Calling all Essex-class (WWII configuration) fans

[Tracy White]

I'll look in my records for CV-17. Essex I believe had her catapult installed over a couple of months; part of the equipment in one yard visit, part in another. The H2 she carried throughout the war was the same as the Yorktown class and Saratoga, so it wasn't a completely worthless catapult, just not as capable as she could have had.

[maxs75]

OK,
thank you very much.
As far as you know, was it a H2, or a later H2-1 catapult?

I'm looking forward for your answer about Bunker Hill.

Max

[Tracy White]

From the April 10 to May 6 1943 Departure report filed by Norfolk Navy Yard:

Catapult Type H Mk 2 Mod.1 - Installation of:- Provide foundation, ventilation, wiring, piping, fabricate tracks, etc. and install catapult machinery and related equipment.
Comp. 5/6/43

*Edit* Unfortunately I don't have much of anything in my notes on Bunker Hill. With ships like Essex, even though the work was done at Norfolk, Puget Sound received and maintained copies of work performed at other yards as it was designated the "home yard" for the ship. Bunker Hill had some work done at Puget Sound, but I don't appear to have any departure reports for her. Still looking.

[Guest]

Help needed with modeling the Bunker Hill CV 17. I would like to build this in 1/350 with my son, but am unsure if building it from a Trumpeter Hornet kit would work. Im sure there are plenty of parts avail, any advice would be appreciated. Thanks, Sean

[Tracy White]

Not with the CV-8 Hornet kit; that's a different class of carrier. CV-8 was lost in action in October of 1942.

You want the CV-9 Essex or CV-13 Franklin kit, with the CV-10 Yorktown working as well. Any idea what time frame you want to do the build as?

[floogie]

Thanks for the input. I would like to model her as she was late in the war, like Okinowa. My close neighbor flew a Corsair off of her. It is to be a gift to him.

[Tracy White]

She went through overhaul at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard at pretty much the same time that Franklin did, so their detail were pretty much the same when they came out. I'd start with the CV-13 Franklin kit but paint her in Camouflage Measure 21 instead of the kit's depicted camouflage. Leave off the starboard hangar deck catapult flipper (I forget the part number, but it's the one forward of the starboard crane below the flight deck). After that, it sort of depends how in-depth you want to get on corrections.... I would imagine that it would still blow him away as built.

[maxs75]

From the April 10 to May 6 1943 Departure report filed by Norfolk Navy Yard:

Catapult Type H Mk 2 Mod.1 - Installation of:- Provide foundation, ventilation, wiring, piping, fabricate tracks, etc. and install catapult machinery and related equipment.
Comp. 5/6/43

*Edit* Unfortunately I don't have much of anything in my notes on Bunker Hill. With ships like Essex, even though the work was done at Norfolk, Puget Sound received and maintained copies of work performed at other yards as it was designated the "home yard" for the ship. Bunker Hill had some work done at Puget Sound, but I don't appear to have any departure reports for her. Still looking.

Tracy, thank you.
I probably misread 5/6/43 for 6/5/43... so thinking that Essex was already at Pearl.

I hope you will find something about Bunker Hill!

Max

[Adaks]

Today I have found this great photo on navysource. It was taken from Bunker Hill on 10 Fabruary, 1945 (you can see Corsairs with distinctive markings). What is interesting ? Essex is still in camo (Measure 32, Design 6/10D) ! It means that she was not repainted in the the end of 1944 as you can read in every book on Essex class (or US Navy camouflage).

[robi]

Hi all, am new to ship modelling. Have a question: two years ago I bought Dragon's Hancock, and a few days ago a Trumpeter Ticonderoga. With surprise, I found that the Trumpeter model is shorter, especially for the flight deck....looking at the reviews for these models, no people tell something about this feature. May be that the Trumpeter Ticonderoga is 1:720 scale?
Thanks for the help
Roberto

[ilovecarriers]

started this one because i do not have any pe to fit to it.this is the first of the 5 carriers i have.have any of you built this carrier can you give me any tips.i have had to do some cutting,filling and sanding already but it looks like a great kit and the detail is very good.it is trumpeter 1/350
regards anthony

[Tracy White]

First off, please don't let me temper your enthusiasm, but it would help us follow your posts more if you could use capitals and spaces after periods. I wrote a review of the kit, which is here.

[ilovecarriers]

Thanks for the advice Tracy i'm just getting used to doing this so hopefully i will improve my posting skills as well as my modelling skills.The next thing i have to do is to try to put photo's of my builds.

regards Anthony

[Tracy White]

We look forward to them! I ran the Seattle IPMS Spring Model show for a "few" years and one of the things I tried to stress was that even if you think you can't compete, even if you think you're not good enough, there's going to be someone out there who's going to enjoy looking at your model. We all enjoy different things and pull our inspirations in different ways.

[Randy53]

Staying on topic with the Essex Class Carriers, were there any major external differences in armament, superstructure, or flight deck between the Essex CV-9 and Yorktown CV-10?

I would really like to include some F4U's in the air wing but historically, from what I have found, there was only one instance when a Corsair ever even landed on the Yorktown.

[Tracy White]

Yes. What time frame are you thinking of? I'll need that to be more specific.

[Randy53]

If I remember correctly, Essex 1st got Corsairs in 1944. I didin't save the web site that listed all the squadrons, their makeup, and historical dates.

[Tracy White]

First time they show up is with two VMFs in January 1945.
Actually technically very very very late December 1944:
http://www.airgroup4.com/marine.htm

[keithhufnagel]

Randy53, the main differences between CV-9 and CV-10 were: Essex never had the hanger deck catapult, never received the (3) starboard 40mm quads nor the (2) port quarter hanger deck level mounts. Her (2) starboard aft 40mm were never extended and she retained the single off center 40mm throughout her WWII career. Essex was also the only ship to retain all (5) radio antennae throughout the war. She did have the bridge extended and the forward 40mm mount deleted (April 44'). Other than that most Essex class ships had continuing Radar suite and 20mm changes and Essex was no different. However since she had only (1) wartime yard refit she changed the least. Yorktown carried most of her original fit, including the shakedown cruise modifications, until her September 44' overhall. She then received (8) new quad 40mm mounts, received the modified bridge extension(deleting the forward 40mm) and had numerous 20mms added. She also lost the hanger deck catapult but had another added on the flight deck. Other than that most Essex class ships had continuing Radar suite and 20mm changes and Yorktown was no different. She went through (3) major radar refits including relocating existing items and adding others. I hope this helps. If you need further assistance feel free to ask. I am 'very' familiar with Yorktown and the history of her changes, but am also well schooled with most WWII Essex class ships and their modifications.

[Tracy White]

There's other differences as well, we just need to know the time frame to know for sure which ones to list.