Calling all Commencement Bay-class (CVE-105) fans

[James Hood]

If single-ship classes can have their own threads, why not the excellent CVE-105 USS Commencement Bay class?

In this opinion, they were the best escort carriers ever built and the class has a fine history.

So...anchors aweigh, let's talk CVE-105s.

And besides that, the 1/700 Fleetnet kit recently arrived by UPS, so thoughts, inspirations, experiences, builds, plans, air groups...

...are all welcome.

[NukeMM]

Well done, James, for starting this "Calling all..." thread.

Is the Fleetline kit that same as "FleetNet"? I built the FleetNet kit into the USS Mindoro CVE-120. It is in my Gallery, here.

It was officially my very, first resin kit and was a Christmas present to my Dad in 2007. That's when I got started into serious ship modeling. My Dad was aboard her for a few months in 1953 just before getting out of the Navy.

From what I can remember, the kit goes together very, nicely and with problem with seems, etc. The hull sponsons fit very, well.

I tried to modify the open bridge to a close one and replicate the Mindoro's island. I'd like to do it over, now that I have a little more experience with modifications.

I'd really love to be able to build a 1/350 CVE-120 and give that to my father, too.

[James Hood]

Nuke, 'must eat rats in embarassment for the company name error; the 1/700 kit is indeed Fleetnet, edited above. Thank you for your comments on the build experience.

'Had a love affair-lite for decades with the CVE-105 class; they are just so full of personality.

Interestingly, a (RIP Father Joe) priest friend was a Marine aboard one as a mere youth. It was in the CVE with a Marine air group during the Korean War, that he discerned and after discharge from the Corps, followed his Calling.

As things sometimes work out, another friend (only three towns distant from Fr. Joe) was a Marine at "Frozen Chosin" and he talked at length of how the Marine Corsairs would come in again and again, every day for weeks, tearing the Chinese divisions into horrors of gore, then come back to drop blankets, boots, ammo, food, medical supplies to their brothers in arms.

'Never did find out if (Father) Joe's ship was one of the CVE-105s supporting Sgt Chuck (RIP) and the "Chosin Few."

Somewhere, 'have the 1/384 Floating Drydock plans. Thought was to do a scratchbuild, blowing the plans up to 1/72 (or now, with a bit more sanity, 1/350).

[NukeMM]

I wasn't trying to correct your spelling/type-o, James. This kit has been packaged under two brand names and I couldn't remember name, other than FleetNet's.

There is a review, here, on MWS. And one on SteelNavy.com. One for each brand name, I think.

http://www.modelwarships.com/reviews/sh ... eview.html

http://steelnavy.com/FleetnetCommencementBay.htm

I'm pretty sure that it was Mark at Starfighter that made the custom white decals for my model.

Here are pics that my Dad took aboard USS Mindoro CVE-120. I submitted them to Navsource.org.







There are a few more here: http://s264.photobucket.com/albums/ii19 ... 20CVE-120/

[keithhufnagel]

Wow! are those first two photos F7F Tigercats? Great picts!

[Cliffy B]

Wow! are those first two photos F7F Tigercats? Great picts!

Don't think so; too tubby. Look more like S2F (S-2) Trackers. The bottom shot if an AF Guardian. All are Grumman though.

[James Hood]

Thank you for ssharing the excellent photos, Nuke.

Yes, the twins are really early S2F-1 Trackers; amazing they could operate off a CVE, albeit a big one. The AF-1 and -2 Guardians certainly tested the raw power of their P&W R-2800s, operating off the CVE without a catapult, as in the photos.

BTW, Navy aircraft began transitioning to the Light Gull Grey over White in '57, so these were likely first-production run Trackers.

Serious sub-hunting, ca. early '50s.

[DennisJP]

Awesome picks from your Dad. Good shot of the Deck Blue paint as well there.

[t mart]

My grandfather served aboard the USS Siboney (CVE-112) at the end of WWII (1944-1946 I believe... the ship arrived at Pearl just after Japan surrendered). I would kill to build a model of it (preferably in 350th scale), so if anyone has any ideas on making that happen - I'm all ears.

Cheers!