Converting the 1/350 Trumpeter 1942 CV-2 to a 1944 CV-3

[JimRussell]

Converting the Trumpeter 1/350 CV-2 to a 1944 CV-3 has been on my to do list for a while. Finally started chopping, this post will show the hull roughed out (it can be argued the my finished builds are "roughed out" but we all build to the limits of our patience and ability). The Saratoga will be built as she looked at Iwo Jima, in measure 21.

I had good references, 1/192 plans of 1945 CV-3 from Floating Drydock and the Classic Warship Pictorial #11 - Lexington class carriers. The book has a set of very good pictures of Saratoga after her "dazzle" refit and she was 99%+ in this physical fit at Iwo.

Overall, I was very pleased with the Trumpeter kit, one BIG reservation being the FLIMSINESS of the hull. the plastic is way too thin and the flight deck locators are way too SMALL. The waterline hull was also bowed up in the middle by 1/8". The solution to the bow and in order to add heft, a wood stiffener was glued/screwed to the hull cross braces.

Hull work included lowering the hull (to match the FDD waterline) by cutting away the waterline plate flange to the level of the two foreward and aft reinforcing ribs, lengthening the forward sponson, removing detail at the 5"-25 locations (to convert to 5"-38 and quad 40mm), filling in the lowest level of portholes (again to match both plans and photos) and adding the large, asymmetric starboard blister. The blister deserved a photo of its own, it was carved as a single curved and twisted piece. The FDD plans do not have hull stations but luckily Friedman's carrier book had a Saratoga cross section with a dimension on the drawing (The blister is 6 feet at the top shelf, which is .21" in 1/350)

One final, editorial, comment. As I worked on the hull I was taken in by the "beauty" of this ship. I say this as many builds progress on line of Akagi, her contemporary (they were both laid down as WWI battlecrusiers and completed post WWI as carriers) which I appreciate as a historic ship and would build in an instant if I was doing IJN but after all these kind words still strikes me as an "ugly" ship.

Jim

[MartinJQuinn]

Awesome! A 1942 "Eastern Solomons" Sara is one my "wanna do someday" list. I'll be watching this intently!

it can be argued the my finished builds are "roughed out" but we all build to the limits of our patience and ability

Don't sell yourself short - I wish I had your talent.

[Avery Boyer]

Looking forward to this! I have a hulked Lexington kit that is waiting for a similar conversion so I shall watch very closely

[Cliffy B]

I've always loved the look of the late war Sara and will be watching this one closely as well, and taking notes I don't know why one of the big name companies haven't put out a late war Sara kit yet. Only one I've seen is the horrible Fujimi one in 1/700 that takes a lot of work to make a presentable model. Good luck with the build man!

[Zach P.]

I am not a student of this class so forgive me if this question has an obvious answer but why did Sara have a blister for only one side? Was it due to the weight of the Island superstructure?

[johndon]

I am not a student of this class so forgive me if this question has an obvious answer but why did Sara have a blister for only one side? Was it due to the weight of the Island superstructure?

According to Friedman's 'US Aircraft Carriers', it was to counterbalance the island.

John

[JimRussell]

One pic of the island and stack roughed out, shot this pic primarily to show which parts were used and which were replaced.

I will be quiet for awhile, starting on the flight deck which I have been putting off because I could not figure out what to do with the life nets. Using them almost seemed as crude as using aztec stairs (which I did leave in the boat pockets - but will try to apply a PE side rail) but it took awhile to conceive of a scratch alternative.

Thanks for the interest so far.

Jim

[Quincy]

Yessssssssssssssssssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!



Bob Pink.

[JimRussell]

Modifying the flight deck turned out to be easier than I had any right to expect, the Trumpeter plank spacing was appx .039" and I bought some Evergreen .040 scribed sheet that was a very good match. Did NOT have to skin the entire deck.

As the pics show the flight deck bow and stern had to be modified for CV-3. The stern of CV-3 had the big ramp eliminated and was longer, while the bow section was slightly wider forward and had straight sides. Most of the midships area was identical (thankfully) between CV-2 and CV-3. The close up shows the match between Trumpeter and Evergreen.

Jim

[Elvis965]

Hi Jim,

Looks good so far. I think anyone who is a fan of Lex & Sara will be watching this thread intently!

For your flight deck safety nets: I had both Tom's & GMM sets fro my Lex build, and I only used the Tom's safety nets. You're welcome to my GMM nets if you need them.

Also, IIRC the only thing that had the short PE ladders for the boat pockets was the YKM backdate kit. Trying to scrape out the Aztec steps was a royal PITA.

Bob

[JimRussell]

Bob,

Thanks for the offer of PE nets, but I think I found a material that will do the job. It is a plastic net hem stiffener that I picked up at a craft/sewing store (I get more useful stuff from this place). I brought along a sample of DD rail netting as an example and this material was finer.

I left the pocket aztec stairs in place. I have a conventional PE stair of the right size from which I will trim the two side rails. I will then glue a side rail to the side of the aztec stair. I think this will look OK.

Jim

[JimRussell]

Have made LOTS of parts, some shown in first photo.

The second photo shows a test of the flight deck edge, made from black vinyl (electricians) tape. The tape is .006" thick and cuts with a very good edge. This photo also shows a test of my safety net construction. The frame is a staple and the net is the hem edging I mentioned previously. Comments pro or con accepted.

I do have a question to ask, The hull is just about done and it is a filthy mess. There is Bondo dust, styrene chips, sawdust and general grime everywhere! I am thinking about blowing off with the airbrush (unfilled) at 80 psi, followed by making some "tack rags" from an old t-shirt wet with mineral spirits. Any better ideas?

Jim

[Roberto]

Great work there Jim.
Have you got any pictorial nfo regarding the detail under the extended flight deck?

[taskforce48]

Great looking build so far I think the safety net might be a tad over-scale, however compared to the very symmetrical PE versions I have, yours look more realistic and I am now considering doing something similar when I tackle this project. Can't wait to see this one done.

Matt

[JimRussell]

Roberto, The FDD plans are no help on hull shape, there are good photos of the overhang from underneath in the CW book listed in the top post.

Matt, There is a lot of "fine stuff" that is over scale. The net has a .030" opening which converts to 10 inches, the staple frame is .018' which is 6 inches in diameter! I am firmly in the "impressionistic" or "representational" school.....if it looks OK from 1 to 2 feet I am a happy camper.

Some photos of the hull before priming and a shot of how an "impressionist" dolls up aztec stairs.

Jim

[JimRussell]

The hull after a matte coat. The island and funnel shown just to provide "scale" and to show that I have not done anything with them! I'll probably finish the hull before I start on these two "mini kits".

I am amazed by the number of parts I had to make. Just finished painting the second batch, normal procedure for me is to spray each color once during a build. This build will be three spray sessions for sure and maybe a fourth.

If you look closely at the forward end of the blister you will see a dark vertical line. It is a "natural" expansion joint. It is low 80's and sunny in AZ and the hull was set in the sun to dry after the matte coat. Sipping a cup of coffee after all other painting was done I glanced at the hull and it was bowed up in the middle almost 1/4 inch. Akagi's revenge! What now looks like a thin line was open appx .030" - the red Bondo was very visible. Figured out it had to be expansion problems between plastic and wood. That is one seam I CANNOT fill. Needless to say the hull will see no more sun, time outside will be restricted.

Jim

Jim

[Elvis965]

Looking good, Jim!

Bob

[Quincy]

Incredible work so far Jim.



Bob Pink.

[JimRussell]

While I was working on 23!! quad 40mm's, I read that Tom Harrison was seriously ill, and now he has passed. The white metal bases for the quad 40's were purchased from Tom a long time ago. 90% of the PE that will be on this ship was from Tom. I will miss him, my ships will miss him.

The hull is finally DONE! I am happy with the results so far, and that is not always the case. Two shots of the ship in general and a close up of the safety nets. I found some PE that was 4 1/4" squares in a row. This made a very good frame. The netting is the material I discussed earlier.

This is my first build with Crafters Pick "The Ultimate" (supposedly identical to "Gator Glue") and I very pleased with the stuff. Used it for "structural" joints on unprimed styrene and it did very well.

Jim

[MartinJQuinn]

Outstanding work Jim.