Product Description
Scale: 1/500
Recommended for:
- Renwal 1/500 USS Shangri La CVA-38 (# RM7819)
- Renwal 1/500 USS Ticonderoga CVA-14 (# S611-198)
This multi-part kit represents the modernized island of Essex class aircraft carrier USS Intrepid CVS-11 as it appeared about 1968-1969 during combat operations off Vietnam. It is intended as a more accurate, direct replacement for the kit parts found in the Renwal model kit. It can be adapted for other Vietnam-era angle-deck Essex class carriers including USS Hornet CVS-12, USS Ticonderoga CVA-14, USS Wasp CVA-18, USS Bon Homme Richard CVA-31, and USS Oriskany CVA-34.
An island properly scaled specifically for the Revell 1/530 scale Essex class models is available separately. This 1/500 scale design is too large for the Revell models.
Some adjustment of the plastic kit's parts may be needed for best fit.
Features:
- open bridge and PriFly windows with delicate framing
- decks properly offset to port - Renwal's kits' decks are positioned too far to starboard and should NOT be centered on the island
- properly shaped decks and deck features
- wiper motor details, proper number and placement, on the navigating bridge
- deck supporting structure details accurately positioned as confirmed by photos of the real ship
- delicate exterior piping detail for Intrepid
- porthole rigols ("eyebrows")
- correct style A/T doors
- door overhead rain deflectors
- correct number and position of PriFly splinter shield ribs
- properly slanted and positioned antenna base outriggers
- open funnel cap (grille not included), ready for your favorite photoetch set
Some part cleanup will be necessary. The 3D printing process uses a waxy substance to support certain part features. Although the parts are cleaned by Shapeways, some waxy residue may remain. It can be safely removed with water and a mild aqueous detergent like "Simple Green" using an old, soft toothbrush, Q-tips or pipe cleaners. Customers report that "Bestine" and "Goo Gone" also work well.
During the printing process, liquid resin is cured by ultraviolet light. Microscopic bits of resin may remain uncured. Let your parts sit in direct sunlight for a few hours to fully cure the resin.
Water-based acrylic paints meant for plastics is strongly recommended. Other paints, especially enamels, may not cure on Frosted Detail 3D-printed plastics.
© Model Monkey Book and Hobby. This 3D-printed item may not be copied or recast.
From Wikipedia: "Officially, Ship Characteristics Board Program 27 proper referred to the completion of Oriskany, left unfinished at war's end, to a heavily revised design; reconstructions of earlier ships were programs SCB-27A and 27C. The SCB-27 modernization was very extensive, requiring some two years for each carrier. To handle the much heavier, faster aircraft of the early jet-era, the flight deck structure was significantly reinforced, able to support aircraft weighing up to 52,000 pounds (23,587 kg), namely the North American AJ Savage. Stronger and larger elevators, much more powerful catapults, and new Mk 5 arresting gear were installed. The original four twin 5-inch/38 gun mounts were removed, clearing the flight deck of guns. The new five-inch gun battery consisted of eight weapons, two on each quarter beside the flight deck. Twin 3-inch/50 gunmounts replaced the 40 mm guns, offering much greater effectiveness through the use of proximity fuzed ammunition. The reconstruction eliminated the difference between "short-hull" and "long-hull" ships; all now had similar clipper bows.
"The island was completely redesigned, made taller, but shorter in overall length with the removal of its gun mounts. In addition, the boiler uptakes were rebuilt and angled aft to accommodate a single radar and communications mast atop the island.
"The SCB-125 upgrade program was first applied to the final three Essex-class carriers to undergo the SCB-27C modernization while they were still in the midst of their original refit. Ultimately every SCB-27 ship would undergo the SCB-125 modification with the exception of USS Lake Champlain (CV-39).
"Despite the drastic alteration of the carriers' appearance, the SCB-125 refit involved relatively little modification of the ships' existing structure compared to SCB-27, and took around six to nine months as against the approximately two years of the earlier program. The original SCB-27A vessels, which were fitted with a pair of H 8 hydraulic catapults, were not upgraded with the C 11 steam catapults fitted to their SCB-27C sister ships due to machinery space limitations. The SBC-27As also did not receive the enlarged No. 1 (forward) elevator installed in the 27C ships as part of SBC-125.
"The first three 27C ships (Hancock, Intrepid and Ticonderoga) had had their No 3 elevators moved from the centerline to the starboard deck edge, in a position relatively far aft. The next three (Shangri-La, Lexington and Bon Homme Richard), which underwent 27C and 125 concurrently, had the elevator relocated to a deck-edge position farther forward, and this location was used for the 27A ships as they in turn underwent SCB-125.
USS Oriskany (CV-34), the prototype for the SCB-27 conversion, was the final Essex to undergo SCB-125 conversion and as such, received further enhancements. As a result of the addition of aluminum flight-deck cladding, Mk 7-1 arresting gear and more-powerful C 11-1 steam catapults to the standard SCB-125 modifications, Oriskany alone was referred to as a SCB-125A vessel.[1] These changes also made Oriskany the sole SCB-27A vessel to receive steam catapults.
"Modified vessels:
Source:www.history.navy.mil [2]
Program Shipyard Work Began Recommissioned
USS Shangri-La (CVA-38) SCB-27C/125 Puget Sound Oct 1952 Jan 1955
USS Lexington (CV-16) SCB-27C/125 Puget Sound Sep 1953 Aug 1955
USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31) SCB-27C/125 Hunters Point May 1953 Sep 1955
USS Bennington (CVA-20) SCB-125 New York Jun 1954 Apr 1955
USS Yorktown (CVA-10) SCB-125 Puget Sound Mar 1955 Oct 1955
USS Wasp (CVA-18) SCB-125 Hunters Point Mar 1955 Dec 1955
USS Randolph (CVA-15) SCB-125 Norfolk Aug 1955 Feb 1956
USS Essex (CVA-9) SCB-125 Puget Sound Aug 1955 Jan 1956
USS Hornet (CVA-12) SCB-125 Puget Sound Jan 1956 Aug 1956
USS Hancock (CVA-19) SCB-125 Hunters Point Apr 1956 Nov 1956
USS Kearsarge (CVA-33) SCB-125 Jul 1956 Jan 1957
USS Ticonderoga (CVA-14) SCB-125 Norfolk Aug 1956 Apr 1957
USS Intrepid (CVA-11) SCB-125 New York Sep 1956 May 1957
USS Oriskany (CVA-34) SCB-125A Hunters Point Jan 1957 May 1959
1 Lexington was redesignated CVA upon completion of SCB-27C/125"
