Thankyou gentlemen, its all so much fun really. I have to find out if the catapults used were steam or what. My daughter suggested using thin cotton strans to cover the wire and make it appear as smoke or steam trailing behind the aircraft. Not so sure how that would look... thinking about it. All the old motion pictures I've been able to find do not show steam evidence. that was the lightest guage wire I could use that would support the weight. We are getting close to the finish on the build. I have ordered the case and will start working on the base today... I need to get this guy mounted... its time. Next project is Trumpeter's Lexington CV-2. Same scale, but she was a larger ship, hence, bigger model. Dennis