The Ship Model Forum

Same area, but different details by then. I had thought that there was a good, clear shot on Navsource, but I'm having a hard time finding it. For now, you can sorta make it out in this CV-10 photo, above the SBD "29" in the distance. They were square early on.

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Tracy White -Researcher@Large

"Let the evidence guide the research. Do not have a preconceived agenda which will only distort the result."
-Barbara Tuchman

Good Day:

I have two questions regarding the HORNET (CV-12) and BENNINGTON (CV-20). First, the DML kit of HORNET lists her in her 1945 configuration but wearing her MS 32 camouflage. Several photos from March and April 1945 show HORNET in a very worn, faded paint scheme. At this time, HORNET clearly has the early bridge, single starboard catapult, and no hangar deck catapult. The forward port hangar deck level platform has the two 40mm mounts there. My question is this: Does the DML kit portray HORNET as she appeared in April-March 1945 or does the kit reflect the summer 1945 configuration with the modified bridge (in which case the camouflage scheme would be incorrect)?

My second question is in regards to the port forward hangar deck opening. I would like to confirm that CV-20 was completed without the arched door opening common to other short hull ships of the class. The door style would have been the same as for the long-hull variants which (like CV-20) were never completed with a hangar deck catapult. I have one photo (NS022029) which appears to show the different doors, but I would like to confirm this.

Thanks.

The "Hornet 1945" label is a bit of a misnomer. It's essentially kitted for her 1943 - June 1945 fit.

CV-20 did not have the arched doors.

Hope this helps!

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Tracy White -Researcher@Large

"Let the evidence guide the research. Do not have a preconceived agenda which will only distort the result."
-Barbara Tuchman

Thanks, Tracy. I appreciate the information on BENNINGTON very much. This makes CV-20 rather unique among short-hull ESSEXs.

The DML HORNET kit appears to have two flight deck catapults. It was my understanding that CV-12 didn't get the port catapult until her summer 1945 refit. If so, then the DML ESSEX kit may be the better starting point for HORNET. I am aware that the radar suite is different but that will be done with PE anyway.

I think it might depend - do you find it easier to fill and rescribe a bunch of parallel lines, or scratch build / modify some island platforms. It's been a while since I worked on the kits, but from memory, we had Dragon redo some platforms on the island for the CV-12 kit. I believe they declined to remove the catapult for tooling cost reasons.

MW CV-9 review
Step 8 Piece F4, I remember looking for some photos of the area between the gun tub and the splinter shields for Dragon. I can't make it out enough in this scan of the instructions to to see for sure

Corresponding MW CV-12 review
Step 8, piece R1 - Direct Link

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Tracy White -Researcher@Large

"Let the evidence guide the research. Do not have a preconceived agenda which will only distort the result."
-Barbara Tuchman

Tracy:

I see what you mean. Does the R sprue apply to all ships with the early bridge? Building platforms to correct shapes is to me a lot easier than redoing a flight deck planking pattern.

I have two ESSEX kits on hand and was thinking about using one for WASP and one for HORNET. If I pick up a DML HORNET, I can always swap the two-cat flight deck for the single cat flight deck. No of the current ESSEX kits (DML or Trumpeter) have ESSEX with the correct bridge for her 1944 appearance in MS 32/6-10d, so some work will have to be done there.

Also, I assume that the comment in the review about the shortened flight deck is an error. I have seen no evidence that this was done, and I'll bet that the Air Department would have pitched a hissy fit if anyone had tried.

It was molded specifically for the Hornet *kit* but should work for most of the early fits. There were some minor differences between ships that came out of different yards, so "check your references" holds true.



Which review was that in? I didn't read them before posting, was mainly after the instructions sheets with their isometric drawings. Only one ship had a "permanently" shortened flight deck, and Essex, Hornet, and Wasp weren't that ship. One of the collapsed flight deck ships (I think Hornet) launched planes off flight deck afterwards, but I think it was mainly to move them to another ship.

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Tracy White -Researcher@Large

"Let the evidence guide the research. Do not have a preconceived agenda which will only distort the result."
-Barbara Tuchman

Need help identifying hull plate opening. Is it a door opening or some vent opening? AOTS Intrepid shows the Compressor room on the other side of the bulkhead, but no opening according to the A8/1 General Arrangements drawing. Nor does there seem to be any vent trunk shown on the hanger deck for this opening. There is the vent opening above on the forecastle deck. Please, what is this opening? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

I have the Booklet of General Plans from SHANGRI-LA dated 7 April 1945 and they show the same item at that location (Frame 79) in the starboard profile drawing, but do not identify it. It is outboard of Compressor Room, B-101-L. There is a symbol at that location on the Main Deck drawing. According to a Naval Blueprint Reading manual, the symbol may indicate a check valve. Not sure if there is a connection between the symbol on the deck plan and the item on the profile. The item also shows on the profile drawings for INTREPID -1944, RANDOLPH - 1945, and SHANGRI-LA - 1951, but is not identified.

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USS SHANGRI-LA Association
http://www.USS-SHANGRI-LA.com
http://www.VBF-85.com

Looked at a few photos of said opening and they all seem to show a metal screen or mesh covering it with 3 horizontal and 1 vertical metal brace. I think its an intake of some sort.

You can that symbol on a set of plans for CL-89 on bulkheads of fan rooms; Page 6 Main Deck.
http://www.hnsa.org/doc/plans/cl89.pdf

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Drawing Board:
1/700 Whiff USS Leyte and escorts 1984
1/700 Whiff USN Modernized CAs 1984
1/700 Whiff ASW Showdown - FFs vs SSGN 1984

Slipway:
1/700 Whiff USN ASW Hunter Killer Group Dio 1984

Question what would Lexington CV-16 have looked like in April 1944 radars, AA, visually, and structurally, Etc,during raids on Hollaindia as part of TF 58.3?

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Planned projects
1/700 USS Macon CA-132
1/350 USS Wasp CV-18
1/350 USS Alabama BB-60

Could someone help me out and recommend which of Trumpeter's 1/350 Essex class kits would be closest to USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) circa February 1945 during the Home Islands raids?

I build 1/48 WWII aircraft exclusively and came upon the idea of doing the entire lineup for CAG 84 during the raids (nothing spices up GSB paint schemes like a yellow nose and some white arrows!), and then I thought it would be a great project to add their ship to the mix for a really nice display. The aircraft particulars I can handle easily, but I'm admittedly clueless about ships. I didn't even realize there were so many camo schemes.

Trumpeter's line seems like a good fit for what I want to do, maybe a little PE added in to improve it without going off the deep end trying to make it 100% accurate. I would appreciate it if you guys could lend me some knowledge and experience to get me pointed in the right direction as I have no experience with ship kits or aftermarket.

Thanks in advance!

I am planning on using the Trumpeter CV-13 Franklin Kit. Should be pretty close with some potential mods to the mast's.

I was leaning towards the Yorktown kit after taking a look at the wooden flight deck upgrade set from Pontos. It seems like a really nice addition and has the stencils for both "13" and "17", so I am assuming the Yorktown mirrors Franklin and Bunker Hill so the differences come down to aircraft included in the kit?

Actually, just did some research here and see that the kits are considered indentical except for Franklin's included Corsairs, which I would want. I will have to be sure and follow your work on the kit Mark, and thanks for the tip.

Bunker Hill will be a while. I have about 4 or 5 1/350 ships ahead of her. I am trying to finish up a 1/350 Kearsarge SCB-27A ship I am doing but I keep getting bogged down. It is the Iron Ship Wright conversion set and it is a bit of a beast. At least I have the air wing done so that is half the battle. Ticonderogs (Gallery Intrepid) will be next, then Essex, and on it goes.

Would the Trumpeter USS Franklin kit or their USS Essex kit be better for a conversion to a 1944 Lexington?

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Planned projects
1/700 USS Macon CA-132
1/350 USS Wasp CV-18
1/350 USS Alabama BB-60

Neither kit is perfect. She came out of overhaul in February of 1944 in a fit that's different than either kit. She had the increased side quad 40mms like the CV-13 kit, but the early bridge quad 40mm and single stern quad 40mm like the CV-9 kit. You might be best of either trying to find a scrap kit of one for parts or getting a CV-13 kit and the Pontos CV-10 detail set (if you want that much work) as it has parts for both the single and double quad 40mm stern fits. You'd still have to rework the front of the island though, to add the quad 40mm that was there.

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Tracy White -Researcher@Large

"Let the evidence guide the research. Do not have a preconceived agenda which will only distort the result."
-Barbara Tuchman

Thanks Tracy. Do you happen to know what her A/C looked like in 1944?

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Planned projects
1/700 USS Macon CA-132
1/350 USS Wasp CV-18
1/350 USS Alabama BB-60

Tracy,

Going back to page 104, when I was on Hornet about a week-and-a-half ago, I found the space in the image below, and was wondering if it was an original space, or post-war addition.

It's in hangar bay two, on the port side, opposite the aft end of the island.

It looks somewhat similar to the Bunker Hill space inquired about earlier, but seemingly a little smaller.

I hope to be on Lexington in about a week-and-a-half, and will check out her hangar deck for this space as well.

Thanks,

Mark

If I may, when in 1944?

CVG-16 had tri-color F6F-3s, SBDs, and TBF/Ms (early 1944 through about July, i.e., the Turkey Shoot).

CVG-19 had sea blue F6F-5s, tri-color SB2Cs and TBF/Ms (~July through November, i.e., Philippines & Leyte Gulf, and each squadron had unique markings).

CVG-20 was basically the same as CVG-19, except they had Enterprise's old triangle G-symbol on their vertical stabilizers.

If you need more details, just ask! I can hunt up the specific dates, and there's fairly good photographic representation of Lexington's air groups for 1944.