Carrier Catapult Question

I don't think you'll have a problem, cat systems like many other subsystems are contracted out to a DOD supplier so i don't imagine designs change that often,HOWEVER early Forrestal class and newer did use slings to launch aircraft until late Viet Nam. Most modern jets now use a holdback fitting and a shuttle. If your only showing the area under the aircraft you should be safe.

Thanks armornut. I suspected that but just wanted to confirm.

You can use the Italeri or older Verlinden catapult/deck sections for any carrier from Forrestal and up, there are just two things to consider, one is that the carriers older than Nimitz didn't have the "cat bubble" control center sticking up out of the deck. The other is that from Nimitz and later there is a more uniform Hex Pattern to the the tiedowns on the deck. Those were in offset rows on the Kennedy and older. (ship guys can tell the classes apart by looking at the tie down patterns)

As for the bridle system, that was in use from WW II on up to the early units of the Nimitz class, they are on any modern ship's catapults that still have that "horn" sticking out in front (the Van Velm Bridle Arrestor), they had to keep them for a while until all aircraft on deck were of a design with the A-6, E-2, A-7 and later nose gear catapult bar type. So, if you are displaying an A-6, A-7, E-2, C-2, F-18, F-14 or S-3, you use the bar coming out of the front of the nose gear and hooked into the cat shuttle. They also have a hold back cable that goes back to the deck, with a breakable bolt in it.

If you are displaying an F-4, F-8 (and RF-8 on the Nimitz), an RA-5C, A-3, A-4, or older, you need the bridle system and the layout of all of those parts, with a hold back cable.

The shuttle launch and bridle launch gear is all in the "under the aircraft" area,,,,,but, you'll be good if you pick your aircraft wisely.

Rex

Thanks Rex. I will be using the Hasegawa F-14D on this carrier section.

if you are going for the moment of launch, or just before that, then all you need is to put the aircraft's launch bar into the cat shuttle, and the hold back cable back to its spot on the deck (the end fits in marked slots next to the cat track)

edit, geez, I am old,,,,,,the "hold back cable" that I talk about is now a "hold back bar",,,,,,but, the idea is still the same, there is a reduced diameter section inside there, that is known to break somewhere above "being able to hold the aircraft back" at Military Power, but,  then to break when the cat pressure is added to the total thrust

This might be of use for you.

Don't worry, Mr Greenshirt gets out of the way after "doing the hook up check"

Just what I needed, great reference shot . Thanks again Rex!

you're welcome

I'm building the same kind of dio but using Dragons 1/144 scale catapult/blast deflector deck section but I'm putting a RA-5C on it with the bridle and hold back cables on it I'm also making the turtle shaped shuttle for the bridle.

I need more infor and pic's of the hold back cable all of the pic's I've found so far are not clear ,I have found that the hold back attaches to just in front of or to the arresting hook but I still don't know how it goes down to the deck and how the cables on the bridle are on the deck exactly I do know where the bridle hooks are on the aircraft so I know how to attach that part of the bridle.

Any help would be great maybe there is an ex Navy Greenshirt on here that remembers how they were setup.

Thank you,

COChef

Camp Lejeune NC