Scale: 1/350
 
Recommended to help correct the major inaccuracies of your Trumpeter 1/350 scale USS Saratoga CV-3 kit's island, better representing the ship's 1936-1940 appearance. The Trumpeter kit's island better matches sistership USS Lexington CV-2, and is poorly detailed.

This model represents the island of celebrated aircraft carrier USS Saratoga CV-3 as she appeared during extensive pre-war training exercises where she and her crew laid the foundation for modern carrier warfare.  The ship at this time did not yet have the widened flight deck forward with this island configuration.

The major difference between this 1936 version and the earlier 1933 version (available separately) is that this version has a venturi (wind deflector) on the splinter shield forward of the pilot house.

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
accurate fighting top 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 doors
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
 
During this time, the Saratoga Air Group was equipped with:
April - June 1936:
Fighting Squadron 6B (VF-6B): Grumman F3F-1, Vought SBU-1 and O3U-1
Bombing Squadron 2B (VB-2B): Curtiss BFC-2, Vought SBU-1
Torpedo Squadron 2B (VT-2B): Great Lakes TG-2
Scouting Squadron 2B (VS-2B): Vought SBU-1
 
April - May 1937:
Fighting Squadron 6B (VF-6B): Grumman F3F-1, Vought SBU-1 and O3U-1
Bombing Squadron 2B (VB-2B): Curtiss BFC-2, Vought SBU-1 and O3U-1
Torpedo Squadron 2B (VT-2B): Great Lakes TG-2
Scouting Squadron 2B (VS-2B): Vought SBU-1
Scouting Squadron 4B (VS-4B): Vought SU-4
 
March - April 1938:
Fighting Squadron 3 (VF-3): Grumman F3F-1 and Vought O3U-3
Bombing Squadron 3 (VB-3): Vought SB2U-1 Vindicator, Curtiss SBC-4 Helldiver, and Brewster SBA-1
Torpedo Squadron 3 (VT-3): Douglas TBD-1 Devastator
Scouting Squadron 3 (VS-3): Curtiss SBC-3 Helldiver
 
June - December 1939:
Fighting Squadron 2 (VF-2): Grumman F2F-1, Vought SU-1, SU-2 and SB2U-1 Vindicator
Bombing Squadron 4 (VB-4): Vought SB2U-2 Vindicator and Consolidated N2Y-1
Scouting Squadron 2 (VS-2): Vought SBU-1
 
April - June 1940:
Fighting Squadron 3 (VF-3): Grumman F2F-1, Vought SB2U-2 Vindicator, and Grumman F3F-1
Bombing Squadron 4 (VB-4): Vought SB2U-2 Vindicator
Torpedo Squadron 3 (VT-3): Douglas TBD-1 Devastator
Scouting Squadron 2 (VS-2): Curtiss SBC-3 Helldiver
 
Saratoga Air Group Aircraft Identification Colors and Markings, 1928-1940:
Tail Surfaces: entire fin and rudder painted in "Black" to signify the aircraft belonged to the USS Saratoga Air Group.
Wings: The upper surfaces of the top wings were painted "Orange-Yellow" (often called "Chrome Yellow") for high visibility if an aircraft went down at sea.  "Orange-Yellow" was a rich, golden-yellow color with a slight orange tint, often matched to modern FS 13538.  The bottom of wings was typically painted Aluminum Lacquer.
Fuselage: Generally left in Natural Metal (aluminum) or painted with Light Gray or Aluminum Lacquer. 
Squadron Section Markings: individual squadrons and sections were further differentiated by colored bands and cowlings: 
Section 1: Insignia Red (Full cowling)
Section 2: White (Full cowling)
Section 3: True Blue (Full cowling)
Section 4: Black (Full cowling)
Section 5: Willow Green (Full cowling)
Section 6: Lemon Yellow (Full cowling)
 
Section Leaders featured a chevron on the top wing painted in the color of their section.
Identifying Letters and Numbers on Fuselage and Wings: black.
 
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