Scale: 1/700

Recommended to help convert your Tamiya or Fujimi 1/700 USS Saratoga CV-3 kit to the ship's 1942-1943 appearance.  Note that the Tamiya kit's hull shape and flight deck are accurate for 1942-1943.  The Fujimi kit's hull without the starboard stability blister and short, aft flight deck, is accurate for 1941.

This model represents the shortened funnel of celebrated aircraft carrier USS Saratoga CV-3 as she appeared during the critical early months of World War II in the Pacific, May, 1942 through 1943, during the Battles of the Eastern Solomons, Guadalcanal, the invasion of Bouganville, attacks on the Japanese base at Rabaul, and the Gilbert and Marshall Islands Campaign.

The major differences of this 1942-1943 version and the latter 1944-1945 version (available separately) are:
different splinter shielding and deck shape aft of the Mk.37 Director tower
stand for SK radar antenna, smaller than stand for latter SM radar at the same position
slightly different electrical boxes and other details
 
Features:
fully assembled
overall dimensions and shapes drawn from official US Navy Booklet of General Plans dated 1936-August, 1944, adjusted to details to match photos of the actual ship as she appeared during 1942-1943
proper elliptical shape, 01 level is wider aft
correct compound curvature of the funnel cap roof (plastic kit manufacturers often get this shape wrong)
funnel cap access hatches, properly sized and located
open drying room vents just under the funnel cap
access hatches for the fresh water tank (behind the Bofors tub under the director tub), properly sized and located
open smoke pipes all the way through - properly sized, compartmented, sloped and positioned
accurately shaped splinter shielding
detailed, internal, twin 5"/38 Mount #7 barbette with open scuttles and properly positioned bulkheads, which will be visible through:
open A/T doors, properly sized and positioned
heavy structural deck supports, with open lightening holes
 
© Model Monkey LLC. This 3D-printed product may not be copied or recast.

Model Monkey Lexington class products:
​USS Lexington CV-2​
1/700 Lexington Island 1936-1940
1/700 Lexington Island 1942 (Battle of the Coral Sea)
1/700 Lexington Funnel 1928-1935
1/700 Lexington Funnel 1936-1940
1/700 Lexington Funnel 1941
1/700 Lexington Funnel 1942 (Battle of the Coral Sea)
1/700 Lexington 1942 Alternative Splinter Shields (Round-ended – Battle of the Coral Sea)
1/700 Lexington and Saratoga 8"/55 Turrets 1928-1941
USS Saratoga CV-3
1/700 Saratoga Island 1931-1932
1/700 Saratoga Island 1933-1935
1/700 Saratoga Island 1936-1940
1/700 Saratoga Island 1941 (widened flight deck, lengthened aft)
1/700 Saratoga Island 1942 (Battles of the Eastern Solomons and Guadalcanal)
1/700 Saratoga Island 1943 (Raids on Bouganville, Rabaul, and the Gilbert and Marshall Islands Campaign)
1/700 Saratoga Island 1944-1945 (Battle for Okinawa)
1/700 Saratoga Funnel 1928-1940
1/700 Saratoga Funnel 1941-1942
1/700 Saratoga Funnel 1942-1943
1/700 Saratoga Funnel 1944-1945
1/700 Lexington and Saratoga 8"/55 Turrets 1928-1941
1/700 5"/38 Mk.32 Twin Mounts (set of 8) - for Saratoga 1942-1946