Calling all Midway-class (CVB-41) fans

[SeanF]

Like this??

CVA 41 Stbd Color.jpg

That's one of those photos that looks like it's a graded scheme, but you actually can't tell anything in that regard because the hull rounds down right at the edge of the hangar deck and casts a shadow (unlike Essexes, where there is a decent expanse of vertical slab-sides all the way up to the flight deck). Note how the same dark tone goes all the way up the forecastle where the hull is continuous up past hangar level. On the photo I posted the link to, the demarcation between lower and upper hull color can be seen along the bow, where there is no deck edge, hull knuckle, or overhang of the correct contour to cause a line of such uniform height above the waterline.

As for Coral Sea in 1952, I don't think the USN was using any graded schemes that late; though as always, the right photo could prove this wrong.

- Sean F.

[Russ2146]

[Russ2146]

Dane,

CVA 41 Sep 1952.jpg (12.15 KiB) Viewed 91733 times

[gtbred]

[JevJanson]

A question for you all:

How hard would it be to convert an Essex kit to the Midway in 1:350?

[Dick J]

Midway was 80' longer and 20' wider than an Essex. The hull form was also very different. In my opinion, it would almost be easier to scratch-build than to try and convert, since most of the structrures would have to be scratch-built anyway. About the only things to carry over would be MK-37 directors, 40MM and 20MM guns, anchors, and some of the electronics.

[ScatXXVII]

This may be ordering on insanity, but I've decided to build the old 1954 Revell offering for the 3rd time in my life. I did it once as a child in the 1960's, again in college in the 1970's, and now I'm finally doing a back dating of the kit to 1950 when my father was assigned to the MarDet during cruises in the Med.

Several reworks include:

Waterlined the kit - done

I reworked the 5" and replaced the 3"/50 with 40mm from the Missouri kit. Adding director tubs and Mk 51 directors to replace the "blobs".

It will receive extensive PE, rails and other.

It will have Bearcats! I have photos the were in dad's posession that show 2 squadrons of F8F-1B Bearcats on Midway. I can find no documentation in air wing assignments that 2 squadrons were ever assigned, but pictures aren't as subject to mistakes as text can be. Is anyone able to shed any light on this? Please speak up. I have 25 Bearcats cast and awaiting further refinement.

Question? Can anyone provide information or pictures of the "other" directors that appear on the port side at a higher level? There appear to be 3-4 to port and another to starboard just ahead of the island. Were they MK 56 by chance? Any help in this matter is greatly appreciated.

I will post more photos as the build progresses.

Dave

[ScatXXVII]

Revell 1/540 ..... Bordering on insanity.

Attaching the photo that was apparently too large.

Dave

[Guest]

It will have Bearcats! I have photos the were in dad's posession that show 2 squadrons of F8F-1B Bearcats on Midway. I can find no documentation in air wing assignments that 2 squadrons were ever assigned, but pictures aren't as subject to mistakes as text can be. Is anyone able to shed any light on this? Please speak up. I have 25 Bearcats cast and awaiting further refinement.

Dave

I can find that in 1950 Midway had VF-72 (F8F-1B) assigned for her July-November Med cruise, but the rest of the fighter squadrons were VF-71 (F9F-2), VF-73 (F4U-4), & VF-74 (F4U-4). The rest of the air wing was VA-75 (AD-4), VC-4 Det. 5 (F4U-5N), VC-62 Det. 5 (F4U-5P), VC-12 Det. 5 (AD-2W/3W), & HU-2 Det. 5 (HO3S-1).

It is likely that the photos of another F8F squadron were either visitors from another carrier or a squadron training aboard before or after that cruise... or there was a different F8F squadron for her January-May 1950 Med cruise. All I can find for that cruise is VF-41 (F4U-5), ,VF-42 (F4U-5), VF-43 (F4U-4), VA-44 (AD-1), VA-45 (AD-1), VC-4 Det. 5 (F4U-5N), VC-62 Det. 5 (F4U-5P), VC-12 Det. 5 (TBM-3E), & HU-2 Det. 5 (HO3S-1). Note the wholesale change in VF & VA squadrons, and that there is one fewer fighter squadron... it is possible that this list is incomplete.

[JevJanson]

Here's what is on the build list for the next month or so:

USS Midway CV-41: Reactivated and used as helo carrier. Also can operate F-35 fighters.

[alleydude]

Here's my Midway. This was the first model I had built in about 15 years:




More pictures here:

http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm

Ken

~

[gtbred]

[alleydude]

Thanks for the kind words. That was not a cheap ship, cost me over $90 on ebay delivered, and it had issues that I listed in the article, but it was worth it, in my opinion. I served on the midway from '85-88, so it held some meaning for me. Now if I can find one of the later versions in kit form I will build it as it was when I sailed on it. Those kits are getting hard to find as well.

[mmaresm]

Where here She is... my version of Midway in '91 fit, during the time of Desert Storm. Put some music to it as well as some photos of USS MIDWAY CV-41 in San Diego, CA.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=aa1_1348463212

Take a look at her, any comments about the model or video are welcomed.

Moe

[reznap2002]

I have a 1/540 coral sea. I would like to convert the cougars to panthers. I know starfighter decals has panthers but they will not be available until next year. I purchased 3 more sets of the revell cougars before I found out I needed panthers. My understanding is at this scale I need to change the wings and add tip fuel tanks. I have seen the panthers Patrick Cosgrove made but can not find a contact address for him.

Could someone advise me on how to convert the cougars to panthers and what to use for the fuel tanks?

[Cliffy B]

I can e-mail you some line drawings of each plane, send me your address and which models of the planes you need, IE F9F-3,4,5 etc...

As for making the tip tanks I'd figure out their size and then use some round stock to make them. Just cut to length and sand to shape. Its time consuming yes but in such a small scale they shouldn't take too long.

I'll scale the drawings to 1/540 as well so you can take measurements.

-Mike

[gtbred]

anybody knowns were i can find photos or plans of the hangerdeck 1960-1999?

[domi13]

Hello gtbred,

anybody knowns were i can find photos or plans of the hangerdeck 1960-1999?

Have you tried this (1987)?
http://www.hnsa.org/doc/plans/cv41.pdf

Best regards,
domi13

[Brian Dale]

I'm building the USS midway circa 1957-58 time frame and am having a hard time finding color pics on how the deck was painted. The FDR references I have from the same time seem to be different from the midway so I don't think they were the same. What I think is all the deck marking forward of the port elevator were simply yellow including the elevator warning stripes. The main deck dark gray with "modern" white stripes in the recover area. Can anyone confirm this?

[JasonW]

Where here She is... my version of Midway in '91 fit, during the time of Desert Storm. Put some music to it as well as some photos of USS MIDWAY CV-41 in San Diego, CA.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=aa1_1348463212

Take a look at her, any comments about the model or video are welcomed.

Moe

Moe, the model looks fantastic! Great job!