Calling all USS Enterprise CV-6 fans

[Rich Mathsen]

Jon: Glad to see that I'm not the only one who's noticed that missing starboard anchor. My suspicion is that it was removed in order to compensate for the additional weight of the 20mm guns that were added in March/April 1942. Weight, per se, was not the consideration, but rather stability, since all the added weight was well above the waterline. Each of those 20mm gun mounts weighed something like 1,750 pounds. This adds up to about 28 tons of added weight; I believe that the anchor was removed to partially compensate for that.

[Michael Vorrasi]

Jon: Glad to see that I'm not the only one who's noticed that missing starboard anchor. My suspicion is that it was removed in order to compensate for the additional weight of the 20mm guns that were added in March/April 1942. Weight, per se, was not the consideration, but rather stability, since all the added weight was well above the waterline. Each of those 20mm gun mounts weighed something like 1,750 pounds. This adds up to about 28 tons of added weight; I believe that the anchor was removed to partially compensate for that.

Rich, it is probably a good theory, however, it begs the question of why Hornet and to a lesser extent, Yorktown, never needed to lose one of their anchors. And Hornet was a bit heavier to begin with. (Oddly, she was also the fastest, at 33.84 knots on trials. I credit this to her improved superheaters that allowed her boilers to operate at higher steam pressure.) I suspect you are right about the weight, but I have not seen any confirmation anywhere. Good thing to be on the lookout for though.

[Tracy White]

I know where some of Enterprise's work documents are at San Francisco NARA and hope to look them over at some point... it should be mentioned there if they include all of her reports, unless it was removed at another yard like Puget Sound.

[Rich Mathsen]

Michael: I almost forgot another weighty (pun intended) matter. CV-6 had a degaussing cable fitted (I don't know when) and it appears that CV-5 didn't. I also don't know about HORNET. In addition, YORKTOWN didn't have quite as many 20mm as ENTERPRISE. It may also be that there was never enough time for an inclining experiment to be done on CV-5, so that the stability concerns may not have been identified for her. Remember, she shipped out from Norfolk and went right to work in the Pacific. As far as I'm aware, the only yard time she had while in the Pacific was the patch-up she received just prior to Midway. I suspect that we'll never know the full answer on this subject unless someone can dredge up the pertinent records. Another thought, this concerning HORNET: Is it possible that she used lighter anchors? That would really throw this all in a cocked hat!

Regards,
Rich

[Dick J]

Yorktown did have a DG cable, but it followed the forecastle deck forward. Hornet had hers internally. Yorktown received the "standard" 24 20MM, as apparently did Enterprise. However, Big-E and Hornet soon began adding more. Yorktown never had sufficient yard time for any additions after her Dec '41 refit.

[Michael Vorrasi]

Rich, as Dick J pointed out, Hornet was internally degaussed and Yorktown did indeed have an external degaussing cable. Look at a good copy of the famous shot of her in drydock just before leaving for Midway. You will see men actually working on repairs to the cable while sitting on a scaffold. it is photo 80-G13065. (Has anybody heard any word about the NHC photos coming back on line?)
As for lighter anchors on Hornet, well it was possible! I just compared photos of the anchors on all three, and they look very similar in size and bulk. Now here is something interesting. CV-6 eventually regained a starboard anchor, but, based on a photo I am examining of her post-43 in drydock, the starboard one looks a little smaller. It is definitely a different casting.

[tomcat Fanatic]

Where can I find some scale drawings of USS enterprise... I had bought some books, but no side drawings... I had ordered comanding bridge and deck for Yorktown/Enterprise, but still need drawings of the hull for comparison with Trumpeter Hornet.

[Michael Vorrasi]

Where can I find some scale drawings of USS enterprise... I had bought some books, but no side drawings... I had ordered comanding bridge and deck for Yorktown/Enterprise, but still need drawings of the hull for comparison with Trumpeter Hornet.

The Floating Drydock and Maryland Silver Co both have Yorktown plans with hull dimensions. They are large scale however, so you will need to convert to 1/350.
http://www.floatingdrydock.com/
http://www.marylandsilver.com/

[Michael Vorrasi]

Impressive 1/700 (sic 1/719 in reality!) Tamiya 1944 CV-6 by Richard J. Price in the Gallery today. Richard, tell us more about it. Very nice work!

[Hippy Ed]

I have the Tamiya CV-8 along with the Minicraft CV-8 (both are 1/700) and am thinking of converting one over to CV-6. I understand there were some differences in the island structure and, the flightdeck. Here's what I have in mind, do one as CV-6 while escorting CV-8 to Japanese waters for the Doolittle Raid. (I have the Trumpeter CV-8 in the works)
I look foreward to your repsonses & I appreciate your input on this.

Eddie

[Hippy Ed]

I thought that having a full hull Enterprise would be kind of neat. So I bought a Mini Hobby 1/700 Hornet kit off the net. This is supposed to be a
Tamiya knock-off and almost all the parts are the same. I ordered the Hornet kit because I wanted another early flight deck without the rear rolldown cutouts. What I got was Enterprise parts in the Hornet box. Be sure to read the fine print whenever possible. I'm happy to say that I can
use two parts from this kit on my Tamiya Hornet. Here's some pictures
of what you get.
http://www.warshipmodels.com/~users/Gor ... CN0639.JPG
Gordon

OK, I should have read thru the thread more carefully! LoL...
GOrdon, that is the same kit I have and, I would like to know of any alterations you had to do in order to convert over to CV-6./ Any advice will be most appreciated.

Thanks,
Eddie

[Gordon Bjorklund]

Ed wrote:

OK, I should have read thru the thread more carefully! LoL...
GOrdon, that is the same kit I have and, I would like to know of any alterations you had to do in order to convert over to CV-6./ Any advice will be most appreciated.

Thanks,
Eddie

ED, I didn't use anything from that kit for anything. I decided that nothing in the kit was useful for anything and sent it to the round can. I can't remember if the parts were the same size or that the Tamiya parts were smaller. The parts layout was the same if I remember correctly.

All of my Yorktown Class ships were built using a comination of both the Tamiya Enterprise and Hornet kits.

I'm sorry that I can't be more helpful.

[Hippy Ed]

Thank you Gordon for responding. Yes, the parts layout is the same and, I think the guns of the Tamiya kit are undersized.
I'll keep looking at photos and see if I can't figure something out.

Eddie

[Will J]

Hi Guys ,

I have a few questions to ask you. I have two Revell Enterprises here, not the prettiest kits but I got them cheap and they are very charming. I;m getting into wargaming too so they'll do nicely for that. I want to paint one as Yorktown in her pre war fit and colors, and the other as Enterprise in her Midway colors and fit. I've done quite a bit of reading, but it's all very fragmented and I'd like your informed advice ! Could you guys tell me what colors/measures they would have been at the times I want to represent? Also, what aircraft would have been carried by each at those times? What colors would these have been? I've found a guide to pre war aircraft colors, but I'm unsure as to the colors that big E's birds would have been at the time of Midway. Thanks guys, you're always very helpful .

Will.

[totoysylvia]

I have been trying to locate a resin 1/350 conversion of the CV-6 USS Enterprise 1944 as mentioned in a Hyperscale article. Does anybody have any info on who specifically makes it & where I could buy it? What does it consist of?

[Tracy White]

What article is this? Could you provide a link?

[Cadman]

Yankee Modelworks made a resin 1/350 Big E that is available at Freetime Hobbies. I'm not sure if they ever did an upgrade set.

[MartinJQuinn]

What article is this? Could you provide a link?

Probably this one. Rick mentioned that there is a conversion set, but he was didn't want to go that route. Rick is probably referring to the Nautilus conversion set, but that is for a circa 1942 CV-5 or CV-6, not 1944.

[Tracy White]

I'd agree with Martin; he specifically references it in regards to the island, says he formed the blister with laminated plastic sheet, and he didn't fix the forward flight deck.

[kidcurrie42]

Hiya Guys,
My next build after my 1939 USS Lexington is to be a 1944 USS Enterprise, a few questions that i hope can be answered,

The Anti torpedo bulge, was it the same shape on both sides ?

What was her AA fit for this period, and is there anywhere that shows all the positions ?

Great builds on here guys, i am using both the Tamiya Hornet and Enterprise kits for this build.

Happy Modeling

John