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General Ship Modeling
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converting Trumpeter's Lex to pre-war
desertmole
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Posted: Tuesday, January 25, 2005 - 09:57 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Sara had her flight deck widened in 1941. IIRC, she also had a different sponson arrangement added for her AA guns when the flight deck was widened. So, without some scratchbuilding, I don't think you'll be able to make any version of Sara from the Lex kit.


Yeah, that was what I was afraid of. I knew her deck was widened later than Lex. She did not have gun galleries on her stack like the Lex at any time.

IIRC Halsey was commander around the '36-37 timeframe.

Any way you look at it, they were mother-lovely ships with (mostly) sleek lines. I can't wait to get my hands on her!
blaster76
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Posted: Wednesday, January 26, 2005 - 12:34 PM UTC
From info I was able to pick up an Modelwarships web.....in the forum look for the topic research can make you crasy, you will find a long discussion on the same subject. I am going with Lexington late 1940. It will have the mahogany eck, and you can use Devastators in the yellow wing colors. They also had the Bufaloes and the Vindicators. The Dauntless arrived near the end, but they had the greay color. Don't know if they had repainted all aircraft yet, so you might get by on a fudgefactor with subbng the Wildcats for Buffaloes (what's a little accuracy) and paint everything the yellow/silver and have Duntless's in grey. Tom , you hsve the book, see if you can glean any info as to when all aircraft changed paint schemes.

Ain't it wild.....the Institute shall be heard from today !!!!!!!!!!!!!
MartinJQuinn
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Posted: Thursday, January 27, 2005 - 05:54 AM UTC

Quoted Text

From info I was able to pick up an Modelwarships web.....in the forum look for the topic research can make you crasy, you will find a long discussion on the same subject. I am going with Lexington late 1940. It will have the mahogany eck, and you can use Devastators in the yellow wing colors. They also had the Bufaloes and the Vindicators. The Dauntless arrived near the end, but they had the greay color. Don't know if they had repainted all aircraft yet, so you might get by on a fudgefactor with subbng the Wildcats for Buffaloes (what's a little accuracy) and paint everything the yellow/silver and have Duntless's in grey. Tom , you hsve the book, see if you can glean any info as to when all aircraft changed paint schemes.

Ain't it wild.....the Institute shall be heard from today !!!!!!!!!!!!!


Lex actually carried Buffaloes right into 1942 - the last carrier to do so.

IIRC, the color switch was in 1941 to the all light gray scheme, then in October '41 they moved to the blue-gray over light gray (my favorite scheme for USN WW2 aircraft).

BUT - it's your model, build it how you want as long as you have fun!!
thathaway3
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Posted: Thursday, January 27, 2005 - 06:27 AM UTC

Quoted Text


IIRC, the color switch was in 1941 to the all light gray scheme,


That's pretty much what I've found as well. My references indicated the switch from the "pre-war" colors was "at the end of 1940", so without actually seeing the source documents, I can imagine a letter going out from the BUAIR announcing the new scheme and an effective date, probably January 1, 1941. And like everything else, the change over would not have happened over night.

TC
blaster76
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Posted: Thursday, January 27, 2005 - 12:01 PM UTC
So, the 64 dollar question is, when did Lex receive her Dauntlasses. Late 1940 or early 1941. I think Yankee Model Works has the buffaloes. It has been reported they are asking $20 for the backdate kit, I am unsure of what all that comprises other than the 8 inch gun sets.
MartinJQuinn
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Posted: Friday, January 28, 2005 - 04:37 AM UTC

Quoted Text

So, the 64 dollar question is, when did Lex receive her Dauntlasses. Late 1940 or early 1941. I think Yankee Model Works has the buffaloes. It has been reported they are asking $20 for the backdate kit, I am unsure of what all that comprises other than the 8 inch gun sets.


I'll have to check my "Lexington Class Carriers" book this weekend to see if it mentions when the SBDs came on board.

I have the BWN/YMW Lex, which was released (originally) as a Coral Sea version. Last year, YMW released an upgrade set with new, corrected 1.1 inch gun tubs (based on new photos - for those doing the Coral Sea version) and a set of the 8inch guns. I bought the update set up (I want to do my Lex late '41 early '42 with the turrets) - it's very nice, the guns are superb.

Personally, I think $20 for four resin guns with white metal barrels is reasonable. I wouldn't be surprised if he packages the 8 inch turrets with a photo-etch set as well (obviously for a higher price!). That's just my quess, I don't know John and have NO inside info.
thathaway3
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Posted: Friday, January 28, 2005 - 06:02 AM UTC

Quoted Text


I'll have to check my "Lexington Class Carriers" book this weekend to see if it mentions when the SBDs came on board.


I've got some old Squadron books that cover naval aircraft, as well as some additional stuff as well. Should be able to get pretty close to when the SBDs were assigned. I think I read that the initial procurement was not at first wanted by the Navy and went to Marine Squadrons instead. They were "Dash Ones" and as a result the first planes going to Navy Squadrons were more capable aircraft.

Tom
blaster76
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Posted: Friday, January 28, 2005 - 01:38 PM UTC
KInd of the deal here is this. I plan to paint the wild color aircraft, but I've got a box of 10 Dauntlass aircraft. Don't want to waste them, but know they first entered service painted overall light grey. I am thinking to depict that with the yellow wing devastators and eithr purchase buffaloes (if available) or fake the Wildcats as Buffaloes all on a mahogany colored deck and beautiful 8 inch guns
thathaway3
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Posted: Saturday, January 29, 2005 - 04:48 AM UTC
That would work. Then if someone comes out later with the other aircraft, you could add a few others.

Now you've got me wanting to do a pre-war too!

TC
blaster76
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Posted: Saturday, January 29, 2005 - 05:06 AM UTC
It's the only way to fly
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