Hi all,
first off - I have to say I love this site!

On to business.....
I'm working on the 1/540 scale Revell USS Forrestal. Somewhere I've read mention of one main inaccuracy is the lack of a bow bulb. Does anyone know of a good site that might have a good drawing of a Forrestal class carrier. I've checked Jane's, US Navy, and other websites- but only find waterline pictures or drawings.

I'm planning on building the kit full size- not waterline, so I'd like to add the bow bulb.

Thanks,
Peter

I think that I know what you mean, most large ships have a bulge or ball at the base of their stem where it meets the keel that has something to do with lessening the bow wave (help me out here guys, I'm only an AirDale). According to Jane's, only the America and John F. Kennedy were fitted with SONAR domes. :-)

Found this pic on HowStuffWorks. It's the USS Ronald Reagan under construction.

I've stood on the lip of Constellation's flight deck down in the SOCAL operating area off Baja California and looking down watching the dolphins and porpoises surfing in our bow wave. We may have had an old boat, but I know that we didn't have one of those "things" sticking out in front of us under the water. Are you sure that someone there at Newport News hasn't been slipping Ronnie viagra with his geritol? #:-) #:-)

alright guys you got the Damage Controlmen awake now. I KNOW I BUILD ARMOUR, but i'm in the NAVY, that is called a Sonar Dome. and it is right for the Nimitz Class carriers, especially the new ones. now the true question to ask is, what era is being built for the Forestal? ESSEX class carriers all had a straight stem when they were built, most still had them upon decomittioning (Midway, Coral Sea, Independence) see the trend. try and get ahold NNS they have an archeive of the ships they built, and will probably help answer your question on the bow and the correct shape of it. cheers

Old army guy chimeing in here. According to what I've read, the bulb you refer to is quite common on large ships both military and civilian. It's purpose is to prevent plowing. A knife edged stem will plow the water or lift it up and throw it aside. This requires a lot of horse power to lift the water and adds a lot of drag. The bulb deflects the water around the stem thus preventing the plow affect. Less weight displacement, less drag. Modern submarines use this in their design, look like big bulbs don't they? It is well known that these sumarines move much faster submerged than they do surfaced which is just the opposite of earlier submarines with knife edged bows.