Trumpeter Lexington Part Question

bigfoot01 wrote:

I'm in new water here, I'm normally on the aircraft board. I have a question regarding part #F18 on the Trumpeter 1/350 Lexington kit. It appears to be a small short winged aircraft type thing. I noticed my Revell Arizona has a similar device on the number 2 turret. What is this? Is it some type of aerial target drone, some type of sounding device, or something else? After completing the kit it is one of only a few parts not used so I'm thinking it is something for the early version of the Saratoga that is coming out.

I agree, sounds like the paravanes to me.

One thing I HAVE noticed about a lot of kits these days (coming back from a 30+ year break from the hobby) is that companies frequently come out with "generic" sprues of parts, which may be used in several different kits. That drove me nuts with my first 1/700 plastic ship kit, a Skywave/PitRoad Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate. I was used to the old days, where every part in the kit went on that model, and nearly drove myself to distraction trying to figure out where some of the little bits went.