oddmanrush
Hi ship guys! A friend of mine made a request for me to build her the USS Intrepid, but it has to be in its Vietnam configuration, or however it sits now moored in NYC. Are there any kits in existence that would fit this request? I have seen ones of her in the WWII config but that won't work. Are there any kits of other modernized Essex class carriers that I could re-designate as the Intrepid? Any insight is appreciated!
Not too much in the way of Vietnam-era angle deck Essex class carriers in one of the modern scales (1:350 1:700). The closest you may be able to come is one of the old Revell 1:535 box-scale carriers.
Quote extracted from Rajen's Kit List http://www.quuxuum.org/rajens_list/shiprevs.html#Revell125
Essex-Class SCB-125 (USN CVA-9) [1/535] {H-353} (Cold) FH
Editor's Note: Many Essex class carriers received two major upgrades in the 1950s: SCB-27 and SCB-125. SCB-125 included the angle deck and the enclosed bow.
FAIR. The fit is poor, but you can turn this one into something nice. There are some minor problems with the hull, such as the lack of bilge keels, though. The propellers are not pitched, which is a minor problem. The kit does not have the correct bulb bow, but this can be fixed with putty. The 5-inch guns are not very detailed.
Still, I can't help but like this old kit. It dates back to about 1957, so many of its flaws are forgivable. [snip] This is a very flexible kit, and you can make lots of interesting variants out of it. It's readily available, and relatively inexpensive. Some simple modifications can make it much better than it would be straight out of the box.
This kit has been issued with a number of different aircraft sets over the years, such as
- an ASW set, including E-1 Tracers, S-2 Trackers and Sea King helos.
- a trainer set, (the least desirable set, IMHO) which includes T-2 Buckeyes, T-28 Trojans, some S-2 Trackers, some A-4 Skyhawks, F-9 Cougars, and most improbably, some F-4 Phantoms! (as Jodie correctly pointed out in her review of the Lexington, save 'em for a Forrestal!)
- an attack set, including some S-2 Trackers, four A-4 Skyhawks and six F-8 Crusaders. (one of the more desirable aircraft sets, IMHO)
- several different spacecraft recovery sets for Apollo & Gemini, which typically include some S-2 Trackers, SH-3 Sea King helos, and E-1 Tracers. (also a desirable aircraft set, IMHO)
FAIR/GOOD. The hull is too narrow, especially amidships (particularly noticeable where the escalator is supposed to meet below the island); the way to fix this easily is to chop the hull off at the waterline and install a hangar deck. The island is about 3/16" too tall according to my Booklet of General Plans drawings. Bridge enclosures are terrible (although Primary Flight Control is a beauty). But it's a kit with lots of possibilities; I've been through about five in the past decade and have loved them all. Done up properly, they can be stunning, especially with the spacecraft recovery rig (Wasp for Gemini; Hornet for Apollo). But be sure you have plenty of resource material for the particular unit you choose, as the Essexes varied widely, especially after modernization.
FAIR. The addition of a hanger deck behind the elevator doors would be a great addition.
A second choice would be the conversion to an ASW Carrier.
Third, Amphibious Assault carrier.
Fourth, and by for this is the most unique, to a Light Carrier (during the Reagan Administration it was considered an ideal to take the Bon Homme Richard, Oriskany, and the ??????, modernizing them and equipping them with two squadrons of F/A 18s, 6 S-3 Vikings, 4 SH-2 Helos, 4 EA-6Bs, 2 E-2 Hawkeyes, and 2 C-2 Greyhound.
Editor's Notes: This kit has been issued at various times as:
- Essex (CVA-9) (kit H-353)
- Yorktown (CVA-10) (kit H-446)
- Hornet (CVA-12) (kit H-354)
- Lexington (CV-16) (kit H-426/H-444)
- Wasp (CVA-18) (kit H-375)
- Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31) (kit H-384)
- Oriskany (CVA-34) (kit H-370)
- Shangri-La (CVA-38) (kit 5077)
and maybe others!
End quote [I snipped some aside comments for clarity and continuity]
You will likely have to peruse eBay or the model swap meets to find one of these. They are currently out of production. You may also check with the museum ship's gift shops to see if they have them. I know that 10+ years ago, when my son was in scouts & he did a sleep aboard on the Lexington in Corpus Christi, they had them. Otherwise they may get pricey.