Should have done this sooner

[Deleted]

Apologies. This site has been a great source of information about the LBH. Should have introduced myself earlier rather than just jumping in.

Joined the Navy at 17 (parents had to sign back then), went through Nuclear Power School and served aboard Enterprise. Went on to capitalize on that training to retirement.

Interested in LBH since a child that enhanced by a brother who sent SOTMS to me in '84 as a gift. Been to the battlefield 3 times. First time was an eye opener, remember thinking then...how could this have happened?

Doubt I have anything to add but questions.

[quincannon]

I think that you have already contributed. Keep it up.

If you did not already know, Enterprise was decommissioned on 1 December 2012 and at present is a NOB Norfolk. She will eventually find her way to the Bremeton bone yard for old Nukes.

The good news is that on the day CV(N) 65 was decommissioned the SECNAV announced that CV(N) 80 the third in the Gerald R. Ford class, would carry the name Enterprise.

[Deleted]

Colonel,
Didn't know the Big E will have her name go on. Thanks! Technically (not important) she's inactive now and decommissioning will take place later. They have to cut out a load of stuff at Newport News including 8 reactor systems' materials. All carriers since the Enterprise have 2 because the E used proven sub nuc technology. She had a bad fire about 40 some years ago (got aboard her a few months later) and we spent time in the Tonkin Gulf then on to being a part of Task Force 71 close to Korea.. I could go on, but I'll spare you!!
Best,
c.

[quincannon]

I knew she was going to across Hampton Roads to Newport News to get about a years worth of work done. Surprised they are not going to do the removal of reactors at Bremmerton, where she will eventually go, because of the Nuke waste disposal facility at Hanford.

Half of my personal fleet of LA boats, I have over 25, are at, or were at, Bremmerton to eventually become radio active razor blades.

She is the second Big E I have seen in my lifetime, the first in Bayonne, and your's at Norfolk Navy Yard (Portsmouth). Hope I live long enough to see the third due out in 2027.

[Deleted]

Took this from the Big E website:

Q. Why is the ship being defueled in Newport News and towed all the way to Puget Sound for disposal? Why can’t the ship be defueled in Puget Sound? Why can’t the ship be disposed of by Newport News?

A. Inactivating the ship at HII-Newport News and disposing of it at PSNS&IMF is the most cost effective way to complete the inactivation and recycling. Some of the inactivation processes require specialized defueling equipment which is only available at HII NN. Additionally, only PSNS&IMF has the specialized equipment and expertise to package the reactor compartments for disposal and recycle the rest of the ship.

Hope I get to see the the next E also.
Best,
c.

[Deleted]

Forgot to ask:

What's an LA boat?
Best,
c.

[quincannon]

Los Angles Class attack sub. I have 10 Flight I's. Two more Flight Is on the workbench, 3 Flight IA's the VLS verson starting with Providence (these are also called 688VLS), and ten Flight II's starting with San Juan (also called the 688I's) I particularly like to build the LA Class boats whose namesakes were WWII era cruisers. The one exception is Hartford.

Another project I am working on is building the Virginia Class boats in the order they were commissioned. So far I have the first three VA, TX, and HI.

[Deleted]

"Los Angles Class attack sub"

(Smacking forehead with palm) Sheesh! Should have known right away, damn brain cramps. That's some collection, Colonel.
Best,
c.

[quincannon]

Just had an e-mail from a fellow ship modeler in the UK. He is doing ALL of the Arleigh Burke Class in 1/1250 scale. That gets a Burke at just under 5 inches. His work is magnigicent. He also builds masters for model companies to produce in a combination of resin (the basic mold) along with white metal and brass photo etch. He has a model of the floating drydock Los Alamos with a GW Class boomer in it that would knock your socks off. All this also in 1/1250 scale.

[Deleted]

Never got farther than building Tamiya 1/350 of Big E, New Jersey, Yamato, Bismarck and the Fletcher. Prior to those I made Hunley from pvc pipe and some wood blocks (looks a bit like the Hunley!). Most difficult part for me was getting the wood decks to look like wood on the battleships. Might try another some day but prices are a lot higher last time I looked.
Best,
c.

[quincannon]

There is a new Nimitz kit coming out very soon from Revell of Germany priced around $17 in 1/1200 scale that looks really good and with small mods could become 68-75. It is already available in Europe. Friends have built it. Comes out at around 11 inches long so it does not take up so much space.

That 1/350 Big E by Tamiya is now around $200. Revell has a beehive Big E(old kit but still in production) in 1/720 at around $25. Someone, one of the Chinese companies is soon coming out with Enterprise in 1/700 after its major refit. It will probably go around $90. If you ever want to get started again I can at least tell you what is out there. Storage space is always a problem, so while I have built some LA Boats in 1/350 most of mine are in 1/700. I also have a couple in 1/1250.-----------------C

[Deleted]

"If you ever want to get started again I can at least tell you what is out there."

Thank you. After I get my work bench cleared off (again), I may take you up on that. I prefer the larger models but space is, as you say, a problem.
Best,
c.