1/700 USS Lexington 1941

[marijn van gils]

Matt is correct about the MS12. The top film still on page 24 of the Wiper book shows the demarkation clearly, and it is about half way in between the top of the armor belt (=top of the boot stripe) and the flight deck edge, just a little above the degaussing cables.

The photo's of her on page 23 also show MS12 (5/12/41), but the demarcation is less clear.

There might be some small differences between an october/november Lex as in the MS1 pic, and a late december '41 to early '42 Lex, but nothing to worry about.
On page 24, the markings on the flight deck look very dark, as if they were overpainted? Also, there is a row of large life rafts hanging on the inside of the funnel (not on the outside yet at that time). There are some more life rafts hanging in the flight deck safety netting by the way.

The badly chalked 5D/S and the false bow wave would make for a spectacular model though�
But with her later in MS12, you can have her aircraft with the red and white tail stripes, which can look good also.

Cheers,

Marijn

[Cliffy B]

This might help you with your painting: http://www.shipcamouflage.com/ships2_9_41_plate_14.htm

Source: http://www.shipcamouflage.com/ships2_9_ ... ntents.htm

[ArizonaBB39]

Cliffy, thanks for that! I guess I need to spend more time searching around the ship camouflage website.

[ArizonaBB39]

OK so I am a little confused about what camouflage and when Lexington was wearing it. Does anyone know exactly when Lexington wore Ms1 vs Ms12? Thanks

[taskforce48]

It's tough to tell, but her last major yard period was at Hunter Point in Mid October where some color film was taken but it is difficult to tell for sure. Images of her on 12/7/41 for sure show her in MS12 which you see in images being painted out while her 8in guns are being removed in March-April of 41.

HTH

Matt

[ArizonaBB39]

Thanks Matt, looks like I'll be painting her in Ms12 as that's closer to the time period I want to depict her in. Gives me a chance to paint something other than Ms1 and Ms11

So she most likely wore Ms1 from July '41(?)-October '41, then Ms12 October '41-March '42, then Ms21 (or was it Ms11?) March '42-May '42 when she was sunk. Three different camouflage schemes in less than a year, must have been a lot of work for such a large ship!!

PS, I bet you meant March-April of 1942

[Cliffy B]

Here are the original color plates from that pub I posted above. They are much clearer than those lower-res ones that were redrawn. Its a later version of the same pub but still may help.

http://maritime.org/doc/camo/index.htm

[ArizonaBB39]

Well the plotter at work was out of ink, so I printed each page I needed of the booklet of general plans in sections on 11x17 paper and have started taping it together. The plans are a definite help. My 3DModelParts order should be here by the end of the week and I can finish installing the weaponry on the Port side of the ship. After that I'll attach the flight deck and clean up the seams then paint the hull. I stopped by the hobby store today and bought some 5O, 5H, and 20B paint. I should have enough 5S left to do the lower band of paint. I also stained the wood flight deck last night. I'm not sure I like it. I'll post pictures tonight after I get home from class. I'm a little surprised Artwox doesn't produce an already colored deck (maybe they do? I don't know).

[ArizonaBB39]

Pictures of the stained wood flight deck. What do you guys think?

[gscott]

The stained deck looks great, Abram. I can't wait to see it assembled on the hull. I especially like how the non-uniform coloration will provide a weathered appearance. What color/methods did you use?

[ArizonaBB39]

Thanks Greg! The color was a mixture of insignia blue and 5D dark grey (I think it was a 1:5 ratio). After I mixed the color thoroughly I thinned it down a lot and brushed it on with my widest brush. It took several coats before I got it to a shade I felt was appropriate.

[ArizonaBB39]

Time for an actual update. I got my 3DModelParts order today and got the rest of the 5"/25 guns installed. I glued the flight deck down and primed the ship. I painted the boot topping and then the hull. I think my band of 5S is just a bit too low, but too late now. I also installed the wood deck. I had to cut it up smaller than it came and it left tiny little seams. I'll thin down some paint and flow it in the seams and then park some airplanes over top









And one with Pennsylvania

[taskforce48]

[MartinJQuinn]

I think my band of 5S is just a bit too low, but too late now.

It should come to right under the boat pockets, IIRC. Looks good Abe - keep it going.

[ArizonaBB39]

Thanks Matt and Martin. Since I knew the 5S band was much too short I couldn't live with it and fixed it.





I brought it up to just below the boat pockets per Martin, and looking at the plans on the HNSA site for the location of the hangar deck.

[MartinJQuinn]

Thanks Matt and Martin. Since I knew the 5S band was much too short I couldn't live with it and fixed it.

Ah - now you are a REAL modeler. Ok, I jest (sort of)...

[ArizonaBB39]

Thanks Matt and Martin. Since I knew the 5S band was much too short I couldn't live with it and fixed it.

Ah - now you are a REAL modeler. Ok, I jest (sort of)...

I painted the stripes on the flight deck, per the picture Rick posted earlier. Now I've got to figure out how to paint the "LEX" on there...



*Edit* I do know the starboard stripe is crooked as it nears the stern. I'll leave it for now (shh, quiet Martin )

[MartinJQuinn]

Stencils

[ArizonaBB39]

I had a question about the picture Rick posted, reposted below:



Is that a deck stripe just aft of the aft most 8" gun running perpendicular to the others? (It lines up with the gang way leading off the port side of the ship). I'm on my phone, otherwise I would have circled the area in question.

Also, what color do you guys suppose the wind break on the bow was? It looks too light to have been 20B.

[taskforce48]

Yes, you can see it in the photo of the Brewster landing on the ship camouflage site.

HTH
Matt