What are the chances of Trumpeter offering a 1/350 scale Essex class carrier from the Vietnam era?
I would imagine the chances are between slim and none. I myself would like to see that as I served on the USS Randolph (CVA-15) but not during the Viet Nam era. At that time I was on the USS Independence. What Essex class carriers were used in Viet Nam? Good luck with your enterprise.
Regards,
Ricahrd
I remember the Hancock, Ticonderoga, Oriskany specifically while I was homeported in Alameda, CA. I know there were a few others ( Bon Homme Richard and Shangri La) there as well. The Lexington was used as a training carrier during this time frame, too.
There are a lot of us who would like to see such a kit, but it’s not a simple thing to do; there’s virtually nothing from their previous Essex class kits that would carry over. At most, maybe the props, shafts, and rudders. It would be an entirely new kit. I’d rather see Dragon do it, personally.
Hey!!! You guys forgot the Intrepid CVA-11,which I served on at the time.I made false teeth on that ship for nine months. I too would like to see at least an angle deck version of those carriers. I got lots of pics from those days. Hmm, I should get those onto a CD. Currently they’re mostly slides and snapshots.Ya know yer gettin old when the ship you served on is now a museum.[sigh]
at least it is still around like you are compared to the rest of that class.
Since Dragon has released a Korean War Version of the B.H. Richard, and a LPH Version of the Boxer, it wouldn’t surprise me if they issued an angled deck version. I’d also like to see them release a kit of the modernization given to the Essex class before the angled deck, that just had the rebuilt island.
Hey, Don’t forget the Hornet CVs 12 and “Hornet + 3” in July '69, recovering the Apollo 11 flight.
There is a kit of the Lexington with the angle deck out there if you want to do some modifications. I can’t recall the scale but it wasn’t 1/350, that’s for sure. (Lex was my last boat)
Subfixer, are you talking about the Revell models? from the late 60’s early 70’s? They were something like 1/540.
matt
I’m aware of five plastic kits that represent the *Essex-*class ships in (more-or-less) their Vietnam-era configuration - i.e., with the revised island structure, “hurricane bow,” and angled deck. The most obvious is the old Revell one, which (according to Dr. Graham’s fine book on the company) is on 1/538 scale and was originally released in 1958. It’s reappeared under the names Bonhomme Richard, Lexington, Oriskany, Wasp, and Hornet at various dates - and maybe one or two others after 1970 (when the book’s coverage stops).
Renwall made a ship of the class with an angled deck in 1/500 scale, and included one in its small series of 1/1200 scale (or thereabouts) warships. (That whole series was originally released with a vac-formed “sea” base in which the ships sat, and later broken up into two sets of six or eight ships each.) And Lindbergh made two: one that was about a foot long (frequently issued with an electric motor) and one somewhere around 1/1200 (or a little smaller).
I’d be willing to bet that Dragon is going to release an excellent, Vietnam-era version shortly, to accompany the various versions it’s already produced. The designers have already covered just about every variant without the angled deck; surely that will be next.
It’s just about offical that they will do a SCB-125. Ray Bean has been working with them on it for a couple years, since they released they’re first Essex. They will do an SCB-27A & C first, which should be coming out very soon, almost definitely this year. THEN they will do a full blown SCB-125.
These are however in 1/700 scale.
It would be nice if Revell would re release tose carriers in the 1/538 scale. They were a nice looking model. They could have used somemore aircraft in the airwing, but they still looked nice.
Ok who can help complete the list?
Cutlass
Corsair
Skyraider
Crusader ?
Skyhawk
Cougars with folding wings
S2
add the SH-34, Randolph CVS-15 had a bunch of them onboard for ASW use, when she was part of Task Group Alpha.
BTW if anyone has a clear, detailed, starboard side shot of CVS-15, please post it. I was too busy hauling around on the forward refueling inhaul, to take any pictures while we were alongside.
Crusaders, E1 Tracers, Seakings, and I think that the A3’s went aboard also.
Banshees, Skyrays, Savages, Furies also served aboard these ships. Just before the Hancock and the Oriskany were decommisioned I went to Alameda on a working party to get some office furniture off of the ships.
Jim Shirley Productions did an excellent resin Oriskany in 1/700 scale. The company is long out of business & the few kits that are still floating around will set you back an arm, a leg & your 1st born son. Glad I snatched 1 when i did way back when. As for Trumpeter, I thing Dragon will do one first also in 1/700. I fear we’re gonna be waiting a LONG time for 1 in 1/350.
We’re missing the twin engine swept wing. Not the Vigilante, why am I having a brain melt?
Edit: Skynight???