Calling all Nimitz-class CVN fans

[Mark McKinnis]

Awesome Nimitz!

I love that shot of the Kitty hawk. That is a pretty nice day and they are plowing the bow through the water. Very cool.

[Shiprat]

Awesome Nimitz!

I love that shot of the Kitty hawk. That is a pretty nice day and they are plowing the bow through the water. Very cool.

I didn't expect to see a carrier pitching like that. Good thing the aircraft are tied down.

Too bad you guys couldn't stop at the Cape, Mark. It's a nice place.

Can somebody confirm the dimensions of the walway around the ship? I have it as 6' deep and about 5' wide if the numbers on my Italeri 1:720 is to be believed.

[gtbred]

[Shiprat]

Does anybody have decent pics (or know of some on the web) of CVN 68's sponsons? I've seen some large scale models that have some of the "holes" in these sponsons covered with mesh, but I'm not sure about their placement. I'm building an R/C model and my 1:720 doesn't give much detail.

[sgtryan13]

Ok guys, I am gonna post this here forst, and probably all over the forum till someone has another jackpot of photos!

I am undertaking a commission to build a 1/350 CVN 77 USS George H W Bush. Any pictures of island closeups and the weapons sponsons would be much appreciated! Links, CD's. whatever ya got!

Thanks, Ryan.

[Gus]

Are there any line-drawings of the entire Nimitz class identifying/showing the radar/FC systems on the ships?

I have no idea what a SPS-41, SPS-43, SPS-46 LOOK like, only what they do.

Gus
Semper Fi

[Workingonitstill]

Hello all first post here so bare with me , I pulled my Nimitz 1/350 I built a few years back down for a dusting, and couldn't help but start a refit. So dose any one make decals for the flight deck or do I need to break out the masking tape?

[sgtryan13]

No aftermarket decals for all the flight deck markings, Gold Medal makes a set that has the deck and island #'s, as well as some of the smaller deck and island decals, but nothing for the main landing area markings etc.

[kidcurrie42]

Does anyone know where the port side SRBOC launchers are situated, i know the stbd side ones are on the Sparrow/CIWS sponson.

Happy Modeling

John

[sgtryan13]

Does anyone know where the port side SRBOC launchers are situated, i know the stbd side ones are on the Sparrow/CIWS sponson.

Happy Modeling

John

John, If you still have not found what you need, I can take a look at my references when I get home later adn see if I have any pictures.

Ryan

[kidcurrie42]

Thanks Ryan,

I am still searching, also trying to determine if the hangar bays were split into aircraft types, this is for a F-14, F-18, A-6, E-2, SH-3, EA-6 and S-3 airwing.

Happy Modeling

John

[sgtryan13]

The bays were split for certain A/C types, contact mark McKinnis, but this is what he told me:

"I would add one note though. Based om my ride on Nimitz and other photo's, The E-2 usually lives in the hanger bay forward of L-1, the A-6s, EA-6Bs and A-7s live at L-2 and the Tomcats live aft at L-3 and L-4. "


In fact I will be asking him what the standard parking spots are for current airwings as well.

[Mark McKinnis]

Happy Holidays Fella's,


For the newer airwings its easy, they are all Hornets living happily together in the hanger bay. I have not cruised in recent times but I would imagine that the E-2s still live in front of L-1 and the Hornets are scattered through the rest of the hanger. I would guess that the Prowlers/Growlers still live somewhere around L-2 in the bay.

[DennisJP]

Thanks Ryan,

I am still searching, also trying to determine if the hangar bays were split into aircraft types, this is for a F-14, F-18, A-6, E-2, SH-3, EA-6 and S-3 airwing.

Happy Modeling

John

I was stationed on board Nimitz from 1986 to 1990. Then again in 1993-94.
The hangar Bay is divided in to three bays by two ballistic roller doors. The Tomacats where in bay #3 by the aft two elevators behind the island. In bay #2 was one Seaking Helo right beside the Ballistic elevator door. Then the Vikings and Intruders where parked in Bay#2 and Bay#1. The aircraft parked to the Port side where always parked at angles and then they would park 2 aircraft (Usually Intruders) in Bay #1 and #2 in front as looking just pulled off the elevator.
There were never any Hawkeyes in the Hangar. The Prowlers where the same positions as the Intruders when brought to the Hangar which was not very often.
The Hornets where in Bay #1 and #2 usually parked at angles. The Vikings were usually parked for and aft.

Airwing (Usually at that time) Was:

24 F-14's (2 Squadrons)
24 A-6's (2 Squadrons)
4 E2C's (1 Squadron)
4 Helo's (1 Squadron)
4 EA6B's (1 Squadron)
10 S-3's (1 Squadron)

During a period of time in 1992-93 1 squadron of A6's I believe was replaced with a squadron of FA-18's (12 Aircraft usually) I know my last deployment in 92-93 on board before I got out she had FA-18's. I know A-6's were not removed from the fleet yet. I believe there was still some on board.

Hope this helps.

[DennisJP]

Sorry, Also for got the KA6D Tankers. A-6 with refueling capabilities. I think there were 4 of them. I think though they were with the A6 squadrons because I know the Tanker aspect is pods attached to the wing stations.

[DennisJP]

Very interesting plan of Nimitz Class.Seems that R.Reagan has only 6 decks for the island instead of 7 in Nimitz.Any confirmation or plans of decks?

When I was stationed on Nimitz there was 10 decks above the hangar deck. The top of the island where the signal bride is is the O-10 level.
The ship bellow is not really decks.
The 2nd deck which is the deck bellow the hangar deck is the "main deck" meaning all the Galley's for enlisted the medical clinic the bank the personel office is all located on this deck. Plus other offices.
You have the aft mess decks (enlisted) bellow that on the 3rd deck is the chiefs mess and berthing that you go to from the second deck but it is not a deck in its self, you just go down to their mess and berthing and up again. As well as the ships store and post office are under the aft galley as well situated like the chief mess. The rest is just access trunks to magazines and weapons elevators. You go farther aft on the second deck and you end up in "Officer Country" where their mess and state rooms are. Then all the way aft after going up and over and down again to the 2nd deck is a berthing for the enlisted mess people and bellow them is ships laundry in an access trunk just like the chiefs mess and berthing.
So down bellow is just access trunks and voids but if you want to measure it like decks like the ww2 carriers it is I think 6 decks. You got 40 ft bellow the waterline. That is 5 decks(8x5) An interior story is 8 ft. Then you got another 2 decks or so bellow the hanger deck to the waterline. I think it works out to around 6.

[DennisJP]

The Indian Ocean between India and Africa gets really rough in the summer. Our second day out of the Persain Gulf on the way home we hit 60-80 ft waves. We had white water over the bow! It sucked. Half of the ship got seasick. I was surprised that I did not get sick! Nobody had their sea legs since the gulf is like a lake and it is like being in a building unless you make a big turn. Then the ship rolls. They are big ships, but it is a big ocean. Even on a nice smooth day, you could stand on the fantail and look over the bow and see the deck going up and down. Do it long enough, you can make yourself sick.

So they move. Working on the Carrier and flying off of it was the coolest thing I have ever done. Living on it was the worst. The highest highs and the lowest lows within hours of eachother.

I'am sure you miss it just as I do! :)

[DennisJP]

Awesome Nimitz!

I love that shot of the Kitty hawk. That is a pretty nice day and they are plowing the bow through the water. Very cool. :thumbs_up_1:

I didn't expect to see a carrier pitching like that. Good thing the aircraft are tied down.

Too bad you guys couldn't stop at the Cape, Mark. It's a nice place.

Can somebody confirm the dimensions of the walway around the ship? I have it as 6' deep and about 5' wide if the numbers on my Italeri 1:720 is to be believed.

Catwalks are around 4 ft deep and 4 ft wide as far as the walking area pertaining to width. You still have the side and the life raft containers in the side catwalk rails.

[dennisJP]

When I was on Nimitz we changed home port from Norfolk VA, to Bremerton WA.
After our Med Deployment we transited around South America (Cape Horn, not The Strait Of Magellan, like Reagan) Needless to say there was waves comeing over the bow of the ship and the ship rolled so far to Starboard that the sponson that the crane sits on aft of L-3 hit the water. They said the ship was not capable of taking a 20 degree roll and we went over 35 degrees. I thought we were sunk and would all die. LOL
During that time we lost our wire whip antennas and a portion of the catwalk along the flight deck as well as cracked the base of our mast. I guess that is why they went to the big bulky masts now instead of the pole mast the ship had before.

[kidcurrie42]

Great help Dennis Thanks so much

Happy Modeling

John