Why aren’t there any decent models of that old class of workhorses- the Forrestals and improved Forrestals?? There were four ships of the former and three of the latter. Is it because they aren’t as glamorous as the Nimitzes or that floating can of worms- the lower case “e”. They sure as heck carried their weight in their lifetimes and deserve a decent rendering in styrene.
Thank you, I am now vented. I will go away quietly. Please pardon me. Phew!
I have yet to see any FORRESTAL Class Carriers in 1/350 scale. I’ve seen them in 1/800 and a couple in 1/720. They did serve and continue to serve well in the Fleet.
Here’s a listing:
FORRESTAL Class…
USS FORRESTAL CV-59
USS SARATOGA CV-60
USS RANGER CV-61
USS INDEPENDENCE CV-62
KITTY HAWK Class…
USS KITTY HAWK CV-63 (still on active duty)
USS CONSTELLATION CV-64 (decommed Aug 2003)
USS AMERICA CV-66
I agree with your point, they should be represented in larger scale plastic.
Well, I won’t join you in bashing the mighty Enterprise… but I agree about the Forrestal, I would LOVE to have one in 1/350.
I’m not really bad mouthing the “E”, when I call it a can of worms, I am referring to its mechanical condition. It is indeed a proud ship and worhty of praise. (Even though when I was serving onboard the Ranger, the “E” was usually in port somewhere showing off its showboat self while we and the other Pacific fleet carriers were carrying its load.)
I built the 1/720 Ranger for myself, since I to am from her. Not real crazy about that little kit. A 1/350 would be great. I remember the Ranger being tied in front of the Carl Vinson and we went aboard. You could tell which ship was out a sea for 9 months spinning circles off the coast of Korea and what ship was taking luxury cruises between SanDiego and Pearl Harbor.
I remember reading about the Navy’s reason to retire the Forrestalls right after a SLEP. The reason was simple, “We wore them out!”
Since we’re on the topic of 1/350 carriers, I wouldn’t mind seeing the following also in the large scale:
USS MIDWAY CV-41
USS CORAL SEA CV-43
Both have a very proud history and were know as “work horses”. MIDWAY was the longest serving carrier on active duty to date (47 years) and was the Navy’s first with an armored flight deck and the first surface vessel to launch a rocket (V-2).
Too bad the CORAL SEA was scrapped [:(] but the MIDWAY is now a museum in San Diego [:)].
Although I have now began a laborouse job of scaling a set of drawings to 1/350 scale and am now ordering raw material and detail sets, plus a Trumpeter Essex to completly dissect and morph in order to fulfill a crazy dream of building a post SCB-125 Essex. I wouldn’t mind seeing a “good” modernized Essex class carrier as well in 1/350. This way we can have a whole series of carriers. Ahh, to do a “Yankee Station” diorama with both the Oriskany and Forrestall.
Lee, I sure wish there were. I was on the Forrestal in the early 60’s. I built one model of her, when I learned I was to be stationed on her after graduating from EN-A school. I sure would love to do another model of her, as I have first hand knowledge of how she was built. Maybe some day soon[;)] After all, she was the first super carrier.
A dio of “Yankee Station” would be awesome to view…might as well float the ships on a small pond.[:D]
Anybody else a member of the “Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club” out there?
Thought the Big-E was a modified Forrestal?
By the way did you guy’s read the book Sailors to the end? great read!
The ENTERPRISE is a Class all by herself, literally. Her design incorporated some characteristics of the FORRESTAL Class. She’s the Navy’s first nuclear aircraft carrier and from the keel up, she’s her own.
Winnie, you are right about the book Sailors To The End. It was a good read. It’s been said that when the times get tough, the tough get going. That sure was the case with the sailors onboard, on that fatefull day[:(]
15 years later. Still no Forrestal ?
[:(((]
Or Midway. I’m in the middle of a project using the lower hull of the smaller Revell Forrestal. I’d forgotten that it’s a pretty basic kit.
Combat flight ops from the Class in Vietnam, Grenada, Lebanon, Libya, Desert Storm, Afghanistan, Iraq… helping to win the Cold War…
but if had served in the WWII DKM… we’d probably have at least two kits now…
Isn’t that the truth!
Ya Know!
The “Middie” or Midway to those who served elswhere was a solid old girl. My destroyer tried to sink her. We Failed. But ten months later I got transferred to her !
I remember thinking all the crew could buy cars overseas and bring them home on her. Just stack them three high in the empty Hangar deck!. And put the crated Honda Motorcycles on the sponsons!
Naw, I spent many good days on her. She felt very secure and safe to me. Could wake you from a stuperous sleep when doing Plane ops though !
Oho! Does that include any tin-cans blasting away there?
Trumpeter has the Kitty Hawk and Connie in both 1/350. I am taking a Kitty Hawk 1/350 hull and convert it into CVA-62.