Question concerning the U.S.S.Essex

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

     How wide was the wooden deck planking on the U.S.S. Essex flight deck in 1945 ? Im building the air wing off of her in April of 45. When done I was thinking about displaying them on a piece of deck. I know they make deck pieces for display but not sure if they can hold four aircraft side by side. So am looking in case I have to make a base using a plywood base with balsa or basswood strips glued on top. If I make it I can paint the markings that I will need ? 
 

Dennis

[Grey Beema]

Funnily enough I was looking at this before Christmas for a 1/48 Escort Carrier base for a Hellcat I.  This was built up in PowerPoint so I could print it on a sticky label and put that in turn onto a foam board square.  

 

I think I estimated the plank size from a photo - if you like I’ll measure up a bit later on and see what I came up with.  Remember there is a strip if tie down metal pierced plank once every 16 planks I think I counted.  

 

 

Hope it helps..

 

[EwenS]

From the detailed specifications issued to the builders of the Essex class in 1941.

https://maritime.org/doc/carrierspec/index.htm#toc

 

”.....The planks shall be about 6  inches wide to suit the spacing of the airplane securing tracks.....”

 

https://maritime.org/doc/carrierspec/pg164.htm

 

 

[Grey Beema]

Yup did mine as 3mm wide for 1/48 which works out to 6”.

[Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies]

13 hours ago, Corsairfoxfouruncle said:

     How wide was the wooden deck planking on the U.S.S. Essex flight deck in 1945 ? Im building the air wing off of her in April of 45. When done I was thinking about displaying them on a piece of deck. I know they make deck pieces for display but not sure if they can hold four aircraft side by side. So am looking in case I have to make a base using a plywood base with balsa or basswood strips glued on top. If I make it I can paint the markings that I will need ? 
 

Dennis

 

When you do this, don't forget that all US Navy carriers in theatre had their decks stained blue. Flight Deck Stain 21 in the case of all members of the Essex class. The steel tracks with the cleats in would not have been stained, rather they'd have been painted in the usual 20-B Deck Blue.

 

It would all get heavily distressed and weathered of course which is fine - but the only time you'd see bright wood on a WWII US Navy carrier deck is on shakedown cruise prior to combat deployment.

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

10 hours ago, Grey Beema said:

Funnily enough I was looking at this before Christmas for a 1/48 Escort Carrier base for a Hellcat I.  This was built up in PowerPoint so I could print it on a sticky label and put that in turn onto a foam board square.  

 

I think I estimated the plank size from a photo - if you like I’ll measure up a bit later on and see what I came up with.  Remember there is a strip if tie down metal pierced plank once every 16 planks I think I counted.  

 

 

Hope it helps..

 

 

8 hours ago, EwenS said:

From the detailed specifications issued to the builders of the Essex class in 1941.

https://maritime.org/doc/carrierspec/index.htm#toc

 

”.....The planks shall be about 6  inches wide to suit the spacing of the airplane securing tracks.....”

 

https://maritime.org/doc/carrierspec/pg164.htm

 

 

 

7 hours ago, Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies said:

 

When you do this, don't forget that all US Navy carriers in theatre had their decks stained blue. Flight Deck Stain 21 in the case of all members of the Essex class. The steel tracks with the cleats in would not have been stained, rather they'd have been painted in the usual 20-B Deck Blue.

 

It would all get heavily distressed and weathered of course which is fine - but the only time you'd see bright wood on a WWII US Navy carrier deck is on shakedown cruise prior to combat deployment.

Thank you Gentlemen, this helps quite a lot. Im sure I could match the paints for the deck staining. The planks would be easy to figure in 1/72 from the description. Id have to figure a way to replicate the steel tie down planks but shouldn't be too hard. @EwenS Thank you for the links I’ll have to sit and take my time reading through them.