I think Ranger and Wasp will be resin kits at 1/700 forever. I’m ok with that. But a correct Hornet and an Enterprise would be nice in plastic, at 1/350.
Now getting down to brass tacks, an axial deck Midway at 1/350.
A Forrestal at 1/350 in plastic.
Which does not exist as an injection molded kit in 1/350.
I heartily agree with you gentlemen, a Wasp(CV-7), Langley(CV-1) and Ranger(CV-4) in 1/350 would be welcome additions to the hobby. Having some more of the earlier angled flight deck CVs would be awesome as well.
I wouldn’t mind picking up the Dragon 1/350 USS Princeton or Independence, as well as the Hasagawa USS Gambier Bay.
That is on the USN side. If I had the money I would definitely pick up the Hasagawa 1/350 IJN Akagi, Kaga, Hiryu or the Zuikaku.
If we’re playing “do tell”, then my roster of 1/350 carriers include:
USS Saratoga (CV-3)
USS Yorktown (CV-5)
USS Essex (CV-9)
Steve
Stick, I agree with you.
Bill, Merit International IS coming out with a 1/350 USS Enterprise (CV-6) soon. Hopefully by Christmas but I’m willing to wait.
Steve
…not yet… but coming…
Oh that is good. I’ll be in line.
As for CVE’s, I would like the Gambier Bay too. It’s just so expensive.
A Bogue, please. I think L’arsenal made one at 1/400.
J-Mart ;
Which one you want to build ? I have Trumpeter’s Saratoga In 1/350 ! T.B.
Skywave made a *Bogue-*class escort carrier in 1/700. It came in two boxings: American and British. Tamiya now lists the same kit, with some upgraded parts.
Stik- I’ll agree with you on the Big “E”, always my favorite after reading the book of the same title as a youngun. Already saving for her. Just wondering which version is coming, before refit in '43 or after. Hopefully they might include parts for either version…HINT.
Right that’s true. I just wish it was sold by Tamiya at 1/350.
Is that CV6 kit before or after her 43’ refit I wonder.
I loved the Tamiya USS Bogue! It was the first carrier kit that I ever saw with a hangar deck, and it was the first on which I ever used photo etch parts.
I would also recommend that a manufacturer release updated kits of the Midway class and the Forrestal class ships since the only kits are grossly dated or are inaccurate, and do not fit into any collection. Given the upcoming releases of the J.F.K. and the Kitty Hawk, coupled with the Tamiya Enterprise and Trumpeter Nimitz, 1/350 would be nice. But, there are also numerous carriers in 1/700, so either would be good.
Bill
We had a mention on the forum about the Merit kit earlier this spring. Someone reported that the Merit kit representents CV 6 in fall '42. That would make sense since it will no doubt be a reboxing of the Yorktown CV 5 kit. The Enterprise mid '43 refit would require a completely different hull molding to include the added blisters. Of course if they do a remolded hull and eliminate the overscale hull plates, that would be welcomed by everybody.
The Yorktown kit contained some 40mm Bofors guns on the sprues, etc., that weren’t needed for that ship. That was a good clue that an Enterprise is coming.
Mike is correct. Tracy White wrote the following:
“The kit will be of Enterprise as she was at the time of the Battle of Santa Cruz in later 1942. She had a much different AA fit than Yorktown by then, so the kit will not be a re-pop with different decals.”
Steve
You might consider the old Revell Yorktown/Enterprise/Hornet kit, too. It’s another box scale kit, in 1/545, I believe, but it can be made into a nice model of CV-5 or 6, with some additional effort.
I’m with the others regarding the Ranger and the Wasp. Every time there’s a poll on kits we’d like to see, they’re two of my suggestions, injection molded, in 1/700. Both are otherwise represented by resin kits made by Corsair Armada, which are both currently available again. But I’d rather have a styrene kit.
I for one would love to see any builds of the Shangri La, as I have relatives that served aboard her. I know that the Essex class models can be modified and built into any of the class of ships, but the only two carriers I’d personally like to build would be the Shang and USS America.
Hi, Squatch-
I’m relatively new to the forums , and happened upon this topic and decided to weigh in. Sounds like you’ve got a lot of questions and factors to consider- not sure if I can help, but will offer some perspectives.
Consider your shelf or display space, budget, time, and amounts of detail to incorporate into your build,when deciding on your subject.
Remember too that when building your subject, it’s important to consider whether you’re modeling your carrier at a particular time and place (e.g. Enterprise at Midway, Santa Cruz offensive, or in her final wartime fit before being taken out of the fight in May of 1945 by a kamikaze off Okinawa) or as a more generic reperesentaion of the class.
I’ve built three Yorktown-class carriers (Tamiya 1/700 scale Enterprise, Revell’s 1/542 (?) “Battle of Midway” carrier 3-in-1 model, and the more recent Revell Yorktown repop.) If you decide to go that route, the Revell kit has a very accurate hull for the Big E, but needs minor mods in bow shape for the Hornet. Tamiya’s mold is a waterline hull, and portrays her in a late pre-war/early war appearance. Fit overall is good, but detail is lacking as pointed out elsewhere in the thread.
I think one of the reasons a CV6 kit has been shied away from by manufacturers is that her refit history is far more extensive than that of her sisters. Drastic changes in armament fits, catwalk structures, radars and comms antennas, searchlight platforms, aircraft, addition of anti-torpedo blisters, and even the camouflage schemes she wore during her service make her a challenge to even the most experienced modelers to build.
And incidentally, that’s a important consideration regardless of which WWII carrier class to build. Given the staggering pace at which innovations were introduced into US naval aviation, both in field modifications and Stateside refits, do your research carefully. If and when you need to purchase aftermarket kits for your subject, make sure it contains the parts, aircraft or structures needed for the time period you wish to portray in your finished model.
My Revell Yorktown repop was built as a prewar version, with relatively minor mods to the island, a painted wood deck with simulated two-color planking, and deck striping and decals, but without the big "Y"painted on the island structure. Added rigging, "bitch box loudspeakers to her signals bridge, and deleted the "theater marquee"structure located aft on her portside island. planes were painted in prewar silver and yellow with painted engine cowlings, tail planes and wing stripes. Probably not accurate to a T, but a very good looking final result.
Good luck and good hunting to you in your decision, and do keep us posted
I might be alone here , but I still would like to see one of the latest carriers in 1/200 scale. Now how impressive would that be . Put her right next to a 1/200 battleship ! now that’s what I’m talking about !
I would like to see different sets of detail parts making corrections to the various Italeri 1/720 aircraft carriers. For example the islands differ widely between different sets of ships in the Nimitz class, whereas Italeri uses the same basic island for all. The islands for the Forrestal class ships are grossly inaccurate, and Ranger is missing the forward sponsons. There are no Landing Officer platforms on any or the carriers. Constellation and Kitty Hawk do not have accurate sponsons. I know that GMM makes a 1/720 photo etch set for the super carriers, but I am talking about a mixed media detail set for each class that can greatly improve the only scale that represents all of the US super carriers (except Kennedy).
Bill
