Aircraft Carrier Group Build 2009

[mitchell300]

Update on sara her landing deck
I had only paint for the half of the deck.
But i managed to gain a little bit of other colour into this 1 whitout colour changing, and some terpetine




And this is my airbrush cabine, not putted into each other yet.
Note: this new airbrush cabine is the size of an micro car that runs on electricity xD

Mitch

[Hippy Ed]

Hey Mitch, interesting way to stretch the paint
Now may I bring to your attention an observation I have made? John, Mark, Please correct me if I am wrong... The Forrestal Class CVs only had 4 wires stretched across the landing area, having lost 2 of the wires back in the late 60s/early 60s? I know the Forrestal and Ranger had lost 2 of the 6 arresting wires. Can't say for sure on Indy or Saratoga though.

[mitchell300]

Ah those wires, they where already on there.
And im making desert combat saratoga.
And i really dont know how much they had/ have.
Thnx for the comment.
And im looking forward to the answer on what u said.
Maby i have to delete a few
But ok, more time on 1 project.
How more u get out of money,and more fun
Mitch

[DBlack]

I'm not sure exactly when the Saratoga lost the 5th and 6th wires, but Ed's right in that by the 1980s (and on into the 1990s), she was down to just 4.


HTH

[mitchell300]

Damm, that means.
Deleted 2 wires.
Repainting.
U know what, i dont care i let them there
6 is better then 4

BTW: weathering, what is the best thing for me?
I want the effect from landing and launching.
Mitch

[Hippy Ed]

I'm not sure exactly when the Saratoga lost the 5th and 6th wires, but Ed's right in that by the 1980s (and on into the 1990s), she was down to just 4.


HTH

Yep, I thought so! Thanks for the confirmation!!

An easy fix on the kit Mitch. minor repaint needed. scrape off the 2 most inboard wires.

[kidcurrie42]

Here is a view of the Slipway at the moment...........

Back row left to Right CV-59, 60, 62 and 67, Front row left to right is CVS-39, 12, CV-15 cv-8, CV-67 has 10 of CV-8 a/c and a 1/350 A-6E from Forrestal.







All comments and questions welcome

Happy Modeling

John

[drdoom1337]

Just picked up a 1/350 Essex for an absolute STEAL on ebay (theres more on there for this low price + free shipping!), unfortunately it's going to have to wait till I finish my 1/700 Gneisenau, and 1/350 NC. Plan is for it to be built at the time of the Marshall Island Raids (early 1944) with a Tamiya Mo converted to a round bridge NJ as part of a diorama.

[kidcurrie42]

Sounds cool Doc Definetely some bargains on Ebay at the Moment. Sounds like you are gonna be busy

Happy Modeling

John

[mitchell300]

Trow me 1 !!!
They are awesome kid!
Mitch

[drdoom1337]

Sounds cool Doc Definetely some bargains on Ebay at the Moment. Sounds like you are gonna be busy

Happy Modeling

John

This is absolutely an exciting time! My Gneisenau is looking terrific, and I've just started my North Carolina (which I plan to extremely super detail!) I know you were following my 1944 Essex MS-32D build. That's pretty much done, save some 20MM and the actual aircraft (though I haven't uploaded photos in a long time due to my lack of a digital camera). The 1/350th Essex will be done in MS21 which should be much faster to paint as well as build. I've already started doing some research, especially on the NJ in early 1944 (it being my second favorite ship. Scharnhorst will always be #1). It's a bit harder to find photos of the Essex in January 1944. I was thinking of using the Trumpeter Hornet and converting it to an MS21 Enterprise instead of an Essex, but this deal on eBay was just too good to pass up!!!

[DBlack]

Hey, Ed, remember that question from a week ago about when the Forrestals went from 6 arresting wires down to 4? According to this http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/f3/forrestal.htm , CV-59 made the modification in '61-'62 (look near the very bottom of the page), so it's probably a safe bet that the other three ships of the class did it right around the same period, as well.

[Hippy Ed]

Hey, Ed, remember that question from a week ago about when the Forrestals went from 6 arresting wires down to 4? According to this http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/f3/forrestal.htm , CV-59 made the modification in '61-'62 (look near the very bottom of the page), so it's probably a safe bet that the other three ships of the class did it right around the same period, as well.

Yep, my uncle Chuck flew A3Ds off Forrestal from 1959-mid 1961. In 1962 the class underwent some modifications in 1962. That's when Forrestal lost her foreward guns.

[Bill Code]

hello guys... Im going to start building my first Aircraft carrier...I have questions...First Im building John F Kennedy as built CVA-67...as her 1968 med cruise.. Presenting this to my brother-in-law who was a plank owner. I have on hand the Italeri 1/720 America, Nimitz and Constellation kits..extra aircraft in 1/700 a-4s ,spads, ect...I havent been able to find any sh-2 helos in this scale.. I have GMM brass set for Supercarriers and decals....Now where to begin...Which kit will need the least modifcation to depict kennedy as built?... Any drawings of her deck and profiles from this time frame?.. kennedy looks to have had the first sea sparrow BPDMs launchers also like raft cannisters?.I can use Nimitz...the position of these launchers is not the same as Nimitz...her heavy handling crane ect... I would like to make this a nice model for my in-law.. any help would be greatly appriciated..

[starfighterace]

Hi Bill,

WEM made SH-2 in resin and DML issued some in an ASW set in the late 80's early 90's. Floating Drydock list plans for CV-67 that might still be available.

[kidcurrie42]

Hi Bill,
As Starfighterace said WEM produce these in 1/700, Also i am sure Mark(Starfighterace) carries them, check the link http://www.starfighter-decals.com/white ... craft.html

This is her CVW at time of commisioning

CVW-1 (AB)
CVA-67 JOHN F. KENNEDY
Apr.5, 1969 - Dec.21, 1969 (Med)
Modex.............Squadron............................Aircraft
100.................VF-14 Top Hatters...............F-4B
200.................VF-32 Swordsmen................F-4B
300.................VA-83 Rampagers................A-4C
400.................VA-81 Sunliners...................A-4C
500.................VA-95 Green Lizards.............A-4C
600.................RVAH-14 Eagles...................RA-5C
650.................VAH-10 DET.67 Vikings..........KA-3B/EKA-3B
700.................VAW-121 DET.67 Griffins........E-1B
750.................VAQ-33 DET.67 Night Hawks...EA-1F
010.................HC-2 DET.67 Fleet Angels......UH-2C

I think you will find the USS America Kit is best choice, Check out my build on the
viewtopic.php?f=59&t=18158 somewhere on there.
I think you will find that at commisioning JFK did not have the liferaft containers of today, they were intoduced in the 70's, get plenty of pics from searches, search areas like Navsource, ask questions, someone will come up with an answer for you.

Happy Modeling

John

[Mark McKinnis]

Definately the America. That is what I started with on my 1/720 JFK. I also used the 1/800ish monogram Kitty Hawk kit I found on ebay to provide a Splice for the Angled Deck and the island which is that of the Kennedy. The island from that kit is a bit underscaled but you can "beef" it up a bit and at least it is the correct shape.

I you decide to use the 1/720 Nimitz, it is almost exactly the right size to do a 1/700 scale Kennedy. I think that the hard thing on that approach is the re-work of the flight deck.

If you do not care about the scale, the Monogram kit is the Kennedy in any form it is sold. Ie...Kitty, Conny or America. Ironically, I do not think that it was ever marketed as the Kennedy. The kit comes with F-4s, A-4s and A-3s.

Good Luck,

Mark

[Nektarios]

hello guys... Im going to start building my first Aircraft carrier...I have questions...First Im building John F Kennedy as built CVA-67...as her 1968 med cruise.. Presenting this to my brother-in-law who was a plank owner. I have on hand the Italeri 1/720 America, Nimitz and Constellation kits..extra aircraft in 1/700 a-4s ,spads, ect...I havent been able to find any sh-2 helos in this scale.. I have GMM brass set for Supercarriers and decals....Now where to begin...Which kit will need the least modifcation to depict kennedy as built?... Any drawings of her deck and profiles from this time frame?.. kennedy looks to have had the first sea sparrow BPDMs launchers also like raft cannisters?.I can use Nimitz...the position of these launchers is not the same as Nimitz...her heavy handling crane ect... I would like to make this a nice model for my in-law.. any help would be greatly appriciated..

The Italeri launchers are awful. I can send you some Pitroad Mk-25 if you send me your address.

You can find a good SH-2 inside the Knox class kit from AFV

[DBlack]

So the shape of the America's flight deck is more accurate for the JFK than the Nimitz's is?

[Mark McKinnis]

So the shape of the America's flight deck is more accurate for the JFK than the Nimitz's is?

Actually, niether one is correct, although the shape of the Nimitz Deck is more correct. The general shape of the Nimitz flight deck is the same but the dimensions are different. The angle on the Nimitz comes in a little different point with respect to the JBD's. The foul line on Kennedy cuts across the JBD and the Nimitz Class JBD's are clear of teh foul line. You can launch off of Cat 2 without fouling the landing area on Nimitz. If you splice an angle in on America instead of the "Notch", it is correct. You have to do some deck re-work aft though. Also, America has the large sponsons where the Sea Sparrow launchers are at under the aft part of the flight deck. Kennedy did not have those. In that respect it is like the Nimitz. I would print photos of the America, Nimitz and Kennedy to compare them. I did that and pen and inked changes to the America Photo of what I would have to do to make her into a Kennedy. Then just start the mods in each area one at a time until they are correct.

Here is a nice view of the Flight deck after the mod;


A stern shot. Notice that the sponsons have been cut away and new hull side had to be built;


It is a pretty big under taking but not impossible.