Hobby Boss USS Ticonderoga CG-47

[Ettienne]

The USS Ticonderoga (CG-47) was the lead ship of the Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruisers, commissioned in 1983 and decommissioned in 2004. Nicknamed "Tico", she was the first U.S. Navy combatant to feature the Aegis combat system, a revolutionary radar and missile guidance technology that allowed simultaneous tracking and engagement of multiple aerial threats.
Originally ordered as a destroyer, her design was upgraded to cruiser status, incorporating capabilities from the cancelled Strike Cruiser program. She served in key operations including Desert Storm, and later shifted to counternarcotics patrols in the Caribbean. (This with a little help from my friends ... AI)

Today I have decided that I need to get my hands on a ship model again. Even if it means fitting the build in-between working on some scale figures. I do like the small scale ship models. From the stash came Hobby Boss's USS Ticonderoga 1: 1250 scale.
Now, to be quite frank, I do not particularly like the HB ship kits that much. You always end up with a significant joint between the upper hull/deck part and the lower hull part. And it really takes some effort to clean it up properly without removing detail.
So I have fitted the two parts with the obligatory "bad joint". Now it needs to settle and the cement to dry. I will work on the joint tomorrow.

 

[Bryian]

Wow, that’s a tiny scale.

 

[Ettienne]

Wow, that’s a tiny scale.

Tiny indeed. On closer inspection of the little kit, I was actually quite surprised about all the detail HB could get on the kit. And now that I have added some superstructure it looks quite decent. But I am still minding the gaps.

 

[MisterCA]

Why so small?

 

[Ettienne]

Why so small?

Various reasons I suppose. Severe limited space to desplay larger models for one and and an over develped interest in small and braille scale models.

 

[Ettienne]

I need t be very careful here. I may just start to like building these small ships. The joint is obscured currently by the masking tape. It is still visible, but better and may be camouflaged by the boot line - if I can manage to get that on this small sclae model. The other parts went on reasonably well but some parts needed some work to slot in well into their alloted places and spaces. And I have lost the aft gun and had to replace it with a gun from her sister ship the USS Vincennes. Only to discover the lost part a day later in one of my slippers. So, now both kits are complete. What is ahead? The painting still needs to be completed, plus some weathering. I am thinking of putting her on a small scenic base. Will be my second attempt to replicate the sea. There is a lot of sweat, anxiety and fun involved in working on these very small scales. But I must add, the detail is quite impressive.

 

[Kiwi]

I don't usually like the more modern ships but this one has a nice profile. Good work, Ettienne.
Cheers - Karl

 

[Ettienne]

Thank you Karl for your kind words. She is turning out quite nicely. will add pictures soon.

 

[Ettienne]

The journey with this braille scal ship is nearing it's end. Besides a few fitting problems, I have found it a quite enjoyable build. I have experienced my last frustration when adding the decals. My mistake was that I did not add the guns and missile launches AFTER the application of the decals. So ... I had to fit little wet circles over some of the guns and missile lanchers. Now that was fun!! So ... after many harsh words and a few beers they went on. The decals aft are too large as well, or perhaps they were just right. But I will not know that after some beers - point is theay are where they are suppose to be. I still need to add the screws and do some light weathering on the lower part of the hull. Her sister ship is also on the work bench ... CG-49 USS Vincennes.