Looking for USS Oriskany information

Hi JR,
This ship is quit famous, unfortunately, this era is not, since there is ZILCH, NOTTA, NOTHING for resources concerning the Essex class carriers in the SCB-27 configuration. Its almost as if they never existed. I too am building the Oriskany as she looked in her movie debut as the "Salvo Island" in "Bridges at Toko Ri", which BTW was done right after her last Korean deployment in March of 1953.

I am using the Hasagawa Hancock for the 1/700 model as a base, however, the Oriskany was in a class by herself when is comes to armament locations and communication arrays. I have compiled a number of pictures from the following websites, plus I have a copy of the movie which shows both her port and starboard profiles. And the movie is in color.
The only plans that I found that come somewhat close to her configuration is a set of 1/192 for the Kearsarge dated 4/1954 from the Floating Drydock.

I have found the folks at the Oriskany Foundation a great help in trying to answer questions.

I find that White Ensign Models is the best source for aircraft and PE to do a 1/700 conversion.http://www.whiteensignmodels.com/acatalog/index.html?http%3A//www.whiteensignmodels.com/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_White_Ensign_Models_Products_3.html&CatalogBody

Please keep in touch! There are e-mails and postings that I get of those who want to build this ship in both her Korean and Vietnam (SCB-125) configurations, however, there is quit a bit of kitbashing / scratchbuilding involved. None BTW is really that hard. It can be quit fun a rewarding.

Scott

http://www.ussoriskany.com/
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-o/cv34.htm
http://www.navsource.org/archives/02/34.htm
http://www.bluewater-ink.com/wdn/html/index.php
http://www.cougarware.com/cva34/

I imagine JRobinson already knows this, but I'll mention it just in case he doesn't. One excellent source regarding the Oriskany's appearance during the Korean conflict is the movie "The Bridges at Toko-Ri." Most of the movie was filmed on board the Oriskany.

JR,

There are three book references worth looking at. One is an older book (1968?) by the title of "Flattops and Fledglings" that gives a history of all of the fleet and light carriers used by the U.S. Navy. A second source is Norman Friedman's "U.S. Aircraft Carriers: A Design History", which was published in 1983. Photo coverage may not be the best, but Friedman also gives written descriptions of the modifications made under the various SCB 27 programs. Finally, there is the Stefan Terzabaritsch (sp?) volume entitled "Aircraft Carriers of the U.S. Navy" that have more illustrations of the ship.

HTH

A. J.