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Carrier catapult section

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  • Member since
    February 2021
Carrier catapult section
Posted by MJY65 on Monday, June 14, 2021 6:53 PM

My Google search came up empty, so I'm hoping someone has some ideas.

 

I'd like to display a 1:48 F-18 on a small section of carrier deck representing a cat shot.  I know about the Coastal Kits photo reproductions, but was hoping to get an actual 3d plastic kit.  Not looking for the whole ship, just the catapult section large enough to sit under the plane.

 

Thanks

  • Member since
    May 2011
  • From: Honolulu, Hawaii
Posted by Real G on Monday, June 14, 2021 7:21 PM

“Ya ya ya, unicorn papoi!”

  • Member since
    August 2019
  • From: Central Oregon
Posted by HooYah Deep Sea on Monday, June 14, 2021 7:37 PM

ANNNNDDD .  .  .

"Why do I do this? Because the money's good, the scenery changes and they let me use explosives, okay?"

  • Member since
    February 2021
Posted by MJY65 on Tuesday, June 15, 2021 5:49 AM

Real G

 

Unfortunately, it looks like that kit has been discontinued.  

  • Member since
    March 2003
Posted by jmcquate on Tuesday, June 15, 2021 7:48 AM

Italeri makes one in 1:72nd. https://www.italeri.com/en/product/2163/5/29

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: Mansfield, TX
Posted by EdGrune on Tuesday, June 15, 2021 7:55 AM

jmcquate

Italeri makes one in 1:72nd. https://www.italeri.com/en/product/2163/5/29

I'll offer a couple more in the wrong scale for you.   Dream Model offers some in 1:72 and 1:144 scales.

  • Member since
    August 2019
  • From: Central Oregon
Posted by HooYah Deep Sea on Tuesday, June 15, 2021 9:58 AM

Well, there ain't many 'birdfarms' parked here in Central Oregon, but I wouldn't be surprised if someone out there lives near one. There's Midway in San Diego, Yorktown at Patriot's point, Lexington at Corpus Cristi, Intrepid in New York .  .  .  Did I miss any?

So, If somebody could go aboard and take a few shots, I'm sure it would be handy to more than just this one thread. Just a thought.

"Why do I do this? Because the money's good, the scenery changes and they let me use explosives, okay?"

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Tuesday, June 15, 2021 11:16 AM

It's not a catapult section, but Zoukei Mura makes a couple of US 1/48 modern carrier deck sections.

I picked up this one recently. I think that it's better than the Coastal Models decks- those are just printed poster board. The ZM deck sections are cast and painted with all the relief detail molded in.

 

 

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Tuesday, June 15, 2021 11:25 AM

ZM also makes this USS Midway section that has the catapult track and the older bridle hook up. You could probably modify it into the newer nose wheel attachment hook up.

https://spruebrothers.com/zkmsws48-db04-1-48-zoukei-mura-diorama-base-cv-41-uss-midway-flight-deck/

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: Formerly Bryan, now Arlington, Texas
Posted by CapnMac82 on Tuesday, June 15, 2021 2:12 PM

MJY65
just the catapult section large enough to sit under the plane.

If you just mean parked over the cat section at the bow, then hooyaw's photos are a good guide.  But, if being entirely accurate, a/c on the bow are parked TOW (tail over water) to maximize room for parking.  Which suggests some of the catwalk being needful.

If you mean hooked up to the shuttle, that's a bit different.

I want to remember that there are some kits with the JBD (jet blast deflectors) which would set the scene.

Now, locked into the shuttle, you need to do some surgery on the nose gear of the F-18.  The lock bar and drag link compresses the front oleo down.

But, if you are modeling a Ready Five fighter, you can have the canopy up, ladder out, and full ordnance load aboard with all the RBF flags pulled.

For a Ready 15 (or 30), it can still be loaded, but it needs almost all the RBF in place, and a chain or two depending on the sea state and Plane Captain.  Cockpit is generally unoccuplied in that case, too.  The JBD are lowered, too, since they only take about one minute to raise up.  FOD covers may or may not be in place (and posibly intakes only).

The "Ready nn" formulation means how long, in minutes, from command to launch.  Ready 5 may not have the engines spooled up, but will be ready to.
Ready 15 is pretty much parked, and is decidedly on standby. 

Now, a Ready 15 is often set up to run buddy tanker mission for when an Operation is on.  They will set up on the midships cat so as to allow parking on the bow, leaving the landing area only "fouled" by the ready a/c, which an be towed out of the way if not needed.

Everyone hates having a Ready 30 set up as it fouls the deck in two directions, especially as those are usually "four ship" flights.

 

  • Member since
    February 2021
Posted by MJY65 on Tuesday, June 15, 2021 2:55 PM

CapnMac82
If you mean hooked up to the shuttle, that's a bit different.

 

That's what I was thinking.  Alternatively, the end of the deck, shuttle forward with the plane airborne.

  • Member since
    August 2019
  • From: Central Oregon
Posted by HooYah Deep Sea on Tuesday, June 15, 2021 3:10 PM

Well then, here's this.

 

 

"Why do I do this? Because the money's good, the scenery changes and they let me use explosives, okay?"

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Northeast WA State
Posted by armornut on Tuesday, June 15, 2021 3:33 PM

   Hoo Ya has it spot on per your thread opening post. Capt. 82 has great info on the ready status of the alert aricraft as well, if I remember ready 5 was both engines idle, cat gear preped but not in tension, and all shooters in place to basically lock the bird into the shuttle and send it. Also F-18s nose strut does not compress when tow link is dropped.

    Flex deck operations require the bow cats, 1 & 2 to be utilized to launch aircraft leaving the waist cats,3 & 4, on the angle clear for recovery simultaneously. If the carrier was to work a flex deck package all players would be launched from all 4 cats then just the bow would be used to relaunch after fuel and ordnance depending on mission.

    Study vidios and pictures like Hoo Ya's as the scene you are trying to achive can easily done. May even be cheaper than buying a pre made base. I also agree with the " JBD" jet blast deflector, it will set the scene.

 

we're modelers it's what we do

  • Member since
    February 2021
Posted by MJY65 on Tuesday, June 15, 2021 4:46 PM

armornut
Study vidios and pictures like Hoo Ya's as the scene you are trying to achive can easily done. May even be cheaper than buying a pre made base. I also agree with the " JBD" jet blast deflector, it will set the scene.

 

Sounds like you are talking about a scratch build.  I haven't done any, but am open to trying.  Any particular materials or add ons that make the job look right?

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Northeast WA State
Posted by armornut on Tuesday, June 15, 2021 5:02 PM

    Yeup, scratch buildingSmile, some the materials that you need for this type of project are availabe online, at a local hobby shop, or I think even Hobby Lobby carries it. Evergreen styrene, they offer a wide variety of sheets many thicknesses, rods, half rounds, channels, even square tubing. Once you have aquired the material good photos, references, first hand knowledge if someone in a club near you worked the deck or better yet on the cats. Next is patience, perseverance, and practice...we all gotta start somewhere. After all that then it's just a simple matter of transitioning your thoughts to 3 dimension. Don't be afraid to fail while material over time can cost your initial purchase should give you enough material to repeat multiple times.

    Above all ask the questions when you get stuck. I for one am NOT the know all be all for information but we on the forums collectively are better than Encyclopedia Brittanica. Lol.

we're modelers it's what we do

  • Member since
    August 2014
  • From: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Posted by goldhammer on Tuesday, June 15, 2021 7:25 PM

Probably not too hard to scratch.  Some .040 sheet styrene for the deck, some "C" channel for the cat track, or one on each side if you want a movable shuttle.  Lightly start a drill hole for tie down depressions.  If you want the blast fence, a couple sizes of round styrene tube or rod for the hydraulic rams.

  • Member since
    August 2019
  • From: Central Oregon
Posted by HooYah Deep Sea on Tuesday, June 15, 2021 11:46 PM

 

"Why do I do this? Because the money's good, the scenery changes and they let me use explosives, okay?"

  • Member since
    August 2014
  • From: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Posted by goldhammer on Tuesday, June 15, 2021 11:58 PM

HooYah Deep Sea

 

 

You can see the tie down grid in these pics as well.  If want to go further, add some stretched sprue or fine rod across them for the tie down chains to attach to.

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: Mansfield, TX
Posted by EdGrune on Wednesday, June 16, 2021 6:00 AM

I've not researched deeply, particularly in 1:48 scale, but WEM photoetch (now via Toms Modelworks) made some PE tie down stars and chains.   They also made 'Greek Key' WWII era USN tie down track material 

  • Member since
    March 2003
Posted by jmcquate on Thursday, July 1, 2021 9:20 AM

There is this one, but it's pricey.

https://www.amazon.com/Skunkmodels-Carrier-Defector-figures-SW-48020/dp/B005RJWCXM

  • Member since
    September 2006
  • From: Bethlehem PA
Posted by the Baron on Thursday, July 1, 2021 12:36 PM

EdGrune

I've not researched deeply, particularly in 1:48 scale, but WEM photoetch (now via Toms Modelworks) made some PE tie down stars and chains.   They also made 'Greek Key' WWII era USN tie down track material  

Thanks for that tip, Ed!  I didn't know anyone currently made the tie-down strips.  I have some in my stash from someone who used to make them, in 1/72, but I always wanted to get them in 1/48, too.

For interested folks, here's a link to the 1/48 USN tie-downs at Tom's:

https://www.tomsmodelworks.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=22_28&products_id=51&osCsid=cpp6cg50e3ehqdc99ksmvn1hf6

and you can browse from there for other things.

The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen.

 

 

  • Member since
    October 2019
  • From: New Braunfels, Texas
Posted by Tanker-Builder on Monday, July 5, 2021 5:13 PM

HooYah;

 Is it true? Someone told me the cats on the Ford were like Rail-Guns?

  • Member since
    October 2019
  • From: New Braunfels, Texas
Posted by Tanker-Builder on Monday, July 5, 2021 5:17 PM

Hi HooYah;

 I live within driving of Corpus. But I can tell you, after setting up the Hornet in Alameda,Ca.. The cat slots were covered to prevent foot injuries to tourists.

  • Member since
    August 2019
  • From: Central Oregon
Posted by HooYah Deep Sea on Monday, July 5, 2021 5:30 PM

There is, or used to be, a ride at Magic Mountain (a 'Six-Flags' park in California) called Superman, the escape, that used the same basic electro-magnetic technology, actually its linear synchronous motor (LSM) technology. You started out down the track horizontal and then went vertical. at the top you were momentarily weightless and then experienced negative G's as you started back down. It was pretty cool and the first part definately reminded me of a cat stroke.

The Ford's catapult system (EMALS) uses linear induction motor (LIM) technology, a very similar concept.

Aboard carriers, there is a big, "T" shaped, rubber snake that they put in the cat track 'slot' when not in use to minimize the weather issues / excess water, and stuff falling down in there. It is also a trip hazard, but better than getting your foot caught.

"Why do I do this? Because the money's good, the scenery changes and they let me use explosives, okay?"

  • Member since
    August 2014
  • From: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Posted by goldhammer on Monday, July 5, 2021 5:36 PM

From my understanding, the Ford's still have a slot and shuttle, just that it's electromagnetic rather than steam powered.  Seems that they hopefully have the test bugs worked out.

  • Member since
    July 2019
Posted by WilliamH on Sunday, August 15, 2021 1:29 AM
Curious; has anyone ordered one of these dreammodel or even other DM kits? At $130 its a bit much to experiment with a brand and retailer Im not familiar with. The only retailer online I've found is daiyee.com. They legit? some links to some interesting diorama bases: https://daiyee.com/shop/index.php?route=product/product&path=20_61&product_id=924 https://daiyee.com/shop/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=969 I wasn't interested in getting into a 1/72 build, bit with these bases, Id give it go.
  • Member since
    May 2011
  • From: Honolulu, Hawaii
Posted by Real G on Sunday, August 15, 2021 4:46 AM

I rode that Superman ride a couple times!  The first time, it was just too exciting and novel to observe anything.

When I rode it the second time, I tried to note as much as I could.  I loved the sound of the generator building up before release, noticed my vision slightly tunneled at start (the brochure claimed 3 G), and the backward fall after reaching the top was comfortable, unlike going downhill in a normal coaster.

“Ya ya ya, unicorn papoi!”

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