Lexington carrier

Randy. CV-2 was built before WW II and was one of the original carriers used to develop carrier operations before the war. Aircraft were colorful bi-planes. The ship was modified and had a different configuration for WW II action. She was sunk at the Battle of Coral Sea. CV-16, an Essex class Carrier was originally to be named Cabot. This was changed to Lexington after CV-2 was Sunk. CV-16 was launched in Sept 1942. In 1955 CV-16 underwent major modifrications which included addition of an angled flight deck. This is th ship on display. So neither CV-2 or CV-16 in WW II configuration would represent the ship you visited.

Val Kraut

In addition, there aren't many models available of "modernized" Essex-class carriers. Revell once did one that was actually issued as Lexington (CV-16) but this kit was based on another ship in the class and isn't accurate as a model of Lexington. Otherwise, there is Lindberg's kit of the Antietam (if that's still around).

Stephen "FPilot" Bierce/IPMS #35922 "I want some positive proof that a few million more dead Americans is a Bad Thing. Because if you go by the advertising, the American nation is the most deserving of genocide there has ever been."--Tepid 9:19

That early angle deck era seems to be totally neglected. Given some of the colorful markings on Aircraft from the Viet Nam era - especially the Corairs IIs it would be an interesting era for carrier models. Renwal also did an angled deck version of ShangraLa, not sure how accurate it was but the deck detail was kind of heavy handed.

Val Kraut

Val