Taking 1:350 Scale Tico in hand, conversion to SCB 125?

Nautilus Models is claiming about producing resin conversions and wooden flightdecks for SCB27A-C in both 1/700 and 1/350.  The Flightdecks may not be of much help for 125, except they would be to closer dimensions to build from, but a resin island may be a great option.  All would be needed is to scratch build the Pri-Fly and Dopler radar base.

I just ordered a pre-SCB27A flightdeck for my 1/700 Randolph.  Although it is not accurate for the Oriskany, at least it will be easier to covert than using that ultra short flightdeck that is included in the kit.  And since it is basewood, I can now carve in accurate cats and deflectors then trying to carve out the plastic flightdeck.

Scott

If scale isn't of prime importance, you may want to wait a bit.  There's reason to believe that Dragon is going to modify its outstanding 1-700 Essex kit represent several post-WWII versions of the class. 

I want to take the same kit and build it into the USS Tarawa (CV-40).

Thanks for the more clear-headed view.  I did build a smaller scale kit of the Wasp, forget scale but do recall reference to the carrier as "space age" due to her Gemini recovery work.  Built the kit in 68 to give to my father.  Think I'd do a much better job now, what with PE detail set availability, etc.
(However, my 10 year old eyes had an easier time putting the decals on the small scale aircraft).  You're right, someone will release an Intrepid in 350 scale.  Side note...saw 4 CV-9 class carriers stationed at Quonset Point...Antietam (hulked for "spares"), Essex, Wasp and Intrepid.  Only CV-11 remains, up in New York.  As for references, all I had been looking over was Friedman's U.S. Aircraft Carriers and Raven's Essex Class Carriers (both of Naval Intsitute Press)  Thought I might be able to work out hull revisions, but you're right, it's essentally a new ship, keel to mast!  Now, to  search out that Wasp kit....

As someone who is currently working on such a conversion, I can tell you that you will need a fair amount of scratchbuilding experience.  About all you will salvage from the kit is the keel dimension.  So, stock up on lots of Evergreen and Plasticstrut styrene.  However, I am finding that doing the SCB125 is easier than doing the Korean War era SCB27,  that I am also doing,  which has almost zilch for reference material.

There are tons of pictures of post SCB125, but plans are pretty scarce.  A number of the Details in Scale books have 1/600 and 1/800 scale templates.  And Dromadary sells some incomplete builders plans.  I could spend hundreds of pages in details about dimensions and differences between the ship as it looked in 1944 vs what is looked like in 1964.

What you are going to do is end up building a new hull around the current one.  The Trumpeter kit is a PITA to first get aligned and put together.  Then you can use base of the kit island to build a new upper island superstructure.  The major scratchbuilding project is the flighdeck, which will require extensive scratchbuilding of the flyby, the stern, the bow and cats, and all catwalks.

The hurricane bow is probably the most intricate part.  Since it is 1/350, its going to show any flaws that would show in trying to carve and build one up.  What I am doing it carving a plug, and then molding the bow out of resin.

Of coarse, after I slave two years of work and invest hundreds of dollars into this project, Dragon or Trumpeter will then release their Vietnam Essex Class carrier in 1/350.

Until then, a better sugestion is to get the Revell 1/540 Wasp from any auction site, cut off all the molded in railings and other tacky details, buy the aftermarket PE set, and build a nice kit from it.

Scott

what time period is the model representing as sound like ww2? if so than have a fair bit of modifying/scratch building to get it to the 1968 configuration.

Perhaps a revision of my inquiry...of those who have seen the Trumpter 350 scale CV-14, do you think it provides a foundation for conversion to final version of the Essex class?