I am currently building this kit, but as the George Washington CVN 73.
I'm using Fujimi and Sky Wave a/c and Gold Medal Models PE set.
With a little scratch building, with sheet and rod, to add antenna domes and some work around the island it is coming together well.
The PE set corrects the radar mast problem whether you build it as the TR or any Nimitz-class ship. I opened the elevator and the other areas along the sponsons. With PE railings in place and a good weathered flight deck, this kit builds up just fine.
There are plenty of photos of the carriers at www.news.navy.mil to make research easy.
Maybe it is just me, but the smaller kit scales are more of a challenge, and it isn't how many I build, but how well I can build the one I'm building.
And as for smaller scales, try a Google search on Donald McNarry. His stuff is built in very small scales. No toys in the bunch.
Mike