I just joined this forum and this is my first post. You struck a nerve with me - Coast Guard modeling - and I just wanted to add my two cents. I am a 1975 graduate of the Coast Guard Academy and have time underway making way in USCGCs Eagle, Cowslip, Duane, Alert, Dallas, Evergreen, and Northwind. Duane is a sister ship of Taney/Campbell. Northwind is a sister of Eastwind and a half-sister of Burton Island. All of the information here is from the Coast Guard Historian's website (http://www.uscg.mil/ click on "About Us" click on "History" click on "Assets", click on Cutters & Craft - there is a link to a list of every vessel that ever sailed in Coast Guard service).
All 7 327' Secretary-class cutters were commissioned in 1936 with seaplanes and aircraft handling tackle. The aircraft and tackle were removed in 1941 during a weapons refit. Alexander Hamilton was sunk in the North Atlantic Campaign off Greenland. Taney was the only 327 fitted with 4 enclosed 5"/38 cal guns. The others mounted 3 open 5"/51s. As mentioned, all 6 remaining cutters served as as amphibious command ships in 1945. Taney was the last survivor of Pearl Harbor and the last of the 327s in service. She was decommissioned on 7 December 1986.
The CG began building 4 Wind-class breakers in 1943; Northwind, Southwind, Eastwind, and Westwind. At the same time, the Navy began building 2; Burton Island and Edisto. The CG boats had twin 5"/38s, the Navy boats had single mounts. Eastwind was commissioned first in 1944 and served as flagship of the Greenland patrol for the rest of the war. Southwind came next and served briefly with the CG before going to Russia. Northwind and Southwind went directly to Russia. The CG commissioned another Wind in 1945 named Northwind. In the shell game that went on from 1946 to 1966 all 7 Wind-class ships came under Coast Guard control and 2 of them changed names. I have one documented picture of a Wind with both a helo and a seaplane on her. The last Wind, the second Northwind, was decommissioned in 1989.
As for models, I am in the process of building a website to house my research into every major cutter and aircraft to serve with the Coast Guard. This is driven by my desire (obsession?) to build as many of them as I can. My son (USCGA class of 2010 EE/Computer major) is going to help me over his Thanksgiving leave. I hope to have it up by Christmas if anyone is interested. In the meantime...
It has been noted that Revell has/had Taney/Campbell and Eastwind/Burton Island. Both build out of the box as mid-1950s fits. As mentioned, GMM has an excellent PE set for them. The set runs about $60 but does both cutters. The FSM article alluded to was in the October 2003 issue. The author built the kit in the out of the box 50s fit but used the GMM set and new fittings from H&R Fittings. Revell had a nice 1/257 Eagle kit. An FSM article from October 2001 discussed dressing up that kit. Amai also had a 1/250 Eagle kit. Currently, Iron Shipwright has done a decent job of cataloging 1/350 resin CG subjects. His current catalog has 4-084 USCGC Campbell (a 327 though the box art shows Taney with her 4 5"/38s), 4-130 USCGC Modoc (a 1936 era 240), 4-126 US Yard Set which includes USCGC Beech (a 1928 buoy tender), 4-148 ATA (which equates to a CGC Modoc of post-war service), 4-059 USS Apache (which equates to a CG 205 - anyone familiar with the book/movie Perfect Storm will remember CGC Tamaroa, a 205), 4-121 USS Mackinac (which equates to a CG 311), 4-187 USCGC Cedar (a 1917 buoy tender), and 4-179 USCGC Hamilton (a modern 378). He also has OOP kits of USCGC Comanche (a 1930s 165) and a 180' buoy tender. Not a bad lineup overall. JAG offers a 378 and a 270 in 1/700 resin. Loose Cannon has a resin Wind in 1/700 WWII fit. I have seen this kit done up in waterline in an icefield. It looked good and not really like a tug boat. (beauty is in the eye...) Minicraft has a 1/350 Eagle. Lindberg just reissued the 1/87 95' WPB. This builds out of the box as an A-class boat but can be easily converted to a later C. Lindberg has also reissued their Lightship. Glencoe has a 36' motor lifeboat. There are several big scale RC type hulls available if you can scratchbuild the superstructures. So CG subjects are available if you know what you are looking for. And this does not even include Army and Navy ships manned by CG crews in WWII. All of these will be highlighted in my website.
I have built 2 of the IS 327s as Taney; one OTB in her 1941 fit and one backdated to her 1936 commissioning fit, complete with seaplane. Nice kits! I have the IS Comanche done up as USCGC Escanaba. I have the Lindberg 95 and Lightship completed. If I can figure out how to post pics here, I will post them. As for my stash... I have four each of the Revell 327s and Winds to do in each of their major weapons fits (I have to do the one with both helo and seaplane). I have a second 95 to build as a C and a third to put into a diorama picking up a tow in heavy weather. I have the Minicraft Eagle. I have a second 36-footer that will find its way into a diorama.
I guess this was a little more than two cents. Hope it was worth reading. Looking forward to more discussions/learning exeriences.