USS Hornet - SZKUTNIK's Version

[Don Boose]

Superb work. I am glad that you are building such a detailed replica of this short-lived aircraft carrier. The detailed work on the hangar interior structure is extraordinary.

Don

[PAPER FAN]

The hull is complete prior to main deck installation. My next work will be to fill the hanger with planes. I plan to model her as she was leaving with the B-25's arranged like a ferry mission. In this mode 5 F4F's are parked all the way up to the front edge of the flight deck and the forward elevator was lowered.

To this point the kit is straight forward, although looking at the aircraft it appears that modeling with wings folded will be tricky, does not appear he considered this in the design, the wings spars on the Dauntless and the Devastators are too long for the fold point. Will make it work. Likely take a few weeks to get these planes ready.

[PAPER FAN]

Position of the 4F4's on forward deck.

[nikischutt]

Exceptional work, really enjoying following this thread.

[Beachead]

An excellent build. Its really great work.

[PAPER FAN]

Ill fated Torpedo 8. Since the ship is modeled with the aircraft in the hanger and the Doolittle raiders on deck the planes are not armed, so no torpedos.

[cardmodeler]

Those Devastators are amazing!

[wireandpaper]

Originally Posted by PAPER FAN

Ill fated Torpedo 8. Since the ship is modeled with the aircraft in the hanger and the Doolittle raiders on deck the planes are not armed, so no torpedos.

As I said before, modelers that do the full air wing in an aircraft carrier have all my respect.
Thank you for sharing!

[PAPER FAN]

I'm short a few planes, not all are visible. He provides a 60 plane air wing for Hornet, 15 TBD-1's, 21 SBD-1's and 24 F4F's, plus the 16 B-25's. With the interior of only the upper hanger modeled, I won't fit 60 planes below deck. 5 wildcats will be on deck with the 16 B-25's as depicted leaving San Francisco. The Dauntless was built without folding wings for structural purposes so those took up a lot space.

Was reading about the SBD-1 Dauntless, turns out aircrews favored it way over it's short lived replacement the not so good Helldiver. SBD "Slow But Deadly" is a great little plane, the wings will have a lot of detail compared to the other two aircraft types. Just started on these.

[PAPER FAN]

Prototype Dauntless. A couple of minor tweaks going forward and I'll assembly line the rest. Love this model, I'm downgrading the skill level to medium. This model is so well designed it's almost easy. A breeze after Angraf, don't get me wrong love Angraf kits, but they really require honed skills.