Lone Star Models' 1/48 scale
P Mk.6 Catapult

by Joe Lyons
 

  

HyperScale is proudly supported by Squadron.com
 

This is a brief look at Lone Star Model’s exquisite P Mk 6 catapult and one of its inhabitants, the 35 year-old 1/48 scale Monogram kit of the OS2U Kingfisher.

I have some original blue prints of a variant of the P Mk 6, and have visited the lone survivor on USS Alabama – rest assured Mike West has truly done justice to this Golden Wing-through-WW II piece of equipment .

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images: 

This “build” was done without the catwalks provided in the kit and found in all shipboard installations, EXCEPT the centerline catapults on the sterns of most of the older battleships. These included all the battleships at Pear Harbor on 12-7-41, plus Colorado, New Mexico, Idaho and Mississippi. On these ships, at most launching angles the catapult did not extend over the side of the ship, thus all crew functions could be performed while standing on the ship’s deck. I’ve started work on some drawings of these installations with a view towards building a diorama.



 

• Doll, T and Jackson, B. (1972). Vought-Sikorsky OS2U Kingfisher. Windsor, Berkshire, England: Profile Publications.

• Larkins, W. (1996). Battleship and Cruiser Aircraft of the United States Navy 1910-1949. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Military/Aviation History.

• Larkins, W. (date unknown). The Curitss SOC Seagull. Leatherhead, Surrey, England: Profile Publications.

• Trimble, W. (1990). Wings for the Navy A History of the Naval Aircraft Factory 1917-1956. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press.

• [author unknown] (1949). Naval Aircraft Factory Cavalcade of Aircraft Supplement. [Washington: GPO???]

• [“Supplement includes unclassified data on launching and arresting equipment”]

Model, Images and Text Copyright © 2006 by Joe Lyons
Page Created 02 August, 2006
Last Updated 21 February, 2007

Back to HyperScale Main Page

Back to HyperScale Main Page