1/700 Modernized Essex Class

There is always the 1/350 USS Intrepid kit by Gallery Models. I've converted mine to the USS Hancock (CVA 19) as she appeared in 1966.

One problem with the Revell Essex class kits is that they used the same molds to depict many of the ships. Another is that the hull form below the waterline is very wrong.  However, Shapeways has replacement islands for specific ships of the class in SCB-125 configuration. There is no correction for the hull form other than building the kit as a waterline model.

Bill Morrison

PFJN

Hi,

This may probably not be what you are looking for, but it appears that Dragon did make an angled deck 1/700 USS Antietam with an angled deck, and there appear to be some of them for sale on eBay.

Pat

 

Pat's right....the Antietam was the first Essex class CV to be modified with a true angled deck.  She came out of refit in December 1952 in this configuration. Here's one example of it for sale on ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dragon-7064-1-700-USS-CV-36-Antietam-Aircraft-Carrier-/112031535921?hash=item1a15999331:g:wQAAAOSwaA5Whqe1

Don't know how accurate you want your project to be, so it should be said that in order to make this model into the Hornet in the 1960s, you will have some scratchbuilding to do.  Here's a shot of the Hornet as she was during the 1969 Apollo mission:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Hornet_(CV-12)_August_1968.jpg

Here's a shot of the Antietam after the angled-deck refit:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/46/USS_Antietam_%28CVS-36%29_operating_training_aircraft_on_19_April_1961_%28KN-4834%29.jpg

The bow is open on Antietam, Hornet had a hurricane bow installed as part of SCB-125.  Antietam never went through SCB-125, so there are other changes needed too. Notice the 5" gun turrets forward of the island, the difference in size and shape for the angled deck, and so on. It would take a lot of work for that.  I'm sure it can be done---I recently saw a fantastic looking build of a 1/700 Trumpeter USS Shangri La, CVA-38.  The Trumpy model is a straight deck model.  The builder modified the kit to match SCB-27C and SCB-125 upgrades.  But it would take a lot.  Does it have to be 1/700?  I know that Revell Germany did issue a 1/530 CVS-12 USS Hornet, it's the actual ship you're looking to build and it's supposed to be the correct configuration.

Not many/ any in 1/350 either, but plenty in 1/535.

Hi,

This may probably not be what you are looking for, but it appears that Dragon did make an angled deck 1/700 USS Antietam with an angled deck, and there appear to be some of them for sale on eBay.

Pat

There's a resin kit of USS Ticonderoga in scb-125 config by Ships & Co. No injection vietnam era essexs that I'm aware of in 1/700.