This is my build of the Arii USS Midway kit. The kit scales out closer to 1/730 scale instead of the advertised 1/800. Gold Medal Models 1/720 USN super carrier photoetch used along with L'Arsenal UH-1s, CH-46s (modified to look like CH-47s) and White Ensign CH-53s standing in for USAF birds. I have depicted her with a portion of the the VNAF helicopters that landed on her during the Fall of Saigon on April 29-30, 1975. USAF helicopters evacuated people from the US embassy and other locations, meanwhile the desperate Vietnamese and their families that were lucky enough to have access to aircraft found the fleet off the coast. The build will be a gift for a friend at church who was on board during the operation. No deck weathering, as the board members here agreed that as a gift, weathering should be minimal.
Photos aren't the best. Can't locate my tripod!
My hat is off to you 1/700 builders...this is the first time and the last time that I will build in this scale! My new project is a nice big 1/35 Army HEMTT fuel tanker. And after that, maybe the 1/35 Italeri Vosper MTB!
Dave
I had not known (or forgotten) that Midway was involved in the evacuations. The very unusual collection of helicopters for a USN carrier illustrates it well.