalks scratch-built from various Special Shapes brass grid sheets. 004" dia. nylon thread was used for the arresting/barrier wires. The mast/yardarm was detailed with scratch-built antennae, bracing, lights, etc. The froward HF/DF mast/antenna was from GMM DE photo-etch set. Also, added were scratch-built 24" searchlights, rangefinders, spot lights, signal lamps, speakers, running lights, flight deck edge lift raft mounting frames etc. L'Arsenal 20mm guns, 40mm mounts, 5"38 open mounts mounts, 26' whaleboats, paravanes, and Mk 51 directors were added. The model was painted in the Measure 32/4a camouflage scheme (5-P, 5-L, 5-H and 5-N) using Floating Drydock sheets and photographs as reference. I attempted to reproduce the soft/over spray edges as the diagram/photos indicated. Flight deck markings/numbers were painted. All paints used were Model Master Marine acrylics. Trumpeter Wildcat and Avenger aircraft were used. The total time spent on this model was about 250 hours.
