Hi folks!!! Well, I've got started on my 1:542 scale Revell CV-60 U.S.S. Saratoga. As the subject says, There's a little scratch building action happening.
The Saratoga is one of 4 ships of the Forrestal class. These were the first carriers designed specifically to operate the heavier, faster jet powered aircraft developed post-WW2.
Revell most likely used the Forrestal as the pattern for this kit, as studying photos of the class has led me to believe. Revell also marketed a kit of the Forrestal, same kit-different box, and both kits could be found on the shelf together at one time.
This kit is nice out-of-the-box, fairly large, and has lots of details.
But, there were differences between the sister ships, and some "accurizeing" is order of the day (or in this case- order of the next 2 months?
![Big Smile [:D]](/FSM/CS/emoticons/icon_smile_big.gif)
). Most all the scratch-built add-ons to the ship herself are VERY easy, as they were add-ons on the 1:1 herself. Mostly flat surfaces make these really easy to do with sheet styrene. One of the most noticable, is the port side deck extension right behind the elevator. It isn't there on the kit's deck. Others include the radar and director platforms on the island.
Here's pics of the not yet glued together mock-up. The first things I did was remove all molded in deck detail save for the cat tracks, and arrestor wires. I also removed all the molded in railings.
The phalanx (CIWS) platform on the port side stern sits in the wrong position out of the box, and is easy to correctly position with scratch-built extension.
Included in the kit is a refueling/boarding deck that's positioned in front of the starboard forward elevator. This is correct for Forrestal, but Super Sara didn't have it. I'm also building a full hangar deck, and getting GMM's awesome PE detail set designed just for Revell's Midway, Forrestal, and Essex class carriers. It includes radars, elevator details, antennas, ship and aircraft props, 2, and 3-bar railing, and figures!
Thanks for allowing me to rattle.
![Blush [:I]](/FSM/CS/emoticons/icon_smile_blush.gif)
I'll show completed pics when I get there.
Have a great day!!