I’m preparing to start my first ship model in decades–Fujimi’s old Lexington, during her Feb-Mar 1942 raids. I’m sort of clear about the general paint scheme (apparently Measure 12) and the principle of horizontal and vertical application of the colors.
What I am unclear about is: what do you paint the underside of items like gun tubs and the overhangs of the superstructure, flight deck, etc. Would this also be the horizontal color (in this case 20-B) or some other color?
And a couple of other issues, since I’m pretty ignorant of ships. I’ve spent the last twenty years only building 1/72 aircraft.
Armaments: in the Fujimi kit, parts number 46 are 8" guns? I’m thinking that parts numbered 52 are .50 cal machine guns? Is this correct? Then what weapons are those numbered parts 63?
Radar: I’ve read that Lex was equipped with CXAM-1 radar, but haven’t found any photos on the web to verify this or the placement of same. I’ve seen a model of the Lex on another website with a radar antenna mounted at the front of the stack.
Hate to be so elementary, but I have both googled and checked out the Ship Model Forum and haven’t found any clear answers.
Thanks for any information.
Hi
There is a mass of information about CV2 on the ModelWarships.com forum at http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=7216
It’s mostly about the 1:350 scale Trumpeter kit of CV2 at the time of the Battle of the Coral Sea, but does cover the ship in earlier times.
Also take a look at my builds at http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery/cv/cv-02/350-cs/cs-index.html and http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery/cv/cv-02/700-cs/cs-index.html
You need to get hold of a copy of Warship Pictorial No. 33 from www.classicwarships.com. This will give you absolutely all the information you need to buiuld an accurate replica.
Be aware that the Fujimi kit is inaccurate as regards the profile of the funnel (it was elliptical, not rectangular) and the rear of the bridge structure which was rounded off to a point, not a flat rear. Numerous other inaccuracies too many to mention here.
In the meantime, in answer to your questions above, underside items were the same colour as the vertical surfaces. You should use White Ensign Models Colourcote paints because their range is in the correct colours.
Don’t know about the light weapon numbers because I don’t have a construction sheet.
CXAM radar was mounted at the fore end of the funnel.
Hope this helps.
Good luck!
Regards, Chris
Chris,
excellent! Thanks for your reply. I will take a look at the links you suggest.
I have my WEM colours all lined up–I just wasn’t sure were to put them!
I also have the Trumpeter kit for Coral Sea. I bought the Fujimi earlier (it was cheaper), then discovered it wasn’t accurate for Coral Sea, so I decided to build it before Lex’s last refit. The book, The First Team, has a pretty interesting and exciting account of Lex’s raids in Feb/Mar 1942.
I appreciate the information and sources you provided–just what I can do about the inaccuracies is probably going to be pretty little, since I have no experience with ship models. It’s kind of a great experiement.