Carrier Builders Yard, whats on the Slipway

[rx79gez8gundam]

How many aircraft you should depict also depends how you want to represent the carrier, whether in transit, during launching operations, during recovery operations, and if you are including a hangar deck or not. If depicting a carrier in port there are rarely aircraft on board (save for the occasional maintenance straggler or non-airworthy deck handling training airframe). I'm building as close to a full air wing as possible, and am including a couple of "hangar queens" in my hangar deck as well as scratchbuilt aircraft that weren't otherwise available in my scale. I haven't decided which operation to depict the carrier in yet, but the more aircraft I have will leave me pretty wide options.

[Mark McKinnis]

..... If depicting a carrier in port there are rarely aircraft on board (save for the occasional maintenance straggler or non-airworthy deck handling training airframe)....... .

This is true for Home port, but there would be most of the airwing on deck in a port of call while deployed. This would also be true when the carrier unreps to free up space on the hanger to move supplies into storage.

[EX_Birdgunner]

How many aircraft you should depict also depends how you want to represent the carrier, whether in transit, during launching operations, during recovery operations, and if you are including a hangar deck or not. If depicting a carrier in port there are rarely aircraft on board (save for the occasional maintenance straggler or non-airworthy deck handling training airframe). I'm building as close to a full air wing as possible, and am including a couple of "hangar queens" in my hangar deck as well as scratchbuilt aircraft that weren't otherwise available in my scale. I haven't decided which operation to depict the carrier in yet, but the more aircraft I have will leave me pretty wide options.

Like I said I want to build her as she was launching the initial attacks of OEF. So off the top of my head I'm thinking F-14/F-18s launching off the Bow and an E-2C off the waist. not being familiar with Carrier Ops I am going to look for some references that give the deck disposition during this time of air ops.

Cheers,

Denis

[JimVarnellABH2USN]

Dennis,
E2C 's are launched first off cat #2, then S3 's off cat #1
F14 and F18 's are launched off of cats 3 and 4 while other strick a /c are staged for launch behind the jbd 's for the rapid cycle once all a /c air airborn cats 3 and 4 are cleared for recovery.
Hope this helps you out, I spent 10 yrs doing this day in night out.

[EX_Birdgunner]

Dennis,
E2C 's are launched first off cat #2, then S3 's off cat #1
F14 and F18 's are launched off of cats 3 and 4 while other strick a /c are staged for launch behind the jbd 's for the rapid cycle once all a /c air airborn cats 3 and 4 are cleared for recovery.
Hope this helps you out, I spent 10 yrs doing this day in night out.

Jim,

I greatly appreciate your input. It is great to have people like yourself with first hand experience to share this type of info on these forums. If anyone needs info on Air Defence Artillery, my old job, or Fighter Weapons Control from a radar screen, my current job, I am more than happy to help. LOL

Cheers,

Denis

[JimVarnellABH2USN]

Denis
One thing I forgot to mention is the very first a /c to fly is the SH -60 helo, one or two for ASW and one for plane guard and search @/rescue. They launch from spot 3, 4, 5 respectively those spots are on the waist next to cat 3 and 4.

[Redlion615]

Evening,

Denis, have you tried the US Navy's website - their photo gallery may have some flight deck shots from the timeframe. I'm not at home but when I get back I'll look at my old Naval Aviation News - they may have a few photos that could help you. Will advise.

The site below has a list of carriers and links to dedicated pages for each one.

http://navysite.de/carriers.htm

On each dedicated page toward the bottom they've got copies of the cruise books which have tons of great photos. The Vinson's from OEF is not online. If I recall correctly the TR was next into the Indian Ocean so that OEF cruise book might give you good ideas of deck spotting in use at the time.

A little thing but during the first days of OEF the Vinson and Enterprise were on station. The Enterprise had two Tomcat squadrons, the Vinson had one so you'd need fewer -14s on the Vinson.

Jim, sounds like you missed out on the fun now that there are 9 helo spots - now that there are Romeos and Sierras on the carrier they added the additional ones. Check this out:
http://www.public.navy.mil/navsafecen/D ... t-deck.pdf (page 28 shows the spotting)

I hear the walk to 7 from the island, around the junkyard while staying out of the landing area is a blast and even better at night!

Take care,
Dan

[EX_Birdgunner]

Evening,

Denis, have you tried the US Navy's website - their photo gallery may have some flight deck shots from the timeframe. I'm not at home but when I get back I'll look at my old Naval Aviation News - they may have a few photos that could help you. Will advise.

The site below has a list of carriers and links to dedicated pages for each one.

http://navysite.de/carriers.htm

On each dedicated page toward the bottom they've got copies of the cruise books which have tons of great photos. The Vinson's from OEF is not online. If I recall correctly the TR was next into the Indian Ocean so that OEF cruise book might give you good ideas of deck spotting in use at the time.

A little thing but during the first days of OEF the Vinson and Enterprise were on station. The Enterprise had two Tomcat squadrons, the Vinson had one so you'd need fewer -14s on the Vinson.

Jim, sounds like you missed out on the fun now that there are 9 helo spots - now that there are Romeos and Sierras on the carrier they added the additional ones. Check this out:
http://www.public.navy.mil/navsafecen/D ... t-deck.pdf (page 28 shows the spotting)

I hear the walk to 7 from the island, around the junkyard while staying out of the landing area is a blast and even better at night!

Take care,
Dan

Thanks for the amplifying info Dan.

I have been to the US Navy site but only limited my picture searches to the Carl Vinson during the timeframe I wanted to build her. Maybe I will expand that. I also have been to the navysite.de you refere to but never thought to look at other carriers that had cruise books posted from that timeframe. Thanks for that great idea!

Yup, during my research I was aware that Vinson and Enterprise were the first carriers to act for OEF and I plan to build the long awaited Dragon 1/700 Enterprise to go along with my CVN-70. I have a 1/350 Enterprise in the stash that I plan to build in her final cruise config.

Cheers,

Denis

[starfighterace]

Something that may interest you guys.

Due in April


700-101 Sample by starfighterace, on Flickr

[Guest]

Something that may interest you guys.

Due in April


700-101 Sample by starfighterace, on Flickr

I don't suppose we could see the same decals in 1/350 scale? I know you have another Enterprise decal sheet for 1/350 scale, but it doesn't have some of the markings you have replicated on this one.

[Redlion615]

Hi Denis,

I checked a couple of the Naval Aviation News from around 01 / 02. I didn't see any aerial shots that would help with deck spotting. Check this out:

http://www.seaforces.org/usnships/cvn/C ... Vinson.htm

About halfway down the page there are some good shots from late 01 that might help a bit in terms of hull weathering and markings. THey're all unrep shots though, not the flights ops early in Oct 01.

Good luck,
Dan

[Mark McKinnis]

Nice looking decals Mark!


Now all we need is a kit to go with them.......

[starfighterace]

I don't suppose we could see the same decals in 1/350 scale? I know you have another Enterprise decal sheet for 1/350 scale, but it doesn't have some of the markings you have replicated on this one.

I don't answer questions like this anymore.

[Hippy Ed]

I don't suppose we could see the same decals in 1/350 scale? I know you have another Enterprise decal sheet for 1/350 scale, but it doesn't have some of the markings you have replicated on this one.

I don't answer questions like this anymore.

[boomstick68]

Looks like a nice sheet Mark.

[DWD]

Nice decal sheet indeed!!! Those things should sell like crazy. Especially when the new 1/700 Enterprise gets released. SWEET!!!!

[simon b]

I don't suppose we could see the same decals in 1/350 scale? I know you have another Enterprise decal sheet for 1/350 scale, but it doesn't have some of the markings you have replicated on this one.

I don't answer questions like this anymore.

lol, I don't blame you. ....... although i would be interested. What with GMM's disappearing.

[JimVarnellABH2USN]

Well hi ya everyone

I actually made it to shop two days in a row, woo hoo, I decided to take a stab at doing another BUSH, since my first could not be salvaged. I must say glad I did start a new one since Ryan posted his 350 BUSH, stole a bunch of ideas from his wonderful build, only problem is doing it in 720. I have pics to post but there on my phone and its charging soooo, will post some shortly. Progress has been steady and very happy with the results. I believe this is some of my best work yet as far as scratch building goes. The hangar bay is really the best work I have done. Probably going a bit overboard, but what the hell, I'm having fun and really enjoying this build. By far better then the first build since it was mostly OOB.

Thanks Ryan for your inspiring build and all those ideas you've givin to me and everyone here.

[JimVarnellABH2USN]

Well tried to post pics of BUSH but no go will have to resize them.

[gtbred]

making two Beehive BigE islands. one for a friend and other for myself.