just bones...production

neal

Fuselage formers....  This is a pretty heavy model...at 28"ws...plans call for 3/32" stringers on fuselage.

Neal

Thanks for the reference source, Tom!

This is my source book, Tom...a real wealth of information...but still can be confusing.  Love these Squadron/Signal Publications...got a pretty nice stack of them.  That's VB-2 Lexington on the cover...Red Section (1)...Yellow tails. 

Neal

A word about "the box"...I like diagonals...for me they are essential...help the box to maintain its longitudinal shape when those longerons begin to curve.  There are other methods that can help that situation of course...wetting the wood-pinning it down to allow it to dry into shape, or the one I've used many times...laminating.  The diagonals do the job as well, and besides...they soothe my nerves.    Always install the diagonals as you build the sides...not after the box is assembled.  Have done the after-the-fact step and that never worked out very well.    Of course, everyone has their own methods...so ignore all of this if you must.  Those fuselage curves are very alluring...until they seek their own destiny. 

Ok...here's a few more photos of those attractive 1930's colors...Red Section (1), SBC-4's of USS Enterprise (Blue tails)...note the Flight Leader's aircraft (red fuselage band) on AC 1...full red cowling as well.    Even though markings have begun to be "reduced," we know that his AC is 6-S-1. 

Oh, I altered that first diagonal in order to clear the wheel-well....

Neal

Thanks Ian. 

Let's talk about all those beautiful colors and markings on those classic Navy 1930's aircraft....  Somewhere along the line the War Department came upon the idea of using its various service aircraft for promotional purposes...a bit of public relations...hence all the "exciting" color schemes.

Here's a LIFE magazine photo that I love...says so much!  Look at that SBC tail...blue...from the USS Enterprise (CV-6)...even says it's a Curtiss SBC-3 and has the Navy BuAer No. 0517!  At the time, all aircraft carriers had a designated aircraft tail color...Enterprise was BLUE.  Can't mistake that!

Fuselage markings...even though we can't see the first number(s)...it would have been a 6...corresponded with the ship number...and marked the specific squadron.  Second item...letter S represented a SCOUT BOMBER squadron...could also have been an F (FIGHTER) or a T (Torpedo)...depending on the aircraft type and purpose assignment.  Last number represented the specific aircraft within the squadron...for ours, 18 is the last member.  Technically speaking...Navy squadrons were divided into six sections of three aircraft each...i.e., 18 aircraft...theoretically (there were replacement aircraft on board).

So our aircraft is from the USS Enterprise (CV-6), and more specifically, VS-6...6-S-18.

Each section of three aircraft was assigned a specific color...Section One was generally RED...our aircraft was from Section Six...YELLOW.  The section color was featured on the cowling, upper wing chevron, and fuselage band (if any).  Only the section leader's aircraft would feature a full color cowling and an appropriately colored fuselage band.  The other two aircraft in a section would have either the upper or lower half of its cowling featuring the section color.  The fuselage band of the section leader's aircraft is only just visible on the middle aircraft shown in the photo.

So what is shown in this photo is basically the launch preparation for the three aircraft of VS-6 Section 6 aboard the USS Enterprise...probably sometime in 1937-38.  By 1940-41 all those beautiful colors were over-painted in grey...and its only individual specific marking would have been "S-18."    Incidentally, LtCdr Waldron flew "T-16" (TBD) off Hornet at Midway...Commander of Torpedo 8.  I suppose the CO could fly any aircraft he chose to. In a happier time...that aircraft would have been a very handsome "8-T-16."

Now look at the Flight Deck Crew...Launch Team 7...with some dip.... running through the shot.  The headgear color was appropriate for the various teams and their assignments (armorers, launch/recovery, etc.). Absolutely wonderful photo.

Neal

Don't mind at all!   Have already constructed one side of the box...this looks fun.  She might look light on the plan...but I'll take care of that. 

That's a great old movie, Tom..."Dive Bomber," 1941...lots of great classic 1930's Navy aircraft shots...in color.   Bob and I both got a kick out of reminiscing about it...he rushed out and ordered a copy for himself.  At the time I was building my Vought SBU. It's amazing how many different aircraft the Navy was using at the time...1940-41.  Those great color schemes were just about to be done away with in favor of a more war-like demeanor.  Check out this one screen-grab...a mixed bag for certain...Buffalos, Helldivers, Vindicators, and in the back with folded wings...Devastators.  Those Helldivers were about to be replaced by the SBD Dauntless.  White tail Vindicators are Saratoga aircraft and green tails in my SBU shot are from the Ranger.  Love all those colors!

Neal

I couldn't wait for the larger model and did Dave Mitchell's dimer.  It's a great plan and you can make a very nice model from it.  I think it would blow up nicely to plan-mash into any size you'd like.  I like the Whitman plan and my first thought was one piece lower wing with wing saddle built into side of fuselage box.  Very good looking aircraft.  I've always love that plane!  Neal, your stealing one from my "to do" list again! 

I think they used those planes in Fred McMurray's movie Dive Bomber?