USS Constellation: Looking for a large model

mmmmmmmmmmmmmm! So far, all I can think of is kits in 1/800, 1/700 and 1/720 scales of the Connie. Arii, Kagman (IMO is a bad kit) Italari, Fujumi, and Revell. Fujumi makes a aircraft set with A7s A6s and F4s. You didn't mention when he was on board, but if you need F8 Crusaders, the Whale, Trackers, and the old AD Skyraider, then White Ensign Models makes good ones for the 1/700 to 1/800 scale. I have built the Italari kit and with PE, turns into a wonderful model which is about 16" long.

Scott

I'm not sure of the precise years he was over there. I do know one of his deployments began a few weeks after my father and mother were married so it should be fairly simple to figure out. (wonder what this says about me that I don't know the year they were married...)

I'll probably need to go pick up some mil history books with lots of pictures from the era so I can get it right. Heck, the Connie has had a long enough history there may be a fairly in detail book of her history. If I do it should be fairly simple to match what's on the deck with the aircraft I'll be placing on the model.

Now, I'm no expert so correct me if I'm wrong...but since CV-63 Kitty Hawk and CV-64 Constellation were sister ships of the same class would they not be nearly identical? If my thinking is correct I may be able to make due with a Kitty Hawk model. Granted that I can find it in the scale I want.

EDIT: The more I think on it the more I know this'll make a great gift. He was pretty upset about missing the decommissioning ceremony.

Im afraid 1/700, 1/720 or 1/800 scale are all thats out there. I dont know of any Resin kits out there that may be in larger scales, but unless youre ready to do some MAJOR surgery on a Tamiya Enterprise or pay 4 figures for a custom built mahogany model, youre pretty much SOL.

There are a lot of resources on the net. Try this one yet?http://www.navsource.org/archives/02/64.htm

I find the web has been great. A lot of veteran sites post pics from cruises and many are in color.

Scott

Also, Monogram made a Kittyhawk way back in a strange scale like 1/640. Not well detailed. They also made a snap together series that were scaled down from the larger one forementioned.