So I have received one of the two kits I will need to feebly attempt this.
I am using the Hobby Boss LHDs. Excellent kits. Happy with what I have seen so far.
To capture what I intend to do:
This shows the standard island as the LHDs are and as the kit intends:
Attachment:
Std Island sm.jpg [ 179.09 KiB | Viewed 6903 times ]
The way the kit is constructed, the "Front Porch" and the after section of the island are already separate, facilitating the 'Reduced Island' proposed for LHA-8:
Attachment:
Alt Island sm.jpg [ 161.67 KiB | Viewed 6903 times ]
The larger effort will be extracting an elevator side and adding it forward, thus representing both the increased length of the "Plug Plus" and adding the proposed elevator forward, all at once.
The section to be removed:
Attachment:
Donor Section sm.jpg [ 180.83 KiB | Viewed 6903 times ]
You will notice that that is marked out as approximately 84 scale feet. the Plug Plus was to be 56'+21' for a total of 77'. I need to extract slightly more than that to get the proper hull shape for the elevator support, so I will be 7' longer than proposed. Oh well, not going to sweat that in 1:700.
Where it will be added:
Attachment:
Ref Point Aft sm.jpg [ 120.05 KiB | Viewed 6903 times ]
The aftermost reference point is where the added section will begin, and carry forward.
Flight deck will also be extracted, in excess of the elevator section, to cover the area forward as well as replace the area which came pre-formed to accept the 'Front Porch'.
It should not be difficult to join to sections of the hangar deck to have the extended hangar visible when completed.