For a start, you are in the right place.
Secondly, the Italeri and Revell kits of CVN-76 are the same tooling. They are both from the original Italeri Nimitz moulds. I have nearly all the Italeri Nimitz class kits and there are differences in them.
CVN-76; where do I start! This has all the original goodies of the as-built Nimitz/Ike kits; the added sponsons, CIWS, newer missle launchers etc from CVN-74 and 75 kits; the extra aircraft sprue from the new issue CVN-71 kit; and another (4th) sprue with all the Reagan bits, including a brand new island and mast, bulged bow section for under the waterline, and inserts for cut-outs under the sponson beneath the island. The decals come with an amendment with the CORRECT size CV numbers for both flight deck and island. All the original parts are there bar the Phantoms, so you can use this kit to build any of the ships! You will have a supply of spares too. Highly recommended!…. But still you will have work to do…..
The revised island on the Reagan extends all the way back to include the formerly separate radar tower aft of the island. On flight deck level, there are cut-outs to allow the tractors to drive through to the outboard side of the island, known as the bomb farm, since spare ordnance is often stashed at the deck edge, before being struck down below using an ammunition elevator. The flight deck cut-out is about where the island ends on previous ships of the class. There is one fewer deck in the revised island, although it is of the same overall height as the other ships - there is more headroom on each of the remaining decks.
The design of the USS Ronald Reagan did away with the #4 wire (and its arresting gear room on the 03 level, below the flight deck). The other three wires (and the barricade stanchions) & sheaves to run wires below to the arresting gear machinery rooms are located as before. For the model, you'll just need to omit anything associated with the #4 wire.
Count the wires from the stern, so no.4 wire is the most forward one. The island info is related to my one concern with the kit. I think the Island is too short in length. The kit parts are the same length as the original ones. The cut-outs mentioned are there but in the same space as taken up by the original islands. The island also looks too tall, but as you read above it should be the same overall height as the originals. I cannot be sure as I have not built it yet! I have only done test fittings, but it doesn’t look right to me. I just can’t say why exactly! Still, I’m glad to have the kit, and plan on using another one to build a post 2000 refit Nimitz!
All in all, I am glad I have these kits, faults and all. For the price, they are worth it for the aircraft alone. I actually prefer the shape of the Italeri E-2s and A-6s over the Skywave ones. Put on some of GMM’s PE set for these kits and they become something a little more special.
Trumpeter have released a family of 1/700 Nimitz-class ships based on the superb 1/350 kit, but as the price - depending where you shop online- will be somewhere between $40-$60, (some listings are nearer $80!) I might buy ONE!.. I can get the Italeris for €13.99 each!!!
Trumpeter have also released aircraft sets in 1/700; EA-3Bs, EA-6Bs, C-2s and S-3s would be useful to the Italeri kits, as they do not include any of these.
Hope this helps!
Roy
Edit; pictures and sprue shots here...
http://www.italeri.com/product.aspx?item=5533Sclick on the sprue pics for bigger shots
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