Calling all USS Hornet CV-8 fans

[Dick J]

One reason might be that it is often easier to build an entire kit in resin than to mate a resin hull to existing plastic. The resin has a certain shrinkage factor, and it could be difficult to ensure that the hull will shrink to the exact size needed to mate with the plastic upperworks. That would mean that the master was made a bit oversized, which then makes it impossible to test fit between the master and the plastic. Battleships and cruisers are a bit easier because the superstructure can be allowed to rest on the hull and the other featured massaged to fit. A carrier has nearly full-length hangar sides that must fit in order to continue. If you have to fudge the hangar sides, then the flightdeck must be altered to fit that, and the list goes on.

[carr]

Dick J is undoubtedly correct about the difficulties associated with producing a resin replacement hull but I'm surprised that no one has produced an injection molded plastic replacement. There's a lot of companies out there that produce limited run kits that should be technically capable of producing a replacement.

For that matter, it would be nice to see Trumpeter produce a corrected replacement hull although the anger factor among those who paid quite of bit of money for the original might preclude that.

If a third party offered a replacement hull, I'd take one. I've got a Hornet kit that I'll never build because of the hull.

[Mike Sills]

Hello all.

I've been away from my Hornet build for quite a while. Much of the time I have been making masters for resin casting. I looked into the possibility of getting an aftermarket hull for the Trumpeter kit made (either resin or plastic). Dick J is correct in stating the difficulties. Consensus is that while a demand may exist, it is not really marketable. A hull could be produced, and probably at a reasonable price, but if it is accurate then the remaining kit parts will not fit to it. New hangar and gallery decks become neccessary. These will in turn require a new flight deck! (See where this is going?) A complete kit is required.

The hull is where everything stems from. If it is wrong, everything else will follow. I will repeat comments I have made before. Trumpeter deserves praise for taking a chance and producing this kit in the first place. They started the ball rolling when there was no market for 1/350 injection molded ships. But the unfortunate truth is that the kit is little more than an overpriced toy. The modeler has three choices:

1) Build it "as is" and live with it
2) Fiddle some "corrections" to make it look better to the eye and live with it
3) Completely rebuild everything for accuracy. This means virtually from scratch.

An entirely new and accurate CV-5/6/8 in this scale is always near the top of all the modeler polls. Hopefully, a kit manufacturer will pay attention and produce one. (As John W wryly observes, this will be announced the day after he finishes his build.)

Keep the faith!

Mike

[Jerry Phillips]

It is amazing that a decent kit isnt out there! I have the 1/350 Trumpeter Hornet...completed the hull. I knew the bow was way wrong, but...I plugged along. Got some CV-8 plans, reduced to 1/350 for my hull plating...OUCH! The entire lower hull is SO off, not just the bow, but the whole hull (mine is (was) waterline). Masking/spraying the plating was hard due to the fact dimensions are so off....I finally just boxed it back up to wait for more inspiration (more than a couple of years ago). I have no problem with the price or the idea of the kit....but the actual execution is a joke. Why Tamiya, Dragon, anybody would not produce a model of this class is a mystery! Talk about a big seller...

Sorry for the rant.......

Jerry

[maccrage]

The part that confuses me is that they were told before they finished that the hull was wrong, and they didn't fix it, but when their 1/32 Wildcat was released and they were told the fuselage was wrong, they fixed it and re-released it.

[Bondoman]

I received the CV-8 model this morning and immediately tore into it. The hangar deck is glued into the hull- it went together without a hitch. I plan to install the bulkheads to stiffen the structure, before I start modifying the hull.

A question- the large roll up shutters all along the sides. What's their purpose? Are they to ventilate the hangar deck? For loading? Certainly they can't be a part of aircraft operations as the elevators are on the centerline.

Would there be any reason they would be open while the ship was at sea?

[maccrage]

I received the CV-8 model this morning and immediately tore into it. The hangar deck is glued into the hull- it went together without a hitch. I plan to install the bulkheads to stiffen the structure, before I start modifying the hull.

A question- the large roll up shutters all along the sides. What's their purpose? Are they to ventilate the hangar deck? For loading? Certainly they can't be a part of aircraft operations as the elevators are on the centerline.

Would there be any reason they would be open while the ship was at sea?

They provided ventilation to the hangar deck so that aircraft could be warmed up. And most pictures I've seen show them open. I believe they really only closed them due to heavy weather and probably darken ship.

[Bondoman]

Thanks Mac. So, since the Tokyo Raid was a big secret, and the operating aircraft were already on deck, and the ship was sailing at 20 knots into a 20 knot wind I think; I am feeling safe to leave them closed, unless there's pictures that show otherwise.

[John L]

I'm just trying to build the CV-8 Revell kit from the Doolittle Raid set. The instructions completely skip where to put all the life boats that are included in the kit. Is there an older/alternative set of instructions that show where these go? Suggestions of where to find a picture(s) that show these lacking any instructions.
thanks
take care
John

[Bondoman]

Here's progress so far, and Martin I will switch to an in-progress thread.

I'm going to try to scratchbuild the hull below the hangar deck!

I purchased a drawing of Faired Lines and Molded Offsets from Floating Drydock, and scaled down the sections to make a quick jig. I scrounged up a styrene sign, an old shelf board and some 1/4" molding to make a 3-D template. I'm going to try Balsa Foam, so I bought a couple sheets of 1" and cut it up into blocks. By coincidence each block is exactly three sections, which helps keep things lined up in the jig.

I've experimented with a number of adhesives, and Elmer's is the best.

My next move is to cut the hull at deck level. I've bolted in a stiffener to keep things straight.

[MartinJQuinn]

Here's progress so far, and Martin I will switch to an in-progress thread.

You are going to give a guy a complex...

Good luck - look forward to seeing more progress. In your WIP thread, of course.

[rtwpsom2]

Can you compare the 2 when you are done so we can see whats wrong on the trumpy kit?

[JTninja]

I'm just trying to build the CV-8 Revell kit from the Doolittle Raid set. The instructions completely skip where to put all the life boats that are included in the kit. Is there an older/alternative set of instructions that show where these go? Suggestions of where to find a picture(s) that show these lacking any instructions.
thanks
take care
John

You can always go off what other builds have done, like this one

http://www.modelwarships.com/reviews/sh ... summa.html

Or theres plently of photos here http://www.navsource.org/archives/02/08.htm

[Bondoman]

Can you compare the 2 when you are done so we can see whats wrong on the trumpy kit?

Sure, and John went before me too. If you look at the templates, they are hangar deck height and you can see the big flair at the top. As he said too, even the amount I've done so far has taught me ALOT about the lines of hulls.

[JTninja]

Can you compare the 2 when you are done so we can see whats wrong on the trumpy kit?

This kinda gives you the idea of whats wrong, looking forward to Bondoman's build

http://www.modelwarships.com/reviews/sh ... rktown.htm

[Jerry Phillips]

Maybe a dumb question....on the 5"38 platforms, did the STS separate the 2 mounts, as depicted by Trumpeter? I have yet to find a photo that confirms (or refutes) this. Also did the 5" ammo lockers (ready serve?) differ from CV-5/6? They had theirs fwd/aft against the bulkheads, but Trumpeter has depicted these near the mounts themselves.

Thanks,
Jerry P

[Michael Vorrasi]

Maybe a dumb question....on the 5"38 platforms, did the STS separate the 2 mounts, as depicted by Trumpeter? I have yet to find a photo that confirms (or refutes) this. Also did the 5" ammo lockers (ready serve?) differ from CV-5/6? They had theirs fwd/aft against the bulkheads, but Trumpeter has depicted these near the mounts themselves.

Thanks,
Jerry P

Jerry,

Her commissioning photos have the plating installed on the platforms, but not the mounts. No separating STS between the two gun mounts at each platform. Overhead shots at Santa Cruz confirm none was added later. I'll try to find a shot showing the ammo lockers. If not, I'm sure her plans show these. Don't trust Trumpy on a detail like this. They botched much more obvious things!

Michael

[Bondoman]

Progress pics in "photos", "in progress".

[Michael Vorrasi]

Some eye candy for all you Hornet groupies.

[Bondoman]

IMHO the best fighter plane ever designed. The grandfather of a great family- the FM-2, the Bearcat and the Hellcat.
The FM-2 was the most successful fighter of WW2. But even the basic F4F was a wonderful aircraft.
I got the Gator masks this week, thanks Kenny.
A bit of a challenge- how to glue the plastic (hangar deck/ up) to the foam hull buck. I've been trying a number of adhesives. As soon as that's solved I'll post some pictures.