Searching through Amazon gives you such ideas...

You should use the Hornet as it was capture by the Japanese during the battle of Santa Cruz Island but was found to be to damaged so they sunk her.

I'll see if I can find that for cheap online. Truthfully, this idea is as much a cost-cutting measure as it is a fun idea.

No they didn't capture her!

Hornet was scuttled by the Americans before she could be captured. Again, this is more a "whatiffer" than anything else, and also an opportunity to try painting a Japanese paintscheme on a cheap American carrier. Either that, or I just found some cheap Wildcats for this size, so I may do a straight Intrepid build.

Imagine trying to repair and run a ship built using the English system of measurement, when all of your tools are metric?

Sure it could be done if all of the shops were more or less intact and running, but I'll bet they weren't.

A little what-iffy...

Definitely. And like I said, more for painting practice and the fun of it than historical accuracy. I'll figure out what I'm doing eventually.

She wasn't scuttled by the Americans only attempted.  If the Japanese had the time and control of the battle area they could have toll her off as a war trophy.  It was considered, because they knew she was involved with the Doolittle Raid.  

Ah, gotcha. Got that mixed up, so thanks for clearing it up.