I've finally pulled the trigger and ordered the Merit/I Love Kit Big E for my Hannukah gifty.
As I've probably mentioned before (ad nauseum), I want to build it in Midway configuration and I understand (thank you, Martin) that the kit depicts her as she appeared at Santa Cruz, with the exception of having TBDs instead of TBFs. So, I've spent some time comparing pictures of the kit parts and instructions sheets of the Yorktown and Enterprise kits online, as well as info from various online sources and my own referfences to come up with a list of changes I need to make. Happily, most (not all) of the parts from the Yorktown remain in the Big E kit, which makes things easier. Here's what I have so far (the steps refer to the Enterprise instructions.) Please feel free to comment if I have things wrong!
Step 1: drill out the open hatches in port and stbd quarters
Step 5: make 32 x 20mm guns, 4 x 1.1 inch quads (step 18), no 40mm. Unfortunatly, while the kit has enough 20mm guns, it does not have enough
photoetch gun shields. Happily, I have a GMM Hornet set to make up the deficiency.
Step 6: use part A7 instead of T5 & N9. Add two 20mm guns. This is the raised gun mount on the forecastle.
Step 9: use E3 and L52 on stbd quarter instead of E3 and T4. Do not trim E3. Use E2 and C1 on port quarter instead of E2 and T3. Do not trim E2.
PE-B27 instead of PE-E44. This substitutes two .50 cals instead of the four on the aft corners of the flight deck installed after Midway.
Step 10: cut 40mm tub off of S3 and director tub off of S10, fare them together. This is the trickiest part for me but I think I have it correct.
Step 16: DO NOT cut round down. Leave room for forward boat crane (see steps 26-27). This was removed after Midway but still there during that
battle. Again, GMM Hornet set to the rescue. DO NOT remove raised part of forward flight deck part W1 (the location for the 1.1 inch gun
mount.) DO NOT open hole just ahead of island for the 40mm quad gun mount. Open hole outboard of forward edge of midship elevator.
Step 18: do not make 40mm guns, tubs, directors. Make 4 x 1.1 in quads, parts P17, 18, and 19, tubs, and gun mounts, etc.
Step 20: Use only two .50 caliber guns P28 on aft corners of flight deck (one each side, see step 9). DO NOT add 40mm quad to stbd side aft gallery
or part N9. Use railings to clean area up where tubs were removed in step 10.
Step 21: DO NOT install Mk.4 radars (PE-E34, 35, 37, 38 & 39) on gun directors
Steps 26-27: Make forward boat crane from GMM Hornet set, add ahead of gun gallery outboard of island.
And here are the colors I believe are correct for Midway from the various sources I've studied:
All vertical surfaces: 5-S Sea Blue (I know, still controversial, but I think based on the evidence the most likely color)
Flight deck: Norfolk 250-N stain. No elevator surrounds; yellow dashes, straight lines, center line only extending to just aft of midship elevator. I have
the Starfighter decals for this.
All external steel decks: 20-B Deck Blue (as well as metal areas on flight deck such as tie downs, surrounds of elevators and deck? This would mean
a lot of maskng, but would make a nice subtle contrast)
Hangar deck: #20 Standard Deck Gray
Hangar bay bulkheads & overheads: white
Radar antennae: metallic (steel?) with a glossy varnish
Sorry for the huge post, but this forum seems to have the best answers that I've found anywhere, and I really appreciate everyone's feedback! I'd like to get this as correct as possible, so I figured this was the place to go. Thanks again for all the info over the years and any help you can give me now that I'm about to take the plunge!
Michael