Being an engineer, I started of by putting together in my head a list of design criteria for the project:
1) Large enough to land an Aero Ace.
2) Able to be easily disassembled into pieces small enough to fit into the back seat of a car.
3) Very inexpensive (target cost about $10.00).
4) Good appearance (at least from a distance).
5) Quick and easy to build.
I then added to my wish list for the model a list of secondary design criteria (stretch goals):
1) Able to launch an Aero Ace.
2) Model of a US navy aircraft carrier that really carried bi-planes.
3) Able to land and launch other slow flight RC airplanes.
Based on the above criteria, we decided to build a 10 feet long (which works out to 1:72 scale) cardboard model of the Lexington (CV-2) as she was in 1928 (when she carried bi-planes). The first very rough version was built in less than a week and was a total success at our indoor flying group. It met all the primary criteria (although �Good appearance� was definitely only from a distance) and most of the secondary criteria (it lacked the ability to launch an Aero Ace).
The first version of the aircraft carrier did, however, have some problems and limitations:
1) It took two people to setup.
2) It was not as �solid� as I would have liked.
3) The appearance left a great deal to be desired.
4) It was not very accurate to the Lexington.
5) It had had no way to launch a plane.
So, I decided to rebuild the model.
I found a toy at 99� Store that I converted into the catapult.
It is come out much better this time.
The catapult works very well and most people who tried it were able to do a successful launch on the first or second try.
The aircraft carrier disassembles and folds. In its folded state it fits easily in the trunk or backseat of a car.
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