Building Italeri's USS Essex CV-9

Building Italeri's 1/700 scale USS Essex from the World of Warships line, from start to finish.
The video covers construction, painting and weathering.
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Paints used:
Vallejo Model Air White
Vallejo Model Air Blacv
Vallejo Model Air White Grey 71.119
Vallejo Model Air Med Sea Grey 71.307
Vallejo Model Air Sea Grey 71.049
Vallejo Model Air Light Gull Grey 71.121
Vallejo Model Air USAF Light Blue 71.111
Vallejo Model Air Gold 71.066
Vallejo Model Air Fire Red 71.084
Vallejo Model Air Dirt 71.133

[@modelchili]

Shop at HobbyLink Japan and support the channel's future content by using my affiliate link: www.hlj.com/search/?q=uss+essex&

[@modelchili]

This is my longest build video by far! I had an hour and a half of good footage, and after some community input I decided to leave most of it in, at the risk of making it less appealing to casual viewers. So this is going to be more of a relaxed, leisurely build where I take the time to show you some of the processes and work that goes into making a kit of this detail. So I hope you enjoy!

[@sandychu4245]

we love it!

[@maxbrandt6]

You've done a fine job.

[@ryansta]

Nice build, it looked a difficult kit with a few rough edges which you managed really well with a good looking end result. Must admit watching you put those decals on was tense. Thanks for posting

[@modelchili]

Thanks! Decals are always fun. 😁

[@modelchili]

Cheers!

[@christophersnyder1532]

I also own this Trumpeter model of USS Essex CV-9, and will build Essex as how she appeared at Leyte Gulf in October 1944. This video will be a great help in preparing my model. This video will also be a great distraction from this virus. Thank you, keep healthy.

[@modelchili]

Thanks! I'm glad it helped. 😁

[@SkyscraperModels]

At that little scale is very difficult to do so many details and you have done it. Amazing job!!

[@modelchili]

Thank you so much 😀

[@poeo5557]

Thank you for sharing, excellent work! Stay safe! You are lucky to be in such a beautiful country, and you have a smart prime minister too!

[@modelchili]

Haha we do our best. :) Thanks for watching!

[@AvengerII]

This ship was the lead ship of the Essex Class of aircraft carriers which were the backbone of the US Navy carrier forces from the mid-1940s to the early 1970s. The Essex (CV-9) itself was modernized in the 1950s and fitted with an angle deck. It was the recovery ship for the Apollo 7 mission in 1968. It was decommissioned in 1969 and spent about 6 years in mothballs before it was sold for scrap in 1975. There is a successor to this ship serving in the US Navy now. It's a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship (hull LHD-2) which is a fancy name for helicarrier/VSTOL operations warship. It's a really a modernized Essex-class ship with a landing craft hangar in the rear. It really does look like a World War II carrier! One huge difference is that the amphibious assault ship does not have catapults or arresting gear on it. It's a straight deck ship but lacks the ski jump British carriers have built into their bow. Right now, this Essex bases helicopters and F-35Bs which have been used in Afghanistan.

[@AvengerII]

Oh, and 4 of these Essex-class ships are preserved as museum in the US. They're remarkably all low-numbered, all "short-hull" ships. They are USS Yorktown (CV-10, namesake of the USS Yorktown CV-5), USS Intrepid (CV-11), USS Hornet (CV-12, namesake of the USS Hornet CV-8), and USS Lexington (CV-16, namesake of the US Lexington CV-2). The Lexington served the longest of an Essex-class ship. Excepting 8 years (1947-1955) when she was in reserve, she served 40 years as an active duty ship and training carrier (1962-1991) but was not a frontline-serving carrier/technically active-duty after the end of 1962. A fifth ship, the Oriskany, the last ACTIVE-DUTY Essex-class carrier (decommissioned 1976), was sunk as an artificial reef in the Gulf of Mexico about 24 miles south of Pensacola, Florida in 2006.

[@modelchili]

Thanks for the background. 🙂

[@AvengerII]

@@modelchili You're welcome! Up until the late 1960s, they had a few of these Essex class ships still close to their original configuration -- they got modernized electronics and radar but didn't get the angled deck. 2 of them, the most heavily damaged pair (Bunker Hill and the Franklin), were in authentic World War II configuration since they were never recommissioned even after full repairs, and they looked pretty much like that model you built. Bunker Hill and Franklin remained as test ships or in ready reserve until they were taken off the naval registry and offered for scrap. Unfortunately, the public sentiment wasn't there to save those ships yet and a lot of them (about half the number built) were scrapped by the mid-1970s. The average wear age was 20-25 years for these ships so they were pretty well used.

[@arneldobumatay3702]

@@AvengerII The U.S. Hornet CV-12 is docked near Oakland, CA., about 40 minutes from me. It's on my bucket list.

[@welcometowherever7475]

Arneldo Bumatay Hornet is a great ship to visit. It’s worth the drive in my opinion

[@Andrew-se4tg]

Awesome job man, she's beautiful!

[@modelchili]

Thank you!

[@lukealmighty8828]

When you was cutting that first wing I really thought you were going to say "actually no we are not doing that" lol fantastic effort!!

[@paulgertsch7105]

Turned out awesome 👍

[@modelchili]

Cheers!

[@SteveJonesScaleModellingSite]

An outstanding build. The weathering on the deck is spot on for me. Gotta just luv those planes. Great stuff

[@JamesSavik]

The Essex class was the most successful class of capital ships in history. There was something like 25 of them and their appearance in numbers eclipsed the Imperial Japanese Navy in the Pacific. They were a war winner. They served well into the seventies and had the first angled flight decks added as refits in the fifties. Essex herself recovered the Apollo 11 moon mission. Read a little of the history of this class ship because they made a ton of it! Thankfully several still exist as museum ships and are well worth the effort of visiting. Great build of a grand old lady.

[@modelchili]

Cheers! Yeah they were impressive ships with a big history. :)

[@maxwellhohensee9787]

I am in awe.

[@dezinguy]

Absolutely IMPRESSIVE!!!

[@modelchili]

Thanks!

[@TheMozerfok]

This is a GLORIOUS build!

[@modelchili]

Thank you!

[@tjmmodelcraft8486]

Nice kit. Great job straight outta the box. I really like the way you weathered her too.

[@modelchili]

Thank you!

[@joephelan5427]

Outstanding job! Thanks for sharing.

[@modelchili]

Thanks for watching!

[@williammullenholz431]

Whoa! Outstanding! Beautiful job on the aircraft,

[@modelchili]

Thank you!

[@itjustjuan5148]

Can't wait for it!

[@user-fn2ov5bm2e]

I love this video. Always a pleasure to welcome.

[@modelchili]

Thank you!

[@leozemke9445]

WOW, please bring the Essex class back.

[@CAPNMAC82]

One of the things that anoys me about WoW is that WWII USN ships had dark blue decks--the color of the deep Pacific ocean (20B using the paint code of the time). The wooden decks were stained a color to match 20B whether on carriers or battleships and the like. In addition, there were easily a half-dozen camouflage schemes used in just the Pacific alone. And, WoW glosse over those schemes. This model does accurately portray the vessel as rendered in WoW, though.

[@ILSRWY4]

they were painted Measure 32 or 22

[@CAPNMAC82]

@@ILSRWY4 Deck Blue 20B, stain or paint was a constant, universal to all measures, excepting only the Ambib "green" schemes, and the Post War Haze Gray, which used Deck Gray. The entire intention was to make the horizontal surfaces as dark as the surface of the sea as possible.

[@SCSuperheavy114]

She looks great! Nice job with the weathering!

[@modelchili]

Thank you so much 😀

[@SGusky]

Simply beautiful

[@ThatGuy-vw6gc]

She’s beautiful. A very good job you did.

[@modelchili]

Thank you!

[@esanjuan212]

Love your videos and modeling style! Really happy for the content you put out! Stay safe!

[@modelchili]

Thank you very much!

[@lucas_810]

If you’re up for another 1:350 ship, it would be interesting to see CV-1 USS Langley from Trumpeter.

[@TheBlueberry606]

Amazing, great job

[@modelchili]

Thanks!

[@RedwihteGame]

Beautiful!

[@modelchili]

Thank you!

[@jasoncowley4718]

Time to grab a cuppa, kick back and enjoy your build.

[@modelchili]

Hope you enjoy!

[@Dahaas2003]

VERY Cool. Thanks for making this video. I intend to use it as a guide when I build mine, which I intend as a gift for a friend. So your tips and guidance is very, very, helpful. You did an amazing job. Happy Holidays!

[@modelchili]

Thank you, I'm glad it'll be helpful!

[@keithwhisman]

There has to be a way of adding tin can affects from the hull plating getting pushed in by the waves. Most battle ships and aircraft carriers look beat up on the hull from the ocean waves. I forget what the technical term for it was called.

[@Waynebrown_16]

Looks really good

[@modelchili]

Thanks!

[@chevilla7010]

Good build. I liked the touch of the decals on the planes, great touch. Also good to see your ok health wise.

[@modelchili]

Thanks!

[@C.Brown5150]

Very nice work. Great ship.

[@modelchili]

Thank you!

[@JJModelMaking]

Great work Sam!

[@modelchili]

Cheers JJ!

[@MFD541]

Excellent Art work!!

[@modelchili]

Thank you so much 😀

[@wargodsix]

Omg the decals for the planes

[@ARTPLA]

Very nice !

[@modelchili]

Thanks!

[@paulkevinkoehler9490]

Very nice 😎

[@isfj1009]

Aside from that side gap, not too shabby!

[@Nortonius_]

Congrats on 50K!

[@modelchili]

Thank you!!

[@sebaer82]

I like it!! Much more better then my first try :-(

[@garethmcclorey224]

This is a great build you should definitely do more aircraft carriers

[@modelchili]

Cheers!

[@BigFred1925]

Wow!!

[@Boomax-rr5fk]

Yeah, I usually find that with the classic case of the deck that won't squeeze into the groove, the best course of action is to snap it in as best you can, glue it, and then weigh it down without crushing or breaking anything. I've had even Tamiya kits do that, seems very common.

[@modelchili]

Yeah it's a bit of a pain but not too difficult to fix.

[@piloto5248]

Job well done mate

[@modelchili]

Cheers!

[@superlee091]

I am in NZ too. Nice video!

[@modelchili]

Cool, thanks!

[@santaklaus2489]

Nice job.

[@modelchili]

Thanks!

[@Mishn0]

I built the Dragon USS Princeton (Essex class) about a year ago. It's in a late '50s fit out so I didn't have to worry about any of the 20mm and only a few of the 40mm mounts but I made up for it by using the Tom's Modelworks PE set. Talk about tiny pieces...

[@michaelbenjmitchell1]

Princeton wasn't a Essex class it was a escort carrier.

[@Mishn0]

@@michaelbenjmitchell1 Different Princeton. After the escort carrier Princeton, CVL-23 was sunk at Leyte Gulf in 1944, an Essex class carrier CV-37 was given the name. Launched in July of '45 and commissioned in November. She was later converted to anti-submarine duties as CVS-37 and finally as an amphibious assault carrier as LPH-5.

[@dimmiheev2542]

perfectly

[@TheMiddlePickup]

Was holding my breath during decals

[@modelchili]

Hold steady!

[@wargodsix]

Nice how they have that brand should be a line they continue it be a huge collectors item I’d get a few warplanes and tanks that I like maybe ships

[@schmedly014]

I think I would have done the flight deck in wood , I am working on an essex and did mine in MS 13 ( two tone blue ) . schmedly , as always , Head Up , Eyes Out and ( First Point Of Contact ) In The Grass .

[@mulderx2525]

very beautiful model. i would have add a taking off plane like in the poster. maybe using a fiber optic string from the deck to the plane .

[@modelchili]

Thanks! Nice idea. :)

[@hevendor958]

i had the same hall problem with the Trumpeter kit

[@sir_gay5053]

👍👍

[@crazywarriorscatfan9061]

I did the Yorktown (cv-10) by trumpeter and it took me forever to get used to the tiny parts on that ship

[@diamondcreepah3210]

try the Flyhawk Bismarck

[@WWLab]

Yes & VIDEO PRIM `` thx

[@alanrogers7090]

I was amazed by your excellence at model building and painting. That said, I'm wondering why you didn't paint the guns on the ship as leaving them grey doesn't seem right. After all, the color "gunmetal' has a name for a reason. Even black would probably have been "good enough".

[@modelchili]

Thanks! Ah it's just one of those things I didn't think to do.

[@argonaut1462]

Nice job I will definitely use this video as a guide for building my model ships! At 29:35 how long have you waited for decals to dry, before you applied micro sol ?

[@jelenasimic5879]

Omggggggggggggg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@joshuariddensdale2126]

I primarily build battleships in 1:700 scale. My only 1:350 scale is Massachusetts. Just as all my plane models are 1:72.

[@leongchoyip4837]

💪👏❤️

[@alexanderdavis25]

“Cheers to 4 weeks in lock down” I remember lock down it sucked cus I was grounded for half the time lol besides that nice model where can you get one?

[@JDsHouseofHobbies]

I have a few 1/700 ship kits most of ships from Kancolle and Arpeggio of Blue Steel anime series. If I'm going to build ships, they'll be cute ships. lol

[@fastboy5557]

Awesome job bro! Do you take requests? If so, can you do Captain Rex?

[@brianmcdonald5009]

Have you planned for the USS Enterprise CV-6 revell model kit.

[@i_am_not_a_spy27]

Good job on the model but although you said that 2004 is old what about the old airfix models from the 60s

[@modelchili]

Yep they're pretty old.

[@yourordinarypotato6753]

Could you tell me what glue you glued on the propeller and landing gear

[@modelchili]

Tamiya Extra Thin

[@Captainarkan]

I just know how to build ships like that

[@yourordinarypotato6753]

what is the tamiya prime for and don't mind me cause I am beginner to model kits like this

[@modelchili]

The primer helps the paint stick to the model better, it also creates a nice even grey surface that makes any blemishes stand out more.

[@yourordinarypotato6753]

@@modelchili wow okay thank you very much for that info i thought its like coating paint like adding layers. and nice model kit its amazing

[@gianpaolopalumbo8161]

hello, where did you find the decals of the planes

[@modelchili]

They were from a spare kit of the Tamiya USS Enterprise.

[@gianpaolopalumbo8161]

@@modelchili pity, I thought you could buy it separately. Thank you.

[@USAPatriotGamer]

I'm still sad that they took the Essex out of World of Warships because of the aircraft carrier rework. I'll miss her.

[@0_169]

Did anyone use that code?

[@modelchili]

Not that I know of!

[@Natalie-em7sk]

The hellcats wings were fixed position, and it kinda triggers me as a history buff to see you do that to the wings. Anyway awesome work as usual, love your vids and hope that one day I’ll be as good as you. Btw this was not meant to be rude I was just trying to inform people

[@modelchili]

Hmm you sure? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_F6F_Hellcat#/media/File:Ray_Wagner_Collection_Image_(16156795450).jpg

[@Natalie-em7sk]

@@modelchili sorry man guess I got it wrong, thanks for correcting me

[@benquinney2]

Essex Nimitz

[@edwinofnorthumbria2511]

Using plastic tubed cotton buds for wiping off paint is like using silk for toilet paper.

[@soundwavesuguremashita1608]

sad she is not in the game anymore

[@trallfraz]

flight deck not fitting to the hull........you probably shouldn't have sanded down some of the hull!!!

[@usswasp6530]

why you share.... wtf

[@modelchili]

wtfomglol!

[@Captainarkan]

I just know how to build ships like that