Calling all Essex-class (WWII configuration) fans

[Tracy White]

One more question for either you or Tracy. I noticed your Franklin is modeled with a natural wood deck rather than being stained the standard deck blue. I assume this is accurate for the time period. Is this non stained flight deck typical of USN carriers late in the war or is this just specific to the Franklin after her last refit?

The deck was stained, it's just that rolling aircraft around that are leaking oil, etc, plus the ammo cards with their hard rubber wheels, atc. ad nauseum is very hard on a deck and the blue tended to wear a bit. I favor weathering to that there is more blue on the edges of a deck and areas that there would be less traffic.

[Bob Bartlett]

Hanchang, Tracy,

Thanks for the info. I think I'll wind up ordering the 1/192 plans. Do you guys have any sources of info you'd recommend for the Franklin in early '45 besides http://www.navsource.org/ and these:

Squadron - Essex Class Carriers in Action
Floating Drydock � Camouflage 2 Fleet Carriers
Warship Perspectives - Essex Class Carriers of WWII
Classic Warship Books - Essex Class Aircraft Carriers of the 2nd WW

Hanchang,

Your Franklin build is simply outstanding. Truly amazing work (as is all your stuff). I noticed in searching your earlier posts in this thread that you were having a hard time figuring out what 40mm quads to use. What did you wind up using?

I'm sure you guys have heard of it, but if you're interested in the Franklin this book is a must have: http://www.amazon.com/Inferno-Death-Str ... 304&sr=8-1 It's a real page turner.

It's Hanchang's Franklin build, this book and a lifelong interest in the story of the Franklin that have inspired me to model CV-13 as she appeared during this period.

Thanks guys,
Erik

The book "Inferno" is the first comprhesive book about the FRANKLIN in over twenty years. It covers areas not covered before such as her first cruise, Kamikze attack in October '44 and the contraversy about Capt. Gehers court-martialing some of the 19MAR45 survuvors and the blame put on him for the high calsualties. I met the author, Joe Springer, at the 2007 FRANKLIN reunion as well as many of the crew appearing in the book
Bob Bartlett
Relative of a FRANKLIN survivor.

[Erik W]

What are the hose like items in the photo below (on the starboard hull side just forward of the stack and below the bridge area)?
http://www.navsource.org/archives/02/021273.jpg

Are these refueling hoses of some sort? Would they be used to fuel smaller ships or for taking on aircraft fuel from a tanker, etc?

Thanks,
Erik

[Tracy White]

refueling hoses for UNREP. I haven't found any documentation for the class that lists what type of fuel was taken on at the different stations, if it was broken indeed down that way.

[Capt652]

More really clear pictures for the long hull guys, this time the Princeton CV-37.

http://www.navsource.org/archives/02/023723.jpg

Thanks to Navsource and Mr. Pieter Bakels!

Timm

[Brian]

I have the DML 1/700 Randolph model in my pile of models to build and was doing some research today and came across a book that was published in 2000. USS Randolph CV CVA CVS 15 by Philip St. John. Question being, have any of you read this? And if so, is it worth purchasing? I am looking to build her during the time she had CVG-12 on board. I would have to add the mounts for the quad 40's on the starboard side under the island. Would these be the same as the mounts towards the stern of the ship? Any help would be a help.

Thanks,

Brian

[Tracy White]

That's a Turner Publishing book, which tend to be more veterans/reunion groups oriented. That said, the description certainly would lead one to believe there's at least SOME technical documentation, but it might not be anything more than a ship's history and list of specifications similar to what Navsource has.

The GUN mounts you are referring to are the same: quad 40MMs. However, the tubs themselves will be slightly differently shaped due to the flat sides amidships versus the hull curve on the stern mounts.

[Brian]

Thanks Tracy.

I think I am going to go ahead pick up a copy. I will let you know about content etc... after the read. Do you know where I could pick up some dimensional data on the gun mounts under the island short of ordering a complete set of plans from one of the Essex ships?

Brian

[Erik W]

Can anyone tell me if the carrier air group that CV-18 Wasp was carrying on March 19, 1945 (the day she was bombed) was CAG 81 or 86? Also, at that time, were the aircraft painted in overall sea blue or were they still in the sea blue, intermediate blue, insignia white scheme?

Thanks,
Erik

[Tracy White]

CVG 81
F6F-6 x 47 (Glossy Sea Blue)
F6F-5N x 3 (Glossy Sea Blue)
TBM-1C x 12 (probably tri-color
TBM-3 x 3 (Probably Glossy Sea Blue)
F4U-1D x 30 (Probably Glossy Sea Blue)

[Erik W]

CVG 81
F6F-6 x 47 (Glossy Sea Blue)
F6F-5N x 3 (Glossy Sea Blue)
TBM-1C x 12 (probably tri-color
TBM-3 x 3 (Probably Glossy Sea Blue)
F4U-1D x 30 (Probably Glossy Sea Blue)

Tracy,

Thanks for the quick info. I've been collecting every book on the Essex class I can get my hands on but I couldn't find that info. You're definitely a good resource when it comes to this stuff! What was your source? Also, do you know if these aircraft would have had the Wasp's identifying marking of a horizontal white stripe across the tail?

Erik

[Tracy White]

I have copies of the weekly reports the Navy made of their aircraft and locations. Going through the entire wartime career of a carrier can be...... tedious.

[Erik W]

Thet's definitely a good source! It's interesting that at that time their were no Helldivers aboard. I imagine the air group was tailored for air defence (heavy on fighters) and ground attack (with the Corsairs).

Erik

[Jeffcsr]

Anyone reviewed Dragon's new 1/700 CV-12 1945 Hornet? Or is it out yet?

I'm curious what's different from the other Short Hulls.

Oops edited.... meant short hulls

[Timmy C]

The Hornet was a short hull.

Here are pictures of the kit contents and (more usefully) the instructions:
http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10091205

From the Dragon poster, it seems that the only thing new in the kit is the radar arrangement:
http://www.dragonmodelsusa.com/dmlusa/p ... id=DRA7085
No new parts, anyway.

[Tracy White]

New island parts, early-war fit.

[Jeffcsr]

I had saved so much information over the last year and I my hard-drive crashed... So I lost it all

Is this just a standard late war flight deck?

[Tracy White]

No, it's early. Single cat, notches in the flight deck. The title of "1945 Hornet" is a little misleading as she was the same essentially from the start of her fighting career until June 1945 when a typhoon collapsed the forward portion of her flight deck. She received no upgrades until after that. Dragon hadn't really done an accurate EARLY Essex class so I took the opportunity to make sure we had one.

[Adaks]

I have noticed that Dragon instruction for Hornet has some mistakes. CV-12 did not have SK and SK-2 radars at the same time. Painting guide suggests 5-L, 5-O, 5-N. Most sources claim that USS Hornet was the only Essex that wore MS 33/3a with 5-N, 5-H, 5-P color set.

[Jeffcsr]

Switching gears to 1/350 scale:

I'm thinking of treating myself to a 1/350 scale Essex class, I'd choose a short hull so it's the Essex or the Franklin. There's no review on this site about the Franklin (CV-13) but is it just a re-box of the Essex or is it an actual late war model?

What are the differences If you don't mind me asking?

Are the aircraft in the kit different also?