Calling all USS Lexington CV-2 fans

[lvsquarerigger]

Jim -
As an approximation - definitely not as the last word - you are probably looking at something around 30 links per inch. I have seen chain as small as 42 links per inch, but not as stud link chain. Also, you are looking for chain that has flat links. Some jewelry chain has links that are twisted (for lack of a better description). Many folks find chain from armor parts vendors and model railroading supply vendors. If your research is anything like mine, you will probably end up compromising on the anchor chain.

I take that to mean you have already been there done that with no satisfactory results? So I guess the single loop will be what I end up using.

[John W.]

I take that to mean you have already been there done that with no satisfactory results? So I guess the single loop will be what I end up using.

True. Been there, done that. However, that doesn't mean someone hasn't come out with that type of chain since I looked. I was only reporting what I've found so you wouldn't be surprised to find nothing, not intending to discourage continuing enquiry in case something has changed. I have forgotten who offers photoetched anchor chain. Depending upon how much chain will show on the model, it may be acceptable. On the HORNET I working at the moment, the anchor chain is not out in pain sight the way it would be on a battleship or other surface ship. It's partially hidden by flight deck supports, deck hardware, and so forth. It could be that P/E chain properly painted and shaded / weathered might just be OK in that instance.

[lvsquarerigger]

I take that to mean you have already been there done that with no satisfactory results? So I guess the single loop will be what I end up using.

True. Been there, done that. However, that doesn't mean someone hasn't come out with that type of chain since I looked. I was only reporting what I've found so you wouldn't be surprised to find nothing, not intending to discourage continuing enquiry in case something has changed. I have forgotten who offers photoetched anchor chain. Depending upon how much chain will show on the model, it may be acceptable. On the HORNET I working at the moment, the anchor chain is not out in pain sight the way it would be on a battleship or other surface ship. It's partially hidden by flight deck supports, deck hardware, and so forth. It could be that P/E chain properly painted and shaded / weathered might just be OK in that instance.

OK being the person who likes things the easy way (although I do seem to find the opposite a lot) who makes the PE chain in the correct scale if you please?

[Tracy White]

In my opinion PE chain is worse than regular hobby/jewelry chain. It's not worth having the stud link.. it's flat.

[lvsquarerigger]

I found this on Youtube while roaming around and it has some videos of Coral Sea and it seems to me quite a few of the pics of Lex as she was dying were pulled from a couple of places here. There is a shot of planes taking off from Lex but she still has her 8 inch guns so it isn't really from Coral Sea. Also it's all in Japanese but some of the films are really cool.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28fdcrCPJdw

Jim

[CharlesC]

HiTracy, Hope all is well. Couple of questions. The F4F4 attached to the LEX2, what was there color scheme? I read different articles and they seem to differ in paint job. Dark blue, light blue, light gray. As the expert, your oppinion.
The resin models seem to give a better appearance. Are they harder to work with? Do you have to do a lot of cutting or are the pieces already cut and all you have to do is put them together just like a plastic model? Do you need different tools than what you use on a plastic model?
This would only be my second ship model built.
Best Regards, Charles C.

[CharlesC]

Gentlemen, Seen many paint colors for F4F's attached to LEX2. Give me colors please. Top side and bottom ,if different. Many Thanks,
CharlesC.

[Tracy White]

If by Lex 2 you mean CV-16, there were no F4Fs on her. If you mean CV-2 (the third USS Lexington), then there should be the pre-war "yellow wings" scheme, with aluminum fuselages, lemon yellow tail surfaces, and chrome yellow wings; the 1941 light gray scheme that lasted until about October 1941, and was then modified with the non-specular blue-gray on top surfaces and light gray on the lower surfaces.

[Harry Dente]

Wasn'r VF-2 equipped with F2As originally? I seem to recall seeing a picture of CV2 with overall grey Brewsters spotted forward (B&W photo, but hard to mistake the overall lt grey finish). So wouldn't be F2As in high viz and overall grey, and F4F-3s only in the blue grey over light grey?

[MartinJQuinn]

Wasn'r VF-2 equipped with F2As originally? I seem to recall seeing a picture of CV2 with overall grey Brewsters spotted forward (B&W photo, but hard to mistake the overall lt grey finish). So wouldn't be F2As in high viz and overall grey, and F4F-3s only in the blue grey over light grey?

Harry,

CV-2 Lexington carried F2As into early 1942, with the blue over grey scheme. So Lex would have had F2As with yellow wings, overall grey and blue/grey.

Tracy,

I thought CV-16 had F4Fs on trials - or was that only CV-10?

[Leonidas]

Did the F2A and F4F fighters on CV-2 have folding wings? I read somewhere, some were produced with fixed wings and other were folding. What is correct for CV-2? Folding or non?
I am learning a lot about the Lexington from this thread by the way, so thanks everyone!

[MartinJQuinn]

Did the F2A and F4F fighters on CV-2 have folding wings? I read somewhere, some were produced with fixed wings and other were folding. What is correct for CV-2? Folding or non?
I am learning a lot about the Lexington from this thread by the way, so thanks everyone!

The Buffalo did not have folding wings. The folding wings were introduced with the -4 Wildcat, which started making it's way into carrier airgroups in the spring of 1942. IIRC, Enterprise was the first carrier in the Pacific to ship the -4 onboard.

[Guest]

Awesome! Thanks for your help, much appreciated.

[MartinJQuinn]

A postcard of Lex, date unknown:

[Tracy White]

I thought CV-16 had F4Fs on trials - or was that only CV-10?

Sorry for the delay.. the laptop's having some troubles that kept me from looking things up.. I haven't tabulated CV-16's aircraft yet, so I hadn't noticed that until I looked.

Yeah, she reports 36 F4F-4s on May 5th, for example.

[CharlesC]

Hi Tracy, Can you help me as to what I.D. the Lex-2 had at that time.
When I look at all the pictures of the Lex-2 I never see any markings.
Not on the deck, the Island, the hull. Where there any markings? What were they?
I have finished my ship and hoping that I haven't missed anything.
Ops, forgot to mention flags. If there were markings where would I buy them? Would they be specifically for the Lex-2 or just a kit meant for all ships? Appreciate your help as always. Regards, CharlesC

[sixman]

Has part 4 of Tracy White's 'So you want to build a Lexington' been posted anywhere?

[MartinJQuinn]

Hi Tracy, Can you help me as to what I.D. the Lex-2 had at that time.
When I look at all the pictures of the Lex-2 I never see any markings.
Not on the deck, the Island, the hull. Where there any markings? What were they?
I have finished my ship and hoping that I haven't missed anything.
Ops, forgot to mention flags. If there were markings where would I buy them? Would they be specifically for the Lex-2 or just a kit meant for all ships? Appreciate your help as always. Regards, CharlesC

I believe Lex carried the number "2" on each corner of the hull, in white, at the time she was sunk. Other then striping on the flight deck, no other markings.

You can get flags from various vendors such as Gold Medal Models - he carries a set of flag decals. If you only need a few for your Lex, send me a private message (use the PM button to the right) and I can send you some from my spares box.

[Tracy White]

Has part 4 of Tracy White's 'So you want to build a Lexington' been posted anywhere?

Part four was/is to be the island and stack.. I stopped to wait for information on what the proper shapes should be, and also to try and figure out how to shape the splinter shields... there's areas that have 2/3 to 3/4 straight and then it curves outwards. I'd like to do it in .020 or .010 plastic but thus far attempts at forming have been fairly unsuccessful.

I've since got a fairly good idea how the flag plot, etc. should look. The plastic and other projects are what's holding me up.

[sixman]

Tracy,

Thank you for the status update. Looking forward to what you have out about the island mods needed.