In early 1942, while Lexington still had the four 8" gun turrets, what AA were mounted on the platform near the top of the funnel - 20 mm, or .50 cal.? If .50 cal. are they even possible in 1/700 scale?
Thanks. These are water-cooled .50’s. I would also need to know if air-cooled, or water-cooled .50’s were fitted, and how many.
I would go with water-cooled .50’s… Here’s a period picture of CV-6 Enterprise in early 1942
“USS Enterprise (CV-6), view of part of the .50 caliber anti-aircraft guns gallery in action against attacking Japanese planes during the raid on the Japanese-held Marshall Islands, 1 February 1942.”
In the 1930s and 1940s, the US Navy used the water-cooled version on ships while aircraft and small craft such as PT Boats used the lightweight air-cooled version.
H.P.
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Frenchy is correct, go with water-cooled .50 cals.
On each side of the funnel, just below the large .50 cal. platform, was a very small platform accessed by a vertical ladder from the .50 cal. platform above. Each of the two small platforms held a large, drum-like water tank. Those two tanks held the water coolant for the .50 cals. above.
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The model I have is Meng’s 1/700 Lexington. They don’t specify what period, but it retains the 8" guns, so is obviously pre-Coral Sea. The air-wing provided consists of F4F’s, Dauntless, and, Devastators, which would suggest post-Pearl Harbour. I plan on modeling the ship as it appeared during the raids on New Guinea, in Feb/Mar 1942. Meng supplies 20 mm Oerlikons (which are PE, and lacking) which I presume is an error. The rest of the included AA armaments - 5 in., and 1.1 in. (although simplified) appear to be correct. The model itself is partially snap-together, but has more, and better defined, surface detail, and has a better appearance than the much older Trumpeter kit. I got the “Extreme” version so it has plenty of PE detailing.