I am starting the Lex (the old Lex, Trumpetter's 350 scale version). While it is a very nice kit, the color info is a bit sparse. They cover hull, deck etc., but that is about all. I am searching for detail colors. All of the pics I can find of the Lex are either B&W, or aerial shots from so far away you cannot make out details (and these color shots are very prewar, not the config that the kit makes up.
I would assume some of the detail colors I need would be the same for any carrier in the navy early in the war. What about ships boats? What about the walls of the hanger deck. I will be depicting it with elevators down, so you can see at least the part of the hanger deck that makes up the 'vator walls. How about the guns? I assume the five inchers would be same color as hull, but what about the smaller ones- the 20mm and .50 cal ones? How about the safety nets-would these have been the same color as the deck? It looks like there is a narrow strip on the forward edge of the flight deck that is lighter in color than the rest of the deck. Would that have been hull color?
I also have some operations questions some of you old carrier hands may be able to answer. I am using the Tom's Modelworks PE set, and it includes a "wind break" that you can put on in the raised position. Would that be down during flight operations? When would it be up I am assuming the safety nets along the side of the deck would be raised during non-flight ops, horizontal during flight. Is this right?
Back to colors, the color diagram gives the Gunze color numbers. Anyone know of a conversion to Testors Model Master?