Official Release!! Gallery 1/350 USS Intrepid CV-11!!

[Propman]

So while i'm here, what's the latest on the release date ?

KTB

[Tracy White]

As per Free time:

Gallery Models' USS Intrepid is due to arrive toward the end of April and we are now able to accept pre-orders

[Propman]

Holy crap, that soon. Even though i been wanting one of these for years I'll have no time to build it right now, beach beach beach

Keith

[thmscheng]

Just wondering if anyone knows if this new kit comes with a waterline option?

[Timmy C]

Doesn't look like it, based on the photos EJM posted on page 2.

[PolishMikeD]

Admiral John Byng wrote:
I hope I can put Phantoms on her, I love F-4s.

If I recall correctly, unfortunately, the Essex's never operated F-4's. Somethign to do with the weight of the phantoms being too much for the cats or something.

While technically correct in that the "Evil I" (or Decrepid) never operated F4's, the Intrepid launched the prototype F4H-1 (1st Phantom cat launch) from Cat#2 courtesy of ABE3 G.O.Taylor.

Mike Dobrzelecki

[Propman]

As Mike said, they did try the F4 but they were too heavy. Funny how they could handle the A3D but not a F4,

Keith

[tko24]

I've always wondered about that too. It seems that if they could handle the A-3 they should have been able to ship F-4's as well. I'd love to hear from an expert as to what the difference was in handling the A-3 as compared to the F-4.

[Jon]

I've always wondered about that too. It seems that if they could handle the A-3 they should have been able to ship F-4's as well. I'd love to hear from an expert as to what the difference was in handling the A-3 as compared to the F-4.

Weight and size are not the ultimate issue. A-3 is both larger and heavier than an F-4. Although I don't know the answer, it may have to do with a squadron of F-4s being around 14 to 18 aircraft typically while the A-3s may only have 2 to 4 aircraft embarked.

As an asside, no F-14s operated from the Midways. I know of one model of a modern (at the time) Midway manufactured in the late 80s had F-14s on the deck.

[jpeeler]

F-14s weren't deployed aboard the Midway class (their reduced hangar deck height constrained maintenance capabilities, for one, including some required cockpit/ejection seat tasks) but footage exists of Tomcats conducting qualifications aboard (IIRC) Coral Sea. I think there's also anecdotal evidence that Tomcat pilots considered the Midways just too small for comfort.

I never have come up with a completely thorough answer on why Phantoms never deployed aboard the Essex-class ships - I've heard deck issues, I've heard JBD issues, I've heard catapult length issues, you name it - but I always figured there was a reason, and it was a good one. OTOH, in my mind the F-8 and the Essex-class carriers seemed just about perfect for each other.

Jodie Peeler

[kidcurrie42]

Hello Jodie,

Here is another for your list of why F-4's did not operate from the Essex class, I have heard it said that it was deck height from the water, was too low.

Happy Modeling

John

[Mark McKinnis]

It is about end speed. The F-4 needs a higher end speed to get airborne with a load and the CATs on the Essex Class could not get it done without a trip to the shipyards for overhaul. I am not sure that you could get the length of the CAT to get the speed on an Essex either. The shorter the CAT, the more force required to get end speed for flight, the more stress on the plane. The more stress on the plane, the less service life, more cost, and so forth. That is why it makes more sense to spend the money on a newer carrier design in the long run.

CAT #4 on Nimitz was always a wild ride even in an E-2C! It was the shortest CAT on the boat.

The shooter sets the force of the CAT based on aircraft end speed requirements and weight. An E-2C at 54k pounds was a lot less force than a Tomcat at 72k pounds! If you set the CAT for a fully loaded Tomcat and launched an E-2C, you would probably rip the nose gear off! It would be bad!!

The A-3D is bigger, but did not need the end speed to get off the deck like a Phantom. They did fly A-6Es off of Lexington for CQ but I do not think that they ever flew them off of an Essex with a combat load.

Tomcats needed about the same end speed but are heavier than a Phantom so there you have it. Size and weight do factor into the equation. You would need to have bigger arrestor gear for Phantoms and Tomcats. You want the ability for your planes to bring back unexpended ordinance as well so that adds weight for the recovery. One of the reasons Tomcats did not deploy with 6 Phoenix missiles is that they could only recover safely with 4. They cost a $million a pop so you didn't just jettison them.

For Naval Aviation Designers, it is a tug of war between Aircraft Requirements and the upgrades to carriers to fly them. The purpose of the SCB-27 and SCB-125 upgrades to the Essex Class was to accommodate all of those factors for bigger and heavier jets. They just ran out of space and it became more cost effective to build newer designs.

[gtbred]

[tko24]

Great picture with Phantoms and a Vigilante at the stern! Thanks for posting it.

[kidcurrie42]

Thanks for a well detailed explanation Mark, that certainly makes sense now, I always knew about adjusting for take off and landings, just never thought of that being the reason for the Essex and F-4.

Happy Modeling

John

[Hugh Williams]

Thanks for a well detailed explanation Mark, that certainly makes sense now, I always knew about adjusting for take off and landings, just never thought of that being the reason for the Essex and F-4.

Happy Modeling

John

Slightly off topic, Your avatar takes me back to a couple of courses I attended at HMS Excellent in the 60's. Great memories.

And thanks for bringing up the subject of Phantoms, one of my favourite models when I was younger, together with the population on my Monogram USS Enterprise (with beehive).

Regards,

Hugh Williams

[Admiral John Byng]

Great pic! Was Bon Homme Richard running tests with these two Phantoms and the Vigilante?

[sierra hotel]

THE BHR is coming home ,,, note that she is providing a lift of comvemiece.....pleas read the copy as I cannot tyope the long words pf expansion. note that some the pkames are in flying condition. some are cocooned , RDB[img][img][/img][/img]/Users/raybean/Desktop/31 BHR 1970 aft aerial copy.jpg

[Admiral John Byng]

THE BHR is coming home ,,, note that she is providing a lift of comvemiece.....pleas read the copy as I cannot tyope the long words pf expansion. note that some the pkames are in flying condition. some are cocooned , RDB[img][img][/img][/img]/Users/raybean/Desktop/31 BHR 1970 aft aerial copy.jpg

Thanks Ray.

[gtbred]

ordering mine right now. she will be a waterline Mighty O! Yeah! I know the flight deck is different. I scratchbuilt 2 1/350 CVA-34 before. Happy modeling!