Product Description
Following a discussion on Modelwarships.com, this is my solution to the early Mk 19 fire control director and range finders on the spotting tops of the USS Lexington and Saratoga in the 1930s.
The rangefinder is based on a few ship-side photos and the plan-drawing found in Kagero USS Lexington 3d plans. (A problematic source, but photographic evidence supports that the range finder is at least correct).
The Fire control director and round platform is based on photos of the USS Northampton and several images of the better documented but later housed Mk19 director with it's housing removed.
I've placed the forward directors on a rectangular platform that fits inside the rectangular spotting top platform. I don't have any direct evidence of this existing, but there are numerous photos showing the head and shoulders of sailors standing above the wind-break, as well as the very top of the director (what appears to be a sighting mirror?). Given the overall height of the windbreak, there would almost certainly have to be a platform inside the spotting top to allow for this much of the sailor to be seen over the windbreak.
I designed the aft directors inside their tubs, exactly as shown on the Northampton and seemingly confirmed in at least one photo of the Lexington or Saratoga from the 1930s. The only difference is that the tubs are enclosed with canvas, as is shown clearly on several period photos of CV2 and CV3.
I can't swear to these being 100% correct, and as I find more source documents, I will update these items as necessary.
I've also included the sub-caliber guns that go in between the barrels for the four 8" turrets. A little random, but I needed to replace one on my Saratoga set, and no current detail set includes these.