Model Monkey Korean War-era SCB-27 Essex class islands

[ModelMonkey]

We are pleased to announce that the designs for two SCB-27 modernized Korean War-era Essex class islands is complete. They are intended for straight-deck Essex class models. They are available in several popular scales. Other scales are possible.

Link: http://www.shapeways.com/shops/Model_Monkey

These first two designs represent the islands of USS Ticonderoga CV-14 and USS Oriskany CV-34 as they appeared circa 1953-1954.

Accurate and highly detailed, these SCB-27 islands offer the modeler an attractive alternative to scratch-building or altering the plastic kit's island parts in order to build a Korean War-era, straight-deck ship.

With minor modifications, it can be adapted to represent other Korean War-era straight-deck Essex class carriers.

For 1/350, scale, these islands are recommended for:

- Trumpeter 1/350 USS Ticonderoga CV-14 (# 05609)
- Trumpeter 1/350 USS Hancock CV-19 (# 05610)
- Trumpeter 1/350 USS Essex CV-9 (# 05602)
- Trumpeter 1/350 USS Yorktown CV-10 (# 05603)
- Trumpeter 1/350 USS Franklin CV-13 (# 05604)

Note: when the Essex class islands were modernized, they were made shorter at the aft end. These islands, true to the originals, are accurately shorter than the World War Two-era kit's parts. Some adjustment of the plastic kit's flight deck parts may be needed for best fit. Because of the bow and flight deck length, Trumpeter's long-hull Essex class kits, USS Ticonderoga and USS Hancock may be better starting points than the short-hull USS Essex, USS Yorktown, and USS Franklin kits for your conversion.

Features:
- fully assembled
- open bridge and PriFly windows with delicate framing
- details consistent with photos of the actual ship
- decks properly offset to port, they should NOT be centered on the island
- properly shaped decks and deck features
- accurately shaped SPN-8 radar platform and dome aft of the island
- battle lookout details
- flag lockers and splinter shielding shape specific to Ticonderoga
- deck supporting structure details accurately positioned as confirmed by photos of the real ship
- delicate exterior piping detail and routing specific for Ticonderoga
- porthole rigols ("eyebrows")
- carefully researched and accurately placed bridge "soft-top" framing
- door overhead chevron-shaped rain deflectors
- open funnel cap (grille not included), ready for your favorite photoetch set

Some part cleanup will be necessary. The 3D printing process uses a waxy substance to support certain part features. Although the parts are cleaned by Shapeways, some waxy residue may remain. It can be safely removed with water and a mild aqueous detergent like "Simple Green" using an old, soft toothbrush, Q-tips or pipe cleaners. Customers report that "Bestine" and "Goo Gone" also work well.

During the printing process, liquid resin is cured by ultraviolet light. Microscopic bits of resin may remain uncured. Let your parts sit in direct sunlight for a few hours to fully cure the resin.

Water-based acrylic paints meant for plastics is strongly recommended. Other paints, especially enamels, may not cure on Frosted Detail 3D-printed plastics.

� Model Monkey Book and Hobby. This 3D-printed item may not be copied or recast.

Here is USS Ticonderoga CV-14:

And here is USS Oriskany CV-34:

Model Monkey 1-350 USS Oriskany island 1954.e.png (195.65 KiB) Viewed 2717 times

[ModelMonkey]

The design for an SCB-27 modernized 1/700 Ticonderoga CV-14 island as it appeared about 1954 is complete, uploaded to Shapeways, and has passed Shapeways' design analysis software evaluation.

It is ready to order. Link: https://www.shapeways.com/product/89YPZ ... an-war-era

Recommended for:[/b]

Dragon 1/700 USS Essex CV-9 (# 7049)
Dragon 1/700 USS Hornet CV-12 (# 7085)
Dragon 1/700 USS Lexington CV-16 (# 7051)
Dragon 1/700 USS Randolph CV-15 (# 7050)
Dragon 1/700 USS Hancock CV-19 (# 7056)
Dragon 1/700 USS Bob Homme Richard CV-31 (# 7063)
Dragon 1/700 USS Antietam CV-36 (# 7064)
Dragon 1/700 USS Boxer LPH-4 (# 7070)
Dragon 1/700 USS Princeton CV-37 (# 7079)
Hasegawa 1/700 USS Essex CV-9 (# 102, 44108 and WL-A108)
Hasegawa 1/700 USS Yorktown CV-10 (# 44709)
Hasegawa 1/700 USS Ticonderoga CV-14 (# 44710)
Hasegawa 1/700 USS Hancock CV-19 (# 113)
Trumpeter 1/700 USS Essex CV-9 (# 05728)
?Trumpeter 1/700 USS Yorktown CV-10 (# 05729)
?Trumpeter 1/700 USS Franklin CV-13 (# 05730)
?Trumpeter 1/700 USS Ticonderoga CV-14 (# 05736)
?Trumpeter 1/700 USS Hancock CV-19 (# 05737)

When the Essex class islands were modernized, they were made shorter at the aft end. This island, true to the original, is accurately shorter than the World War Two-era kit's parts. Some adjustment of the plastic kit's flight deck parts may be needed for best fit.

Because of the bow and flight deck length of Korean War-ear Essex class ships, "long-hull" Essex class kits, such as USS Ticonderoga, USS Randolph, USS Hancock, USS Princeton, USS Antietam, and USS Boxer may be better starting points than the "short-hull" Essex class kits and require less effort for your conversion.

[jpeeler]

This is good stuff. I love it. Any chance of these in the 1/530 or so range? I'm having devilish visions of backdating a Revell box-scale kit to earlier Yorktown or maybe Lake Champlain.

Jodie Peeler

[Christoph Mentzel]

This design looks awesome very useful to convert a WW II Essex class carrier into a korean war configuration.

After the Oriskany and Ticonderoga island, will be the next in the line a Essex (CV 9 ) island follow ?

I think the CV 9 island is a little different to Tico and Oriskany or ? ( deckshouse in front of the island and funnel )

Best regards
Chris

[ModelMonkey]

This design looks awesome very useful to convert a WW II Essex class carrier into a korean war configuration.

After the Oriskany and Ticonderoga island, will be the next in the line a Essex (CV 9 ) island follow ?

I think the CV 9 island is a little different to Tico and Oriskany or ? ( deckshouse in front of the island and funnel )

Best regards
Chris

After a special request for a 1952-53 Yorktown, Essex is next in line after I finish CV-8 Hornet and Lexington class funnels. And Essex's island is quite a bit different. PM inbound.

This is good stuff. I love it. Any chance of these in the 1/530 or so range? I'm having devilish visions of backdating a Revell box-scale kit to earlier Yorktown or maybe Lake Champlain.

Jodie Peeler

Done. 1/530 USS Yorktown CV-10 as it appeared in 1953 is ready to backdate your Revell kit!

[ModelMonkey]

Here's the island of USS Yorktown CV-10 as is appeared in 1953-1954, now available in 1/350, 1/530 and 1/700 scales. Other scales possible. It is intended for straight-deck Essex class kits.

It was in this configuration for Yorktown's 7-month Korean War deployment.

This model can be easily adapted for Yorktown's 1955-1960 angle-deck appearance using any angle-deck model kit, 1/700 scale and larger, including Gallery Models' USS Intrepid CVS-11 kit.

Photo courtesy Ray D. Bean.

[MartinJQuinn]

Steve - You need to do a 3D part for the escalator as well. (hint, hint)

[ModelMonkey]

Steve - You need to do a 3D part for the escalator as well. (hint, hint)

Indeed! Still looking for accurate 2D drawings of it from which to make a quality 3D design.

In the mean time, Korean War-era islands for Hornet CV-12 and Kearsarge CV-33 are ready.

Essex's 1951 appearance has some significant differences than the islands of the other ships of the class so will take longer to design.

Note the location of PriFly and the flag lockers. When compared to other ships, they are at different levels.

[jpeeler]

I received my 1953 Yorktown island in the mail today. I can't get over how much detail is packed into this one little component, and neither will you when you see one. Anyone who's been thinking it over, you can order without hesitation because it's good stuff. Thanks for doing all these projects, and this one in particular, Steve! Looking forward to what's ahead.

Jodie Peeler

[ModelMonkey]

I received my 1953 Yorktown island in the mail today. I can't get over how much detail is packed into this one little component, and neither will you when you see one. Anyone who's been thinking it over, you can order without hesitation because it's good stuff. Thanks for doing all these projects, and this one in particular, Steve! Looking forward to what's ahead.

Jodie Peeler

Thanks so much, Jodie!! Looking forward to seeing your Korean War build! Really admire your work.

Here's a little of what's ahead for Korean War Essex class fans: thanks to a request from Christoph Mentzel, the design for USS Essex CV-9 as it appeared in 1951 is complete. Essex retained her straight deck at this time but with the redesigned SCB-27 island you see here. It is available in 1/700 (Dragon, Hasegawa and Trumpeter), 1/525 (Lindberg) and 1/350 (Trumpeter). Other scales are possible. Compared to other ships of the class, it's PriFly and port-side flag lockers are in unique locations (see photo below) and the level above the pilot house is differently shaped. By 1953, PriFly and the port-side flag lockers had been relocated. This design captures the 1951-1952 appearance, perfect for those modeling the ship during combat operations off Korea. Get out your Banshees, AD-1 Skyraiders, Phantom FH-1s and Panthers!

Photo courtesy Ray D. Bean.

[Christoph Mentzel]

Hi Steve,

she looks absolute great I can't wait to see the island in my hand !
I think the island is a eyecatcher on every Essex carrier! I will replace my Essex island immediatley

Best regards

Chris

[ModelMonkey]

By special request (thanks, Hamish!), an island design with features specific to USS Lake Champlain CV-39 as it appeared circa 1953 during the Korean War is now ready in 1/700 scale.

In all of these SCB-27 designs, the flag lockers are open.

1-700 Lake Champlain CV-39 Island 1953.d.jpg (9.96 KiB) Viewed 2074 times

[jpeeler]

By special request (thanks, Hamish!), an island design with features specific to USS Lake Champlain CV-39 as it appeared circa 1953 during the Korean War is now ready in 1/700 scale.

Excellent! Exactly what I need for my Iron Shipwright kit. Thanks, Steve!

Jodie Peeler

[TOMLABEL]

All of these are awesome!!! My head is spinning....

Papa John's anyone?

[ModelMonkey]

Thanks, Jodie and Kelley!!

I'll take thin crust pepperoni with extra cheese. The kind that goes straight to your aorta and blocks it solid. But tasty.

A couple modelers emailed to ask about some of the differences in the islands. Most differences are quite subtle. Others are not. For example, compare these renderings for Essex and Lake Champlain. You can see several significant differences between the designs, most notably:

1) splinter shielding and deck shape above the pilot house
2) presence (Essex) or absence (Lake Champlain) of a deckhouse aft of the Mk.37 director tower on the level above the pilot house
3) location of PriFly and the supporting structure beneath it
4) location, size and detailing of the flag lockers
5) presence (Essex) or absence (Lake Champlain) of splinter shielding on the lower starboard side walkway

Have fun, monkey around.

[ModelMonkey]

Here's a summary of modernized island designs, each one unique, completed for specific ships:

USS Essex CV-9 (1951)
USS Yorktown CV-10 (1953)
USS Intrepid CVS-11 (1967)*
USS Hornet CV-12 (1954)
USS Ticonderoga CV-14 (1954)
USS Ticonderoga CVA-14 (1967)*
USS Randolph CV-15 (1953)
USS Lexington CVT-16 (1993)
USS Wasp CV-18 (1953)
USS Kearsarge CV-33 (1953)
USS Oriskany CV-34 (1954)
USS Oriskany CVA-34 (1974)*
USS Shangri La CVA-38 (1968)*
USS Lake Champlain CV-39 (1953)

Link: http://www.shapeways.com/shops/Model_Monkey

* The Korean War-era SCB-27 islands are presently available in all popular scales 1/700 and larger. Vietnam-era islands are not available in 1/700, only in scales larger than 1/700 (bridge and PryFly window framing are too fine to print in 1/700).