USS Essex 1:200 project

[Jim Nunn]

I have only seen the 2004 version of these kits and I would suspect that it would be the best choice since the older kit was most likely a hand drawn model. As for the detail it is no where close to the Halinski but you could scan the parts from the Halinski model and use them on the Essex. The Navy used very standardized weapon systems during WWII so all Mk 37 gun directors were the same and would be found on any thing from a tin can all the way up to the battlewagons.

A commit on the colors used in the kit it shows the weather decks (foc'sle and fan tail) as being wood decks and the flight deck is also brown. The Essex class did have wood flight decks but they were a very dark blue/black and the color went all the way through because of the weather proofing. There were no other large wood decks on these ships too much of a fire hazard. The forward brow/ quarter deck was Teak but it was also portable and stowed away when we were out to sea (I served on the Intrepid CVS 11). So if you are going to put in the effort you may want to do some color changes to the model.

A tip of the hat to you this will be quite a project.

Jim Nunn

[trcmaje]

wow, thanks. Lets see who the other carriers was in the battle at samar.
Ohh, It was 16 carriers in that group. I better do some reasearch

I know that the deck should be dark blue so I found a template that has been changed.

I also thought of the standarised guns so I will use some from other models (like the halinski model).

As I said, It's going to be a Essex class carrier so any one of the 24 that was built will do, but I think I stick with the short hull version.

[trcmaje]

Ok, I did some reasearch and here is vesselso of "Taffy III"
Clifton Sprague's Task Unit 77.4.3 ("Taffy 3") consisted of Fanshaw Bay, St. Lo, White Plains, Kalinin Bay, Kitkun Bay, and Gambier Bay. Screening for Taffy 3 were the destroyers Hoel, Heermann and Johnston, and destroyer escorts Dennis, John C. Butler, Raymond, and Samuel B. Roberts.

Interesting

[silveroxide]

The links to the references are not working.

[trcmaje]

Ok, I can't edit my post so I just link to this site that is about the battle off Samar: The Battle Off Samar - Main Menu

Also here are the decks and info of those carriers of Taffy III.
USS ST LO (CVE 63)
USS WHITE PLAINS (CVE 66)
USS KALININ BAY (CVE 68)
USS FANSHAW BAY (CVE 70)
USS KITKUN BAY (CVE 71)
USS GAMBIER BAY (CVE 73)
So what do you think? maybe I should copy and build them all six

[doctormax]

I don't know really which one you should go for. do the 66 be my choice since i was born in 66 but that is the limit of my reasoning no idea of history of that ship just it is a year that will go down in infamy as the mum says

[trcmaje]

I had hoped for more suggestions here but I just post an awesome link of Highlander's build of MM essex in 1/300 instead:
USS Essex 1:300 MM

This is something I will try to build but in the larger scale 1/200.
The finnished carrier with the blue deck looks amazing

here some pics of Highlanders Uss Essex:

[jimbean]

I had a go at scaling up the Essex with mixed results. I found a place that would do the copy scaling up by 1.5 on 11/17 stock. It looked good until I got it home when it became apparent that 1/2 inch was missing on all the long sides. :(

I haven't had the gumption to go back to them again. At least 12/17 stock is required and I believe the next standard size is 13/17, if the copier will take it.

I salvaged enough good pieces to build the island. I will post some pics when a camera is available.

regards to all Jim Bean

[trcmaje]

Looking forward to it. As for me I will scan and cut it up in piece by piece and scale it up. Time consuming but it's going to be fun

Now I got a size problem. the real Uss Essex dimentions was
265,79 meters long and 28,35 meters wide (29,26m).
If that is transformed to 1/200 scale it will be
132,9 cm long and 14,175 cm wide.

Is this correct? Can I just take the MM parts and scale it up by 1,5 and it will be in the right dimentions? I will post an update on how the parts will look like soon. Feel free to post any suggetions, please!

[CMDRTED]

You are correct sir. scale it up by enlarging 150%. Then start on the project. Only you can make that final choice of versions etc, we will sit back and watch and suggest and cheer you on. But get to it!