WWII Flight Deck Question

Hey guys,

 Do apologize about the long wait for responding. I want to thank you all for your info and help. The web page on the USS Independence is very informative.

Hey Mike,

 I totally forgot that I had a WWII flight deck by Yellowhammer Models. I will probably do a dark base coat then apply the Deck tan lighty then go to the Deck blue. After which I will weather according.

 Thanks again to one in all. I will post pix once completed.

Flaps up,

Mike

I was a crewman on the Lexington (CV-16 [AVT-16]) from 1975-76. The Lex had a WW II era wooden flight deck. The flight deck was painted with dark gray non-skid which I know, is not the same as stain, when the paint wore off, the wood was just a lighter grimy gray. I don't recall it ever looking like that pristine deck in that picture above. Do you have any idea how much work it would take to make the deck look that good? There's not a squid or airedale that wouldn't rather take a paint brush and cover up that bare wood than to sand and finish it with varnish. It looks pretty, but is not in any way realistic. As for camoflauge, a bright wooden flight deck makes about as much sense as the red meatballs the Japanese painted on their decks that made such good aiming points for dive bombers. Maybe the landing areas where the aircraft were arrested might have had some wear and tear that would show some fresh wood but it would be in long streaks.

Mike,

WW2 USN CV decks were stained blue during the period you want to model your Wildcat.

The stain faded very quickly in sunlight and with the wear of constant flight ops,
the wood color would begin to show through the stain.

You can use one of the bases Ed suggested, I'd select a blue one, not a natural one,
or make a base using a weathered wood tan deck blue.

I hope he enjoys your gift.

Cheers,

Mike

I understand that this is a present for your father, and so probably a surprise - but is it possible to come up with a way to ask your father?  Maybe tell him that one of your modeler friends is building a Tamiya 1-700 Bogue (different class, but I can't think of any Independence-class kits) and wants to know if the deck was natural wood or blue.

I know it isn't as easy as it sounds, and I can't always pull it off myself without being obvious - just a suggestion, barring any definitive photographic evidence.

Here is a webpage with some photos of the Independence - while some might be able to tell from these (black & white) if it is natural wood or blue, my eyesight is too bad to be able to tell.

http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-i/cvl22.htm

 

Decks were supposed to be painted deck blue, but some of the pics I have seen show this wasn't always the case. I guess it depended on the individual ship.

Or perhaps you might want to look into Nautilus Models' new laser engraved wooden flightdecks.

This shot represents the fir wood which has been heavily worn & weathered.  James @ Nautilus makes them in the three popular scales

http://nautilusmodels.com/decks.htm

See too the article at Shipcamouflage.com

http://www.shipcamouflage.com/specialtopics/BlueFlightDecks.html

Mike;

I did an image search quickly online and it looks to be a solid wood deck in the 1942-43 picture I found. So you have a couple of options. You could scratchbuild the deck with some bass wood or stained balsa wood, or you could order the Verlinden pre-printed paper Flightdeck that is already marked out.

Hope this helps.

Cheers;

Gregory