Yorktown Class Aircraft Carriers

Well, I've finally gotten the Yorktown class done. The carriers are taking me a bit longer than I expected. The building of a carrier drawing is a bit different than the other ships. On battleships and cruisers you just start with the hull and build up. With the carriers you kind of build up and then add details as you go back down.

Next up is the Wasp. I have only photos of the port side, so some of the details will be more of a estimate. Not quite as accurate as I'd like.

F6F Hellcat Fighter

Here's the Hellcat for 1943 and 44-45.

TBF Avenger Torpedo Bomber

This is the Avenger in paint schemes for 1942, 43 and 44-45. When GM took over production of the Avenger the designation changed from TBF to TBM.

USS Ranger

Here's the USS Ranger. I decided to put the aircraft in the hangers instead of on deck. I'm of the opinion that it might look better. I think it adds a little more detail to the hull.

Vought Vindicator

Vindicators were flown by Marine Pilots at Midway, but were out of service by 1943. British pilots also flew some vindicators where it had the designation Chesapeake. The pilots however, called it the cheesecake.

Brewster Buffalo

This is the Brewster Buffalo. It had a very short career. Marines flew the Buffalo at the Battle of Midway, also the British, Dutch, Australians, and New Zealanders used them early on in the war. I'll make variations of the Buffalo for those forces, when I'm drawing up their ships.

Lexington Class Aircraft Carriers

This is the Lexington Class. Both ships had their 8" guns removed before the start of World War Two. The Saratoga had them replaced with 5" guns, but the Lexington didn't ger her 5" guns before she was sunk in 1942. This is why I've made them both

Devastator Torpedo Bomber

Here's the Devastator. After suffering heavy losses at the Battle of Midway, the Devastator was replaced with the Avenger. That's why there's only one version of it. In fact, from what I've there are no intact Devastators left any where in the world.

Dauntless Dive Bomber

Here's the Dauntless in paint jobs for 1942, 1943, and 1944-45.

Wildcat Fighters

Here's the Wildcat in paint jobs for 1942, 1943, and 1944-45.

Future Plans

Next up will be US aircraft carriers and aircraft. For the carriers, I’m looking to do both the port and starboard sides. That depends on what drawings and photos I can find of the port sides. I’m starting with the large fleet carriers and then will move on to the light and escort types. I’m going to see if putting a couple of Wildcats, with wings folded, looks good on the flight deck or not.

I’ve started with the outlines for aircraft, and decided to use the Battle of Midway as a starting point. I worked up the outlines for the Wildcat, Devastator, and Dauntless, and I’ll make a couple of planes between each carrier, including land based planes used by the marines or Army Air Corps in the Pacific, excluding transports and medium or heavy bombers unless also used in anti-submarine or anti-ship roles. Stationed on Midway Island, there were Vindicators, Avengers and Brewster Buffaloes. They’ll be the next group of planes done.

Some people have asked for Japanese ships and planes to be done next. I fully intend to do the Japanese next after I have completed the US Navy. Here’s what I still have to finish:

Aircraft Carriers
Destroyers and Destroyer Escorts
Subs and Sub Chasers
Mine Layers and Sweepers
Auxiliary Ships, Merchants and Transports.

This is the order for other countries, after I’ve finished the US:

Japan
United Kingdom and Commonwealth
Italy
Germany
France
Smaller European Navies
The Navies of South America, Asia and Africa

I think I’ll put these lists up on the side bar after this post gets archived.

Cleveland Class Light Crusier

This is the Cleveland class in haze gray and in Measure 33 camo. If you look at the listing of ships in this class, you'll see a large gap between the numbers of some of the ships. This is partly due to 9 Clevelands being converted to Independence class light carriers.

Brooklyn Class Light Cruiser

Here's the Brooklyn class in MS - 31 Camo and in haze gray. The ship is more like the St. Louis than the earlier ships of the class, as this was the best reference drawing I could find. I should have the Cleveland up tomorrow if the wife and dog allow :)

Oakland Class Cruiser

Here's the Oakland Class in Measure 16, which was used in arctic waters, and in Measure 22.

On deck are the last 2 US cruisers; the Brooklyn class, and the Cleveland class.

Atlanta Class Cruiser

Here's the Atlanta Class in haze gray and in measure 12 camouflage. The spots on the superstructure are a larger than they were in real life to make them more visible at this scale.

Alaska Class Cruiser

Here's an Alaska Class Crusier in measure 22. I have the Oakland and Altanta classes about two thirds done. Just need to do Camo versions of both. the Oaland will be in MS-16 and the Atlanta in MS-12.

USS Wichita

This is USS Wichita CA-45. The only ship in it's class.

Next up the Atlanta and Alaska Classes.

Baltimore Class Heavy Cruiser

Here's the Baltimore Class in Haze Gray and Measure 32 Camo.