I have finished Trumpy’s Essex, complete with camo, PE, flags, and rigging, and want to title it “Respotting off Saipan, June 1944”. Hellcats are forward, some Hellcats and Helldivers in transit aft, and Avengers and Helldivers positioned aft. I have a couple of questions:
The model is mounted on brass spindles and wood base. Most photos I’ve seen of that mounting do not show an “in action” scene, ala dioramas. So would it be better just to have all the aircraft in the respotted position?
My understanding is that respotting was determined by takeoff needs: Avengers most aft, Helldivers, next, and Hellcats most forward (because as fighters they need the shortest takeoff runs). Is this correct?
For question two, for the most part it’s correct, but the main driving factor would be the mission the carrier was assigned. Sometimes one carrier would launch the dive bombers and torpedo bombers while another would launch the fighter cover. Towards the end of the war, a lot of the Air Wings were outfitted with fighters (Hellcats and Corsairs) in a dual Fighter/Bomber role.
If you look at many museum models, some will show action although they are mounted as a full hull. I see nothing wrong with it. In fact, you are now allowing the viewer to be focused on your flight deck action and not distracted by waves and an ocean.
Please check and make sure the Essex air group was flying SB2C Helldivers in the time period you want to exhibit. The air group may have still been flying SBD-5 Dauntless divebombers. I’m not sure, but that could be so.
That may change your deck spot as well, since SBD’s could be spotted aft due to their lack of folding wings.
Good point. I checked references and they say the SB2C’s were phased in Jan-June 1944. In June 44, Air Group 15 VB-15 had 4 SBD and 36 SB2C. I allege the SBD’s are in the hanger [:D].