Scale: 1/700

Recommended to help backdate your Tamiya or Fujimi 1/700 scale USS Saratoga CV-3 (1944) kit to represent the ship's 1941 to March, 1942 appearance.  Note that the Fujimi kit has a hull without the starboard stability blister, correct for 1941, and does have forward flight deck features for 1941.

Conversion advice (major changes):
For Fujimi's kit for 1941, replace the island with this product, replace the funnel and replace the kit's 5"/38 mounts with 8"/55 turrets, and extend the flight deck aft.  Alter AA fit.
For Tamiya's kit for 1941, same replacements as Fujimi and remove the hull's starboard stability blister.  Alter AA fit.
 
This model represents the island of celebrated aircraft carrier USS Saratoga CV-3 as she appeared the year of the Pearl Harbor attack, after her flight deck had been widened but her 8-inch guns had not yet been removed nor had a stability/torpedo blister been yet installed on her starboard side.

The major difference between this version and the 1936 version is the addition of a box-like Radio Direction Finder Station located above and forward of the Pilot House, a small platform on the port side of the roof of the Flag Plotting Station above the Pilot House, and a shielded extension forward on the windbreak of the uppermost fire control platform.

Features:
fully assembled
accurately dimensioned from US Navy Booklet of General Plans drawings
detail locations confirmed by careful study of photographs of the actual ship
proper asymmetrical deck shapes for Saratoga (Lexington's were shaped differently)
accurate splinter shield shapes (Lexington's were shaped differently)
enlarged Flag Plotting Station (above Pilot House), unique to Saratoga
box-like Radio Direction Finder Station
accurate fighting tops, including the aft top on the funnel, both with open windows
upper top Fire Control Station (the large uppermost platform on top the tripod) includes supporting structural framing with lightening holes, subtle locator disks for rangefinders (not included) and splinter shielding of a slightly different shape than Lexington's​
open A/T doors, ready for your favorite photoetch
open portholes (airports) properly sized and located
detailed interior barbette and associated bulkheads with open scuttles
heavy structural supports included
light structural supports, railings and ladders omitted, ready for your favorite photoetch
 
© 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