1:350th USS Enterprise CVN 65 by Fred Heil (Tamiya)

USS Enterprise
CVN-65
Nuclear Powered Aircraft Carrier
(Tamiya 1:350 Scale Kit)
Built by Fred Heil
Photographed by Peter Chow

Fred Heil writes:
"I completed my Enterprise about 5 years ago, even though I started it soon after the 1:350th Tamiya kit first came out. Every now and then over the years, I would remove the display case and do some additional updating of my (never really completed project). My Enterprise has about 1000 hours in it. I have rebuilt it several times, upgrading her with GMM photo etch, and most recently GHQ a/c weapons sets as supplements to my scratchbuilt weapons. Her uniqueness comes from the hand carved figures made from Plastistruct rods.

However, I did declare it COMPLETED about 5 years ago. I took it down at that time to the Blue Angels Modelfest held at the United States Naval Aviation & Space Museum. She won 1st in Ships, Peoples Choice - Most Popular Award, and The Museum Director's Award. In winning the Museum Director's Award, the model was committed to being put on display in the front lobby of the Museum for one year, till the next contest. At that time, I officially retired her as "finally finished".