Vlad wrote:
Thanks again
I'm building the Trumpeter 1/700 Hornet. Is there an issue with the flight deck length on it? The hull shape forward is wonky but that's not relevant to the deck spot, I thought it was in scale at least.
One thing you said that just clicked for me, the bombers were not all warmed up at the same time? That means they wouldn't need clearance between the props of one and the rudder of the next, should be able to squeeze tighter. It will take me a little while to fully build all of them, but I might make that my priority for this project to be able to test the line-up!
Vlad -
I am working in 1/350 so I can't comment on 1/700 kits. I know I found a number of errors in the 1/350 models - some easy to fix, some not. Flight deck length was one error on one kit, the position of the #3 elevator was wrong on another. The USN plans are both good and a curse since you have the best documentation for the overall ship, documentation that the model makers sometimes do not duplicate. And the bad news is that you have the correct plans that some model makers do not follow faithfully. . . .
Looking again at NH 53420 you can see that plane #3 is turning the props (looks like they are at slow speed from the prop blur) and #4 is now clear in front of him, so he is turning up his props with most everyone standing well clear. No other plane has its props turning - look carefully and you can see the prop blades stationary on all of them you can see. When the planes were spread out during the transit to the launch point it was possible to start the engines (which they did every day) to make sure all was in order. There are videos that show this.
One more thought on the prelaunch deck spot. In Doolittle's book ("I Could Never Again Be So Lucky") he says he and LT Miller, the Navy pilot who helped the Raiders learn short take offs, got into the cockpit of Doolittle's plane after it was spotted for launch the day before. Doolittle, looking toward the ship's bow, questioned whether there really was enough room to get airborne (in a B-25 that was loaded 10,000 Lbs over maximum design weight). Miller assured him there was enough room. This suggests, but doesn't prove, the #1 plane was spotted at or close to the actual launch point from the start, and that Doolittle was looking out his windshield with some misgivings. And plane #2 could have been parked to starboard in front of #3 to allow for the offset to port location of #1 positioned at the launch point.
I'm thinking Doolittle was maybe remembering Eglin:
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