Essex Details

White Ensign makes an aftermarket set of tractors, tugs, etc...

With regards to signal flags, you can always reference photos...Dunagain Decals used to make 1/350 signal flags, not sure if GMM does them, but they may.

GMM and Tom's Modelworks do figures in PE in 1/350, L'Arsenal does 1/350 figures in resin.

Jeff

Flag hoists depend on what evolution is going on at a specific time. Generally, just the ship's ensign is flying, but if there are flight ops going on there are dayshapes and other flags flying. If the ship is sitting at anchor or entering or leaving port, there are other flags flying. There is only one occasion, by the way, when a flag flies above the national ensign, and that is the Church Flag flown when religious services are being conducted on board. It is a White and black pennant that is flown on the same truck as the ensign.

Chris how long has that project taken you? I have never tried ships and just wonder about how long something like that would take. Thanks. Good luck and hope to see some photos. My uncle was on the Essex, years later, he was a photographer. Unfortuanately his ex wife, (My Godmother) threw away his photos years ago. I asked him a few years ago if I could look at his photos and he told me he no longer had them. Oh well. Can't win them all.

Thanks to Jeff and subfixer for the input.

jimz66: I started last May and have about two months to go. I take my time, research every detail I can (I have every reference I can find--I am a history/carrier nut), and build an hour or two a day. What I like most is the learning of the history, the design, and modeling technique. Compared to the pros, I am a strict amateur, but I will post pictures when it's done. Doing the camo added months to the job, but it looks much more interesting than a Measure 21 version in my opinion. Ditto the PE details.

Chris