Calling all Essex-class (WWII configuration) fans

[USN_Matt]

The camouflage looks like the measure 33/10a that the Yorktown, Ticonderoga, Wasp, and Shangri La wore. But it looks modifid, cause theres a section of the camo that doesn't match the design 33/10a either, but it probably is one of those 4 i stated, just dont know which one...

edit

this is the design 33/10a

http://www.shipcamouflage.com/DesignShe ... 9Class.jpg

this is the Benningtons Ms 32/17a:

http://www.shipcamouflage.com/DesignShe ... 9Class.jpg

[Adaks]

What ship is this?

http://www.uss-bennington.org/pics/phz- ... -18-01.jpg

It's from a website dedicated to CV-20, but the camo doesn't seem to match the pattern worn by Bennington.

The ship in the photo has short hull and hangar cat. It is not Yorktown, so it must be Wasp.

[Dick J]

The photo rules out Tico and Shangri-La because the bow and stern are wrong for a long-hull. Yorktown carried that camo scheme before and after she received the outboard 40MM below the island. Those AA guns are not visible in this photo, leaving either Yorktown prior to the mod or Wasp. Wasp still had the hangar cat while she wore this scheme. Yorktown still had the cat until the refit, and so had the cat for part of the time she was in this scheme. Some other factor is needed to sort this out. The photo is not totally clear, but it appears that the SM or SP series radar (height-finder/ fighter direction radar) is on the front of the tripod mast platform (heavy pedestal seems visible). Yorktown carried her SM/SP there after the outboard 40MM were added, but had her SK there until then. Wasp had her SM/SP located there without the outboard 40MM. Therefore, the probability is that this is Wasp.

[Adaks]

In my case I have noticed that this ship has 'short' second 20mm gun gallery on island. Wasp had such a gallery there, Yorktown, when in camo, had a longer one.

[MartinJQuinn]

Thanks gents - I figured it was Yorktown or Wasp (mostly due to the camo), but wanted "expert" opinion. The website captions the photo as Bennington.

[keith hufnagel]

Hello all, I too believe this is Wasp CV-18 in a 33-10a modified. When or why I do not know. However (in the photo shown) the lack of a (funnel) mainmast and a heavy foremast, the remains of the original 5-O pattern just aft of the sternmost 5"/38 mount (starboard side of course), and the hanger deck catapult vertical and forward 'original bridge' quad 40 (which she carried at least to Jan. 45, maybe as late as June 45) convince me this picture is Wasp CV-18. Again the cause of the modification to her pattern is another of those Essex Class challenges.

[Tracy White]

Hey guys... came across a couple photos that might be of interest for the Essex builders on Life's Google site:

I'm reasonably certain the hangar shots are of CV-9 Essex as they're from the same photographer as this exterior shot:
http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l? ... 5f64fe2789
Essex had the Mk 49 visible in this shot whereas Yorktown did not.

Moving torpedos in the hangar bay to/from the torpedo magazine (looking aft):
http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l? ... s%3Disch:1
http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l? ... c7f90043cb

Looking forward, down into the torpedo hatch on the hangar deck:
http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l? ... s%3Disch:1

[MM2CVS9]

Great shots Tracy.

EJ

[ArizonaBB39]

I havent found this (yet) but what other Essex class ships can I build from the Yorktown kit (trumpeter 1/350) straight out of the box? Thanks

[Tracy White]

In the strictest sense.... none. The Yorktown & Franklin kit are nearly identical; I think there's a radar different between the two, and the Yorktown kit is missing the catwalks between the three starboard quad 40mms under the island.

The problem is that with those ships there's so many little detail differences that the kits really only serve as a starting point... but if you just want to have a fun, easy build (comparatively) I'd suggest Yorktown, Intrepid, Franklin, perhaps Wasp... Lexington too I believe. If you want more than that... well how deep do you want your rabbit hole to be?

[ArizonaBB39]

Thanks Tracy, I knew youd be able to help. What changes need to be made to represent either the Franklin or Intrepid in their respective dazzle schemes?

[Tracy White]

Actually, quite a bit. The dazzle schemes on both were applied before they had the significant AA upgrades and removed about the time they received them. If you want a late-war AA fit short-hull in Dazzle then Yorktown's your best bet. CV-12 is also good for late-war dazzle, but she was still in early fit.....

[ArizonaBB39]

Darn, this is going to be more difficult than I thought, as I already have a started Yorktown in Dazzle i need to finish someday..

[keithhufnagel]

Arizonabb39, you need to pick a date if you are building Yorktown (CV-10) during her Camo period (33-10a). After Oct. 44' there are tons of great pictures and books available for reference. Before then (May thru Oct.44') the info is a little thinner and less documented. Basically the same camo pattern however(except maybe the lightest color, 5-P vs 5-L(5-P after Oct' 44)). Yorktown carried most of her 'original' radar suite (except SG locations and the odd antenna) until Oct. 44'. Till then she had no additional quad 40s port or starboard. She carried 1 catapult on deck (starboard) and 1 on the hangerdeck. She had only 1 quad 40 on the stern (offset). For Yorktown this is the period (first camouflage painting) most difficult to get really good photos of. I would imagine Tracy White has some if that's the period you pick. As far as after Oct. 44 I can stear you to some great reference books on modifications, armament, and electronics upgrade that I have used. Also I can direct you to some of the little particulars exclusive to Yorktown alone if you are going that far "down 'that' rabbit-hole". Hope this helps.

[Tracy White]

Keith's got a great Yorktown here.

[ArizonaBB39]

I guess I should have clarified that better. Ive got two 1/350 Yorktown kits. One has already been started eons ago as the Yorktown herself. The other one is brand new in the box and Id like to build one of the sisters, preferably also in a dazzle scheme.

[Tracy White]

The problem that you have is that the dazzle schemes were primarily used on earlier fits, so no extra AA, (albeit still the quad40mm on the forward island), one catapult on the flight deck, the hangar cat, etc. For example, other than Yorktown, I can't think of a single *short hull* Essex class that had the two quad 40mms on the stern in dazzle. This is off the top of my head though; I could be wrong.

[Adaks]

I think that Intrepid after her first war refit had configuration close to Trumpeter kit 5603. You will still need to scratchbulid single 40mm quad on stern and modify island (both CV-10 i CV-11 had late islands in the late 1944, but they were not identical).

[keithhufnagel]

I believe Bennington CV-20 and Bon Homme Richard CV-31 were two 'short bows' that carried the two stern quad mounts while in pattern (32-17a).

[Tracy White]

I thought about those, but they had the same revised roller doors on the port side as the long hulls did when the Hangar Cat was deleted from new construction. I suppose it wouldn't be that hard to replace that piece on the kit though.