Calling all Nimitz-class CVN fans

[braxat2000]

Hi,
I'm planning to build the 1975 version of Nimitz.
I have problem finding what is the usual airwing carried by the ship in 1975.
The Trumpeter kit arrives with various types of aircraft such as Phantoms, A-7, A-6, A-3 ETC, but only 4 planes of each type, so I can't figure which planes were more common.
I would like to place some common used planes, and add some supportive planes and helicopters.

I would appreciate some info on the amounts carried and types of planes,
Thank you very much,
Eyal.

[Cliffy B]

During her maiden deployment, lasting from 7/16/1975 to 9/24/1975, she carried CVW-8 (Tail code AJ) consisting of the following squadrons and aircraft types:

VF-31 (F-4J)
VMF-333 (F-4J)
VA-35 (A-6E and KA-6D)
VA-82 (A-7E)
VA-86 (A-7E)
RVAH-9 (RA-5C)
VAW-116 (E-2B)
VAQ-130 (EA-6B)
HC-2 (SH-3G)

Source: http://navysite.de/cvn/cvn68deploy.htm

If you want custom decals, give Mark's site a browse. Just pick your scale on the left: http://www.starfighter-decals.com/

Hope that helps,
-Mike

[braxat2000]

Thank you very much!!
It helps a lot, I'll need to buy more planes for this ship.
Best regards,
Eyal

[sgtryan13]

If you or anyone needs early planes for the nimitz kit shoot me a PM, I have more of the early aircraft than I will ever possibly need!

[Plastic Habit]

Man, I was so bummed that I did not bring my camera when I went to tour the USS Midway again. Ill have to go again tomorrow. Thankfully I was smart enough to get an annual pass a couple of weeks ago. Well, the USS Carl Vinson(CVN-70) and the USS Ronald Reagan(CVN-76) have been in port. When I went down today I noticed that the USS Nimitz(CVN-68) has now come into port. Its beautiful to see all three lined up in port.

[Timmy C]

Nimitz is there to pick up Princeton, and together they'll head out for their deployment tomorrow-ish.

[pghgeorge]

I have uploaded some photos to Photobucket from my week long visit to the Harry S. Truman last August. Links are also included to albums containing photos of other ships we passed along the way.

http://s488.beta.photobucket.com/user/n ... ber%202012
http://s488.beta.photobucket.com/user/n ... ust%202012
http://s488.beta.photobucket.com/user/n ... ust%202012

And finally some photos from my June 2012 visit to the National Naval Aviation Museum
http://s488.beta.photobucket.com/user/n ... une%202012

Hopefully there is something of interest in these.

Nick

Those are some great photos.

[Peter H]

Hi All

I wanted to put in a quick post as I have recently completed the 1/350 Trumpeter PLA Navy Carrier, and, I have now started thinking of a Nimitz class. I have gone thru this forum including the USS Nimitz, USS Truman and USS George Bush as completed by Ryan Labieniec and other members models.
True works of art that I honestly cant come close to regarding the scratch building required.
My build of choice would be USS Ronald Reagan, but I ask for your thoughts given the only currently available 1/350 kit is the 1975 based Nimitz.

1st Question: Which Nimitz class carrier (From the 90's onward) would be the best to make with minimal scratch build? I don't have a problem with purchasing as many updated Etch sets, Ray's DVD's etc that are required.

2nd Question: Or should I put this "on-hold" and hope that a manufacturer, like Trumpeter, "may release" a CVN-78 Ford Class in the next 1-2 years?

Thanks in advance for any comments / assistance.
Best regards
Peter Hoskins
Sydney, AU

[sgtryan13]

hey Peter, thanks for the kind words!

As to your questions, basically a good rule of thumb with regard to which Nimitz class ships can be most easily built from that kit is that the earlier the time frame and the lower the hull # is, the ship will be easier to depict from the nimitz kit.

I am currently working on the Reagan, you can see some of what is required here: viewtopic.php?f=59&t=94278

If you are not happy with your scratch buildong skills at the moment, I would strongly suggest you stay awat from Reagan and Bush, as they require the most scratch building.

Based on available decals for the airwing, your best bet for a CVN post-1990, would be the Roosevelt in her Desert Storm fit. Still requires a good amount of scratch building though. You can build a 90's Nimitz or Ike with less scratchbuilding, but there are no decals available for the airwings...

Waiting for a good 1/350 ford class... Who knows. Personally I am not holding my breath.

[Mark McKinnis]

Hi peter,

Ryan is correct on that one! One thing that you can do is get one of the Trumpeter 1/700 kits to use to guide you on what needs to be done to a 1975 Nimitz kit. Just double the size of the 700th scale parts and you will have the correct 1/350th part. The Roosevelt 2006 kit can be made into a 1991 kit by just leaving off the Sat Domes. The sponsons were pretty much the same from 1991 to 2006. Starfighter Decals has the 350th scale CVW-8 for Dessert Storm that would make that a really nice build with minimal scratch building skill required.

[Peter H]

Hi Ryan and Mark

Thank you both for your detailed replies and the tips.
There is a hobby shop locally that has 1 Trumpeter 1/350 Nimitz in stock, so all I would have to do is order the etch sets, aircraft and Veteran models upgrade sets, I saw however that Gold Medal no longer make their 1/350 Nuclear Carrier Decal Sets anymore which would have been very useful I assume?
As for making an "earlier" Nimitz class (Reagan is way too late, I hoped for John Stennis, but also assume that's too late - too much scratch building)

So I think what your saying is I could make a late 80's Nimitz or the Roosevelt in 91 without major surgery?
I will look up starfighter Decals, I honestly have no idea what is accurate for different US air wings or timing etc on any of the Nimitz Class. But will do some more research. (Maybe some 1/700 kits as reference could be very useful)

Will also be watching your Reagan build with interest Ryan.

Thanks guys much appreciated.

Regards
Peter Hoskins
Sydney, AU

[Mark McKinnis]

Hi Ryan and Mark

So I think what your saying is I could make a late 80's Nimitz or the Roosevelt in 91 without major surgery?
I will look up starfighter Decals, I honestly have no idea what is accurate for different US air wings or timing etc on any of the Nimitz Class. But will do some more research. (Maybe some 1/700 kits as reference could be very useful)

Will also be watching your Reagan build with interest Ryan.

Thanks guys much appreciated.

Regards
Peter Hoskins
Sydney, AU

Nimitz and Ike went through some Mods in the mid 80s that added CWIS on the portbow, stern, and along the starboard side of the island. IE...almost as much scratch building as any other era Nimitz Class. If you are not planning a 70s or early 80s Nimitz or Ike, there is going to be some scratch building no matter which ship you build. Busch and Reagan just represent the most scratch building.


Check out this site for airwing info:

http://www.gonavy.jp/CV-CVN68f.html


Good Luck!

MM

[Peter H]

Hi Mark

Appreciate your quick response, I also looked up and saved "Starfighter Decals" they have some wonderful 1/350 aircraft decals that would be very useful.

I guess to avoid "large surgery" then I guess I stick with "Nimitz Early 80's"

Most of the 1/700 Carrier kits I have looked into are over AUD $50.00 each, I think I can get better research $ from Ray's DVD's which I think he now has a few of for the Nimitz class? Will keep researching but the variations & accuracy may end up putting this on hold or even shutting it down?
I have alternately started to look at the 1/350 Iwo Jima with the KA Etch set, large, accurate, modern USN.

More research, more thinking.......

Thanks again for your assistance, much appreciated.

Regards

Peter H
Sydney, AU

[Shiprat]

Hi Guys,

Can anybody tell me when Nimitz went from a solid deck number to an outline, or, which one would I need for 1995?


TIA

Shiprat

[f14dtomcat]

I've tried various forums and websites and the results have so far drawn a blank. The pics don't give clear dimensions either. Hopefully someone here can help. On a Nimitz class carrier flight deck, when an F-14 is ready for launch, what is the distance between the Jet Blast Deflectors and the tomcat's tail pipes?

I am asking on behalf of a fellow modeller who is using a 1/72 Italeri carrier deck base for his tomcat model and the distance between the JDB and tailpipes seems a little too close.

Your help is much appreciated.

Kind regards

Matthew

[Mark McKinnis]

Hi Guys,

Can anybody tell me when Nimitz went from a solid deck number to an outline, or, which one would I need for 1995?


TIA

Shiprat

The only photo I could find for 1995 where you could tell, had Lincoln with the outline numbers. So I would guess that the other carriers would have had them as well.

[carr]

..

[maksim2020]

?olleagues,

I am building a Nimitz, showing it as of 1975, right after the comissioning and I am searching for its efficiency awards and campaign ribbons, any images (drawing own decals instead of discontinued GMM set).

I am not sure if they were right after comissioning, please confirm.

Thank you.

[boomstick68]

There aren't any at that time. I think only after her first MED cruise (76-77) did she receive awards.

[maksim2020]

During her maiden deployment, lasting from 7/16/1975 to 9/24/1975, she carried CVW-8 (Tail code AJ) consisting of the following squadrons and aircraft types:

VF-31 (F-4J)
VMF-333 (F-4J)
VA-35 (A-6E and KA-6D)
VA-82 (A-7E)
VA-86 (A-7E)
RVAH-9 (RA-5C)
VAW-116 (E-2B)
VAQ-130 (EA-6B)
HC-2 (SH-3G)

Source: http://navysite.de/cvn/cvn68deploy.htm

If you want custom decals, give Mark's site a browse. Just pick your scale on the left: http://www.starfighter-decals.com/

Hope that helps,
-Mike

Hi,

can you advice where can I find an exact number of planes in each squadron?