… I want to convert my Trump. Nimitz into a modern carrier. Which one would be the same length as the Nimitz? And one that would take less modifications? I dont want to have to shorten the Nimitz hull any.
Do you mean you want to make the Trumpeter NIMITZ kit into another NIMITZ Class Carrier? All NIMITZ Class are roughly the same length. The one with “major” modifications is the USS RONALD REAGAN. This link might help you.
http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/factfile/ships/ship-cv.html
Patrick,
The basic hull for all Nimitz-class ships, as far as modeling goes, would be the same. The changes are in the number and location of the sponsons, and the various hull cuts beneath the flight deck. The Nimitz class ships are having their bridle arrestors removed and no CVN since the T. Roosevelt CVN 71 has been built with any. (These are the extensions at the bow and angled deck at the ends of the catapults. They were once used to catch bridles that connected aircraft to the cats. No currrent Navy a/c uses them, so they have been removed.) The other major noticable difference is the configuration of the mast aft of the island. The newer ships have "solid " sides, the older ships showed the framework. As the ships are being refueled and overhauled the masts become “solid.” Each island will have slightly different details too.
The Reagan has no after mast and a much different island structure. The flight deck only contains 3 arrestor cables, the other ships have 4.
The CHINFO link above is a very good place for CVN photos.
Mike
Oops!
I forget to mention that the Reagan has a large bulbous bow that makes the hull different from the other ships in the Nimitz-class.
Mike
Mike,
With the arrival of the REAGAN, and the GEORGE BUSH (CVN-77) in a few years, it’s almost that they are in a class by themselves. Don’t forget that the REAGAN’s angled flight deck also has an extra degree of angle so then can use both cats one and two to launch while recovering aircraft at the same time. Wait until CVX comes out…it’ll be interesting to see.
Carl
Patrick,
I think you’ll be pretty safe to build CVN-68 through 75 using the Trump kit, with the minor mods that Mike pointed out. To build the REAGAN will take a lot more modifiying.
Carl