My Google search came up empty, so I’m hoping someone has some ideas.
I’d like to display a 1:48 F-18 on a small section of carrier deck representing a cat shot. I know about the Coastal Kits photo reproductions, but was hoping to get an actual 3d plastic kit. Not looking for the whole ship, just the catapult section large enough to sit under the plane.
Thanks
Ask and you shall receive:
ANNNNDDD . . .
Unfortunately, it looks like that kit has been discontinued.
Italeri makes one in 1:72nd. https://www.italeri.com/en/product/2163/5/29
I’ll offer a couple more in the wrong scale for you. Dream Model offers some in 1:72 and 1:144 scales.
Well, there ain’t many ‘birdfarms’ parked here in Central Oregon, but I wouldn’t be surprised if someone out there lives near one. There’s Midway in San Diego, Yorktown at Patriot’s point, Lexington at Corpus Cristi, Intrepid in New York . . . Did I miss any?
So, If somebody could go aboard and take a few shots, I’m sure it would be handy to more than just this one thread. Just a thought.
It’s not a catapult section, but Zoukei Mura makes a couple of US 1/48 modern carrier deck sections.
I picked up this one recently. I think that it’s better than the Coastal Models decks- those are just printed poster board. The ZM deck sections are cast and painted with all the relief detail molded in.
ZM also makes this USS Midway section that has the catapult track and the older bridle hook up. You could probably modify it into the newer nose wheel attachment hook up.
https://spruebrothers.com/zkmsws48-db04-1-48-zoukei-mura-diorama-base-cv-41-uss-midway-flight-deck/
If you just mean parked over the cat section at the bow, then hooyaw’s photos are a good guide. But, if being entirely accurate, a/c on the bow are parked TOW (tail over water) to maximize room for parking. Which suggests some of the catwalk being needful.
If you mean hooked up to the shuttle, that’s a bit different.
I want to remember that there are some kits with the JBD (jet blast deflectors) which would set the scene.
Now, locked into the shuttle, you need to do some surgery on the nose gear of the F-18. The lock bar and drag link compresses the front oleo down.
But, if you are modeling a Ready Five fighter, you can have the canopy up, ladder out, and full ordnance load aboard with all the RBF flags pulled.
For a Ready 15 (or 30), it can still be loaded, but it needs almost all the RBF in place, and a chain or two depending on the sea state and Plane Captain. Cockpit is generally unoccuplied in that case, too. The JBD are lowered, too, since they only take about one minute to raise up. FOD covers may or may not be in place (and posibly intakes only).
The “Ready nn” formulation means how long, in minutes, from command to launch. Ready 5 may not have the engines spooled up, but will be ready to.
Ready 15 is pretty much parked, and is decidedly on standby.
Now, a Ready 15 is often set up to run buddy tanker mission for when an Operation is on. They will set up on the midships cat so as to allow parking on the bow, leaving the landing area only “fouled” by the ready a/c, which an be towed out of the way if not needed.
Everyone hates having a Ready 30 set up as it fouls the deck in two directions, especially as those are usually “four ship” flights.
That’s what I was thinking. Alternatively, the end of the deck, shuttle forward with the plane airborne.
Well then, here’s this.
Hoo Ya has it spot on per your thread opening post. Capt. 82 has great info on the ready status of the alert aricraft as well, if I remember ready 5 was both engines idle, cat gear preped but not in tension, and all shooters in place to basically lock the bird into the shuttle and send it. Also F-18s nose strut does not compress when tow link is dropped.
Flex deck operations require the bow cats, 1 & 2 to be utilized to launch aircraft leaving the waist cats,3 & 4, on the angle clear for recovery simultaneously. If the carrier was to work a flex deck package all players would be launched from all 4 cats then just the bow would be used to relaunch after fuel and ordnance depending on mission.
Study vidios and pictures like Hoo Ya’s as the scene you are trying to achive can easily done. May even be cheaper than buying a pre made base. I also agree with the " JBD" jet blast deflector, it will set the scene.
Sounds like you are talking about a scratch build. I haven’t done any, but am open to trying. Any particular materials or add ons that make the job look right?
Yeup, scratch building[:)], some the materials that you need for this type of project are availabe online, at a local hobby shop, or I think even Hobby Lobby carries it. Evergreen styrene, they offer a wide variety of sheets many thicknesses, rods, half rounds, channels, even square tubing. Once you have aquired the material good photos, references, first hand knowledge if someone in a club near you worked the deck or better yet on the cats. Next is patience, perseverance, and practice…we all gotta start somewhere. After all that then it’s just a simple matter of transitioning your thoughts to 3 dimension. Don’t be afraid to fail while material over time can cost your initial purchase should give you enough material to repeat multiple times.
Above all ask the questions when you get stuck. I for one am NOT the know all be all for information but we on the forums collectively are better than Encyclopedia Brittanica. Lol.
Probably not too hard to scratch. Some .040 sheet styrene for the deck, some “C” channel for the cat track, or one on each side if you want a movable shuttle. Lightly start a drill hole for tie down depressions. If you want the blast fence, a couple sizes of round styrene tube or rod for the hydraulic rams.
You can see the tie down grid in these pics as well. If want to go further, add some stretched sprue or fine rod across them for the tie down chains to attach to.
I’ve not researched deeply, particularly in 1:48 scale, but WEM photoetch (now via Toms Modelworks) made some PE tie down stars and chains. They also made ‘Greek Key’ WWII era USN tie down track material
There is this one, but it’s pricey.
https://www.amazon.com/Skunkmodels-Carrier-Defector-figures-SW-48020/dp/B005RJWCXM