Calling all USS Saratoga CV-3 fans

[djohannsen]

Just a quick question... I am thinking about trying the Trumpeter Saratoga. I've ordered Stern's book ("The Lexington Class Carriers") and am considering grabbing another book or two (to help me decide whether to plunk down the money on the kit). Anyway, I was just wondering whether the "Warship Pictorial #33" covers only the Lexington, or whether it has information on the Saratoga as well. Thanks for any info.


Dave

Edit: Is the content in Fry's book sufficiently different from Stern's to warrant its purchase as well? Is Fry's book more of an operational history than a technical book on the ship itself? I would really appreciate any information.

[pbudzik]

Looking at the book, I don't see any Saratoga specific information.

Paul

[djohannsen]

Looking at the book, I don't see any Saratoga specific information.

Paul

Paul:

Thanks for two things... First, thank you for the information on the "Warship Pictorial" volume. Second, thank you for including the link to your current project in your signature... As someone who builds plastic kits and feels adventurous using an etch fret, I was awestruck with your scratch building! Truly a pleasure to see.


Dave

[Tracy White]

"Warship Pictorial #33" covers only the Lexington, or whether it has information on the Saratoga as well.

#33 just covers Lexington; but an earlier one covers both, if you can find it:
http://www.modelwarships.com/reviews/bo ... wp-11.html

Fry's book is a good reference for both history and some details - but often you have to piece them together. It's not set up as a modeler's reference.

[djohannsen]

"Warship Pictorial #33" covers only the Lexington, or whether it has information on the Saratoga as well.

#33 just covers Lexington; but an earlier one covers both, if you can find it:
http://www.modelwarships.com/reviews/bo ... wp-11.html

Fry's book is a good reference for both history and some details - but often you have to piece them together. It's not set up as a modeler's reference.

Thank you, Mr. White. I would love to find Warship #11, but right now it seems to be selling at north of $200 (well, not sure if they're "selling" at this price). Also, thank you for the description of the content of Fry's book.

I am intrigued with early carrier development and have read/currently reading several books on the subject (most notably, "American and British Aircraft Carrier Development, 1919-1941," by Hone, Mandeles, and Friedman). Since I don't want to tackle the resin Langley (would love to do a Langley, but my skills aren't up to the task of building the ISW kit) and I don't believe that there is an HMS Argus (love the photos of her in dazzle, 1918'ish), the Trumpeter Saratoga looks like my best bet. Not sure that I'll try to do anything more than build her from the box (with the GMM etch set), but may try to figure out how to show her as early as my skills would permit (would prefer to do Sara in her initial conifguration).

Again, thank you to everybody for the help.


Dave

[djohannsen]

An outstanding large photo of Saratoga firing her 8" guns...



Any ideas of a date on this one?



Dave

Edit: I purchased the original image and obtained permission from the lister to use the scan, so I think that I should not be doing anything that puts me afoul of copyright law.

[Tracy White]

Just so people in the future (once that auction has been removed) know what the eff we're talking about, here's a small copy of said photo, now owned by Corbis Images:

[djohannsen]

Just so people in the future (once that auction has been removed) know what the eff we're talking about, here's a small copy of said photo, now owned by Corbis Images:

First, I hope that I did not infringe on copyrights or board policy by posting. Second, if this is a well-known photo, then I apologize for cluttering the thread with it...

For those of us who are noobs, though, is this an early photo? To my novice eyes, the canvas dodgers and lack of vertical stripe on the funnel seem to indicate early in Saratoga's life - does this seem correct? (Since the photo doesn't show the entire funnel, I suppose it's possible that the stripe is present and simply not visible?)

Dave

[Tracy White]

If anything, I busted copyright, but that's why I down-sized the image and referenced the current owner - it should play more with acceptable use. The concern with eBay links in the "Calling All Ship Fans" section is that they expire in relatively short order, whereas the thread posts are permanent. Link rot becomes more of an issue.

I'm no longer a mod, but I would say that the best thing to do would be to discuss it in the main forum.

[Elvis965]

Sara's funnel stripe was painted some time in 1929, so unless there was some other pre-war period where she didn't have it, that would put the photo in the 1928 - early 1929 time frame.

Bob

[djohannsen]

From launch until sometime in 1941, her flight deck should have been mahogany with yellow stripes

It seems from this photograph that the yellow stripes were a bit later addition? Also, a steel portion of flight deck abeam the island and funnel?

http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/imag ... h75874.jpg

[Elvis965]

It seems from this photograph that the yellow stripes were a bit later addition?

How early are you planning on modeling her? Here's a photo from 11/11/29 that clearly shows her with flight deck markings:

http://www.navsource.org/archives/02/020210.jpg

I believe the Trumpy Sara reflects a mid-30's fit.

Bob

[djohannsen]

How early are you planning on modeling her? Bob

I guess that I need to decide... My inclination would be right at/after commissioning, 1928-early 1929. (Right now I'm very interested in the earliest days of naval aviation; because I can't afford/don't have the ability to build the ISW Langley I would like to do the Sara as early as I can.) The problem with this is that I'm guessing that I would have to leave the flight deck devoid of aircraft (a quick googling didn't turn-up any 1/350 Boeing F2B-1s or T3M/T4M-1s). So, maybe I need to figure out what are the earliest aircraft that can be found in 1/350 and choose this period?

Anyway, I do apologize for bombarding the board with novice questions. I have ordered a copy of Stern's book, so will try to give everyone a rest from my pestering until the book arrives and I have a chance to do a bit of reading. Sorry to have let my enthusiasm run away with me.


Dave

[Dick J]

I believe the Trumpy Sara reflects a mid-30's fit.

Sara had the expanded flag bridge by 1932. The Trumpy kit lacks the expanded flag bridge, making it pre-1932.

[Tracy White]

Your picture is from 1928 or very early 1929; the director atop the pilot house had a canvas screen in 1929 that was replaced with a metal one at some point in early 1929.

BTW, purchasing the photo doesn't technically confer you the right to post the photo here... the back indicated it was owned by a company we know bought out by Corbis Images... they probably purchased the negatives and may still be claiming copyright. Not sure how you'd figure that out easily though.

Yes, Copyright is that much of a pain in the butt.

[janschu]

Hello,

for quite some time i am toying around with the idea of building a late war Saratoga in 1/350 scale.
The inspiration for that project was the wonderful build of Mauro Cattaneo that i have found on this board.
http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html

As a base i plan to use the Lexington from Trumpeter (TRP 05608). Since i want to build the ship in
Measure 32/11a, the time frame is September to November 1944.

The aftermarket companies will provide the needed accessories:

Alliance Modelworks: 5"/38 twin mounts, 40mm quad and twin mounts
Veteran Models: 5"/38 single mounts
Master Barrel: 40mm barrels and 20 mm single mounts
L'Arsenal: Mk37 mod.4 and Mk 51 gun directors, 26' whale boats, 36" and 24" searchlights, sky lookouts,
60, 40 and 25 man life rafts

The needed photoetch parts will come either from corresponding sets or from generic sets.

I want to depict the ship during the raids on Formosa, so can someone tell me what aircraft were on board?
The markings could be taken from one of the generic decal sheets from Starfighter Decals, i guess?

Thanks in advance and greetings from Germany,

Jan Schulz, SIG-Waterline

[Tracy White]

I want to depict the ship during the raids on Formosa, so can someone tell me what aircraft were on board?

Are you talking about the October 1944 raids? Saratoga wasn't there; she was near Pearl Harbor performing night fighter training.

[Elvis965]

Did Sara go into combat in measure 32? I thought she was repainted into Measure 21 after she got to Pearl from Bremerton in 1944?

Bob

[Tracy White]

That's what I understand, but I've not spent the time to corroborate.

[janschu]

Ok, no problem.

I have read in an earlier post here, that Saratoga wore the Measure 32 scheme from September 1944
(after the refit at Bremerton) to the beginning of November during the night fighter training around
Hawaii.

Ok, then it is Saratoga on the voyage to Pearl or in the early stages of the training.
The main point is that i can use that paint scheme.

Well, during that training phase, was there a certain airwing on board or were the units rotating?

Thanks in advance and greetings from Germany,

Jan Schulz, SIG-Waterline