experienced armor modeler needs to build a ship--- help!!

I can only assume you've picked up the old Revell SCB-125 box scale kit...so you've already run into a couple of problems...Antietam never received any of the SCB refits, although she did get an angled deck, it was not considered part of the SCB-125 modernization program. As a result, she did not get an enclosed bow, and she didn't have her 5in. turrets removed. You've got an oddball ship to model, since the Revell kit is the SCB-125 with all of the changes noted above.

You r best best would be to get your hands on an old Lindbergh Essex kit (1/525), and mix and match parts to get what you need....insofar as aircraft are concerned, between '59 and '61she was used as a training carrier, so she carried T-2s, T-28s, S-2s, and most like AD-1s...

No one, to my knowledge, has ever done any aftermarket parts for this kit that I'm aware of, although with this scale (1/535th) you can use the Gold Medal Model photoetch set for the Midway/Forrestal Class. The model was released numerous times over the years with a variety of aircraft, including:

an ASW set, including E-1 Tracers, S-2 Trackers and Sea King helos.

a trainer set, which includes T-2 Buckeyes, T-28 Trojans, some S-2 Trackers, some A-4 Skyhawks, F-9 Cougars, and F-4 Phantoms.

an attack set, including some S-2 Trackers, four A-4 Skyhawks and six F-8 Crusaders.

several different spacecraft recovery sets for Apollo & Gemini, which typically include some S-2 Trackers, SH-3 Sea King helos, and E-1 Tracers.

It will be an ambitious project to say the least. Attached is a photo of how she looked during your father-in-law's tour.

Show's how much I know about post war ships. I had no idea there were Essex class birdfarms that had the angle deck added, but retained the open bow and 5" mounts. Now that would be an interesting model!

-Devin

Yeah, I'm gonna try to build this one-- I really want to do something nice for my father-in-law. I guess I need to get that Lindbergh kit and mix and match parts. this is going to be my most ambitious project yet. Thanks for the replies...

I built that Lindberg kit years ago, and it really isn't that bad. If you want it to be intricate and detailed down to the nuts and bolts, you have your work cut out. But, if you want something that looks like the big one, and are not looking to go nuts, it's a good starting point for such a conversion.

Devin

Have you have any experience at scratch building, say maybe the island? Then look into the Trumpeter Essex kit. The quality of plastic is superb so you wont be spending time reworking mold defects, and is also good enough to be able to cut and splice in order to modify the details you need, and one better thing, you don't have to worry about making the hurricane bow. You can use your Lexington kit as a 3D reference for the elevators, angle deck, and basic form for the island and can use the S2s and T28s.
Have fun.
Scott - Who is attempting his first 1/350th modification of an postwar Essex after doing three in 1/700.

When I was stationed on the Lex from 75-76, the only aircraft we had operating were
T-2s and TA-4s. Occasionally, the Blue Angels would operate so the pilots could stay current on carrier qualifications. At that time the Blue Angels flew A-4s. It was such a common sight to see the Angels practice that we hardly paid attention to them. I could kick myself for that now. The Essex class was not capable of handling F-4s as far as I know and I am not sure if they were even capable of operating F-8 Crusaders, either. The Lex had a different radar suite from fleet ships also, so if you are going to configure her as a traing ship, you'll have to research that, too.
We had a couple of F6F Hellcats on board during the filming of that crappy "Midway" movie. That was pretty cool.
If I was to build it as it appeared during this time frame, I'd include a few Blue Angels on the flightdeck because it was the only carrier that they regularly flew from.
But since you are all set to defile my old boat into the Antietam, you can do what you want. I won't stop you. Just be kind.