Calling all Essex-class (Cold War configuration) fans

[Rob-UK]

I've just received the new Photo Etch sets 1 to 5 for 1:350 CV-11 USS Intrepid, from Eduard - the quality and comprehensive quantity of parts in all 5 sets looks very good. I assume a review will come out at some point soon, but anyone looking for a P.E. upgrade set, from first appearance I would highly recommend these sets (not fitted anything yet, this just from first viewing, but have used Eduard sets before and have every confidence in the fit).

[William Smallshaw]

Hobby Search is advertising a 1/700 scale USS Intrepid from Trumpeter for pre-order. Supposed release date of �late� April 2022. Not one to hold my breath on advertised kit releases, this one would be a very welcome release.

[Timmy C]

Hobby Search is advertising a 1/700 scale USS Intrepid from Trumpeter for pre-order. Supposed release date of �late� April 2022. Not one to hold my breath on advertised kit releases, this one would be a very welcome release.

It's actually already released. It's under Hobby Search's "New" tab rather than "Reserve" tab, which means they have already received the initial stocks. It's currently listed with a stock status of "Back-order" because those initial stocks are sold out.

[Michael Smith]

I am starting a kitbash of a Trumpeter Ticonderoga (CV-14) into a 1969 Hornet (CVS-12) and wanted to pass along something I discovered in my research.
Obviously Hornet is a flat-front hurricane bow ship, and the ones I have modeled before were rounded-bow. When I was comparing the booklets of general plans for Essex and Hornet, I discovered something. The forecastle of Essex - a rounded bow ship - extended almost to frame G. The same plan for Hornet the forecastle ends at not quite frame F, and presents a noticeably flatter bow. The Hornet plans don't have a profile, but if you plot the flat front and set the forecastle deck back a frame (see attachments) you get a noticeably different profile. And all of a sudden the difference between the two subtypes is a lot clearer. It's not just the flat front - it's the long straight "neck" and flatter bow compared to the rounded bow ships.
I am assuming that all the SCB-27A/C ships got the wartime long hull if they didn't already have it - and this trimming back was something that was done to the later SCB-27A/C ships when they received their hurricane bows to further address the slamming issue from the flared "long hull" bows. I was wondering if anyone had a source that specifically addressed this. Or tied the flat front configuration to the truncated forecastle deck?
I saw one post that indicated that it might have had something to do with the secondary conn, and that actually makes sense now. The "rounded bow" ships essentially rose vertically from the froward tip of the forecastle, so there was no need for a flat surface - it was already essentially flat. But the flat front ships' forecastle deck ended about four feet aft of the front of the secondary conn. So the flat front would have served the practical purpose of maximizing the deck space of the secondary conn, adding a knuckle underneath the compartment.

[ModelMonkey]

SCB bows do make for a very interesting discussion and as you pointed out, they were not all the same. Tracy White may have some information on how Hornet's bow was altered and why it is differently shaped from Essex, Intrepid and other ships of the class.

The Navsource photos below show Lexington receiving her new hurricane bow. Note that a very large portion the original bow was cut away. The original open space between the forecastle and the flight deck was not simply plated over, the existing bow was in fact replaced. Two entirely new bow sections were created on shore then attached to the ship. Yard photos call these new structures "Section No.1" and "Section No.2". The two sections are essentially (1) an extension of the hull and (2) a rounded cap. The first photo shows the new bow extension being fit to the hull. The next three photos show the rounded cap. The extension was attached to the hull and the cap was attached to the extension, completing the enclosure (fifth photo).

Compare Lexington's bow to Hornet, Intrepid and Yorktown (last three photos). All of these ships are "short-hull" Essex class carriers, yet their new bows are all different to some degree.

[William Smallshaw]

A number of years ago Ray Bean did an excellent article for The magazine Plastic Ship Modeler which identified the different bow shapes of the SCB-27C ships. I still have the article and would post it but I believe Ray has a copywrite on the material. We might be able to convince Ray to post the drawings he did.

[Michael Smith]

Which PSM issue is it in? I subscribed late in their run, but see some are available on eBay.

[domi13]

Hi Michael,

Which PSM issue is it in? I subscribed late in their run, but see some are available on eBay.

According to
viewtopic.php?f=59&t=18158&hilit=Carrie ... &start=420
should be issues 18, 19 and 20.

Regards,
domi13

[Woodstock74]

Do I understand correctly that the cold-war Essexs were updated to 4 x 5-blade screws?

[Woodstock74]

I found this of CV-38:

https://www.reddit.com/r/WarshipPorn/co ... _four_uss/

[Navy2000]

Need info on the two 40 mm gun tubs on the port side aft of the elevator and forward of the open 5 inch guns. They are slightly below the catwalks. Any photos or good drawing info will help. This is for a 1/96 scale model. I am not sure if they are attached to the hull or to the flight deck overhang or a combination of both.

Also would the anchors be painted the same color as the hull is: example if the hull is Navy Blue then the anchor is Navy Blue and if it is Ocean gray then the anchor is the same.


Thanks
Duane

[Dick J]

Need info on the two 40 mm gun tubs on the port side aft of the elevator and forward of the open 5 inch guns. They are slightly below the catwalks. Any photos or good drawing info will help. This is for a 1/96 scale model. I am not sure if they are attached to the hull or to the flight deck overhang or a combination of both.

https://www.navsource.org/archives/02/021769.jpg
https://www.navsource.org/archives/02/021099.jpg
https://www.navsource.org/archives/02/0211an.jpg
The photos aren't great, but show that the supports angled back to the hangar side. They were not supported by struts down to the hangar level as the cold-war era 3" twin mount tub were, though.

[Michael Smith]

On the port side 40mm quads during the war, I believe it depends on the ship and the time. I think later ships., and ships after 1945 refits (Franklin) had the 40mm quads mounted lower than they were initially. So there are two levels, and which your ship had depends on which time period you're talking about.
I am assuming this was for stability - they were lowering mounts to try to make the ships less top-heavy. But I have not seen any specific discussion of this. Just noticed - and this is specific to CV-13 - that the mounts on the port side were lower when she came out of the refit than they had been. (Some may have been new but were mounted lower than the older ships).

[Navy2000]

are you talking about ww2 carriers or post ww2?

WW II time frame.

Duane

[Navy2000]

On the port side 40mm quads during the war, I believe it depends on the ship and the time. I think later ships., and ships after 1945 refits (Franklin) had the 40mm quads mounted lower than they were initially. So there are two levels, and which your ship had depends on which time period you're talking about.
I am assuming this was for stability - they were lowering mounts to try to make the ships less top-heavy. But I have not seen any specific discussion of this. Just noticed - and this is specific to CV-13 - that the mounts on the port side were lower when she came out of the refit than they had been. (Some may have been new but were mounted lower than the older ships).

I am working on CV 14 USS Ticonderoga.

Duane

[TZoli]

I have a question regarding the USS Lexington CV-16 in her post modernization look from the 1950's. She had 8x1 5"/38 pedestal mounts and at least 6x2 (some source says 7x2) 3"/50 RF mounts. This armament got reduced by the mid 1960's to just 7x 5" mounts and all removed by the 1970's.
Does somebody know the exact number and arrangement? For the 5" mounts that is easy, they are located at the corners and under the flight deck in pairs. From photos I've seen the 3"/50 RF mounts: there were 2 on the fantail directed by what seems like a Mark 57 director and one gun got equipped with an SPG-34 / Mark 63 GFCS but these two mounts lacked the Mark 56 GFCS to control them?
The rest of the four 3"/50 twin mounts were located close to the 5" mounts together with a Mark 56 GFCS to control them?

So a total of four Mark 56 GFCS to control the guns with a single Mark 68 on top of the bridge and another behind the funnel and of course the Mark 57 and Mark 63 for the two aft guns?

Am I correct?

[Mark McKinnis]

Yes, you are correct based on a few photos here:

https://www.navsource.org/archives/02/16.htm

4 3"/50 on each corner with the 5" mounts and the two on the fantail.

Mark

[TZoli]

Seems like Lexington only had 5 twin 3"/50 RF mounts. The port side aft 5" single mounts lack the the 3"/50 mount, though the Director is there.
So the 5 mounts are:
Two on the fantail, one on port side forward behind that pair of 5" mounts, one starboard forward behind that pair of 5" mounts and one starboard aft in front of that pair of 5" mounts.

[Braniff92@gmail.com]

I'm well into my conversion project on the Gallery Intrepid to CVA-12 in her 1957 fit. I'm having no luck in finding any data or photos of deck winches visible either on the galleys or inside the hangar bay. Additionally, trying to get better pics for the hangar bay, placement of acft drop tank hangers, etc. Anyone know of any places I could locate photos to help in my project? Thanks.

[domi13]

Hi Branniff92,

I'm well into my conversion project on the Gallery Intrepid to CVA-12 in her 1957 fit. I'm having no luck in finding any data or photos of deck winches visible either on the galleys or inside the hangar bay. Additionally, trying to get better pics for the hangar bay, placement of acft drop tank hangers, etc. Anyone know of any places I could locate photos to help in my project? Thanks.

Have you seen these ones?
https://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/h ... s.369852p/
https://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/h ... s.369850p/

Regards,
domi13