Calling all Essex-class (Cold War configuration) fans

[gtbred]

hope to both Charlies to look like this or close too it.

[gtbred]

3 coats of dark ghost grey and it shows some mistakes. but can be fix. Oriskany

[modelersc]

Hi all
I need help on the angled deck Intrepid. Can anyone identify the angled structure under the island below deck level? Is this a vent? Is it completely enclosed or open on top?
Here's a photo that shows it.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_KZKtgQBJEn0/RxIrg ... ID.%20.jpg

Thanks loads for the help
modelersc

[maccrage]

Hi all
I need help on the angled deck Intrepid. Can anyone identify the angled structure under the island below deck level? Is this a vent? Is it completely enclosed or open on top?
Here's a photo that shows it.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_KZKtgQBJEn0/RxIrg ... ID.%20.jpg

Thanks loads for the help
modelersc

That's the escalator. I believe it was completely enclosed.

[gtbred]

escalator for the pliots.

[Dick J]

This escalator for the pilots was of great use during the Korean war, which presented the exact conditions that it was designed to address. During cold water ops, the pilots wear a external rubberized suit (usually referred to as a "poopy suit") to increase their survivability in the event of an overwater ejection or ditching. However, if the pilot gets all sweaty under the suit while trying to climb several decks from the ready rooms to the flightdeck (with many pounds of flight gear) on those nearly vertical ladders, it negates the attempt to keep him dry and warm. The escalator was not a pilot "perk", but a legitimate survival issue.

[modelersc]

That's amazing. I never would have guessed an escalator! And what an interesting reason.
Many thanks for the answers.
modelersc

[Mark McKinnis]

The Forrestal's and the Kittyhawk's had them as well. They never worked on the Connie when I was aboard but it was alot easier to walk up the 4 decks to the flight deck on a static escalator rather than walking up 4 decks through hatches and up ladders with all of your flight gear on. The Nimitz Class fixed that with putting all of the ready rooms on the O-3 Level below the flight deck.

[Dick J]

The Nimitz Class fixed that with putting all of the ready rooms on the O-3 Level below the flight deck.

That is interesting considering that the modernized Essex's put the ready rooms below the armored hangardeck because of pilot casualties when they had them in the gallery deck during WW-II. Many died on Franklin (killed by explosions from below) and Bunker Hill (suffocated when trapped during the big fire) because of the ready room location. I guess the increased flightdeck armor on the supercarriers made that less of an issue.

[Tracy White]

I think that at the fact that at the time of their design the primary threat was surface hugging cruise missiles and not bombs or falling shells.

[gtbred]

starting to like the Charlies.

[BCBilly]

I think that at the fact that at the time of their design the primary threat was surface hugging cruise missiles and not bombs or falling shells.

I don't think there was any concept of a cruise missile in the early 40s when the Essex class was designed. The Germans were developing the Fritx, but it wasn't known about till 43 or 44 and it was not really a surface hugging design. I think the French Exocet was the first sea level hugging design.

[Mark McKinnis]

I think that at the fact that at the time of their design the primary threat was surface hugging cruise missiles and not bombs or falling shells.

I don't think there was any concept of a cruise missile in the early 40s when the Essex class was designed. The Germans were developing the Fritx, but it wasn't known about till 43 or 44 and it was not really a surface hugging design. I think the French Exocet was the first sea level hugging design.

I think that Tracy is pointing out that at the time Nimitz was designed, cruise missiles were the threat(they still are), not falling bombs. With the cruise missile threat, a ready room on the main deck would be just as vulnerable as a ready room on the O-3 was to bombs.

[Mark McKinnis]

Nice looking Essex Red!

It depends on which 27C you are doing though. Remember that Intrepid,Ticonderoga, and Hancock had the starboard elevator behind the aircraft crane and the Lexington, Bon Homme Richard, and Shangri-La had the elevator before the crane like all of the other SCB-125 conversions. Yours appears to be either the Lexington, Bon Homme Richard, or the Shangri-La if you are giving them some A-3D's.

A really good look at how the decks were diferent can be seen on google maps satelite view and comparing the Intrepid in NY, Lexington in Corpus, and the Yortown(Charleston) or Hornet(Alemeda). I took some screen shots some time ago of those museum ships since they offered the best overhead look that you can get of the different varieties of the SCB-125 Essex Class. Too bad I did not do that before they sank the Oriskany though. She was a little different from all of the others.

[Hippy Ed]

starting to like the Charlies.

[gtbred]

Thanks Ed!

[gtbred]

Nice looking Essex Red!

It depends on which 27C you are doing though. Remember that Intrepid,Ticonderoga, and Hancock had the starboard elevator behind the aircraft crane and the Lexington, Bon Homme Richard, and Shangri-La had the elevator before the crane like all of the other SCB-125 conversions. Yours appears to be either the Lexington, Bon Homme Richard, or the Shangri-La if you are giving them some A-3D's.

A really good look at how the decks were diferent can be seen on google maps satelite view and comparing the Intrepid in NY, Lexington in Corpus, and the Yortown(Charleston) or Hornet(Alemeda). I took some screen shots some time ago of those museum ships since they offered the best overhead look that you can get of the different varieties of the SCB-125 Essex Class. Too bad I did not do that before they sank the Oriskany though. She was a little different from all of the others.

Thanks Mark! It just shows that you can build a ship made during WWII and have it in Nam. It still amaze me about the Whales on board. I think i have a overhead shot of Hancock and Bo Hom at Alameda somewhere. It shows the different layouts.

[gtbred]

Ahh, here we go!

[Mark McKinnis]

That is a really cool photo!!!

[gtbred]

2 1/350 Charlies.