Calling all Forrestal-class & Kitty Hawk-class fans

[Mark McKinnis]

The Nimitz Class is a longer ship so it would not fit without cutting. A 1/720 scale Nimitz Class would be very close to a 1/700 KH Class. I am not sure what the accuracy of the shape of any of them is so you would have to just get one and give it a try.

Good luck,

Mark

[Sulu]

Thanks for the reply Mark!

[gtbred]

Man I wish Merit or Trumpeter bring out a kjt in 1/350 for us.

[William]

ADM John Bing,

I have been writing endlessly to Trumpeter about their shift to waterline only. Indeed, I have stopped purchasing their 1/700 ships because of that decision. Waterline ship models are only half models; even those models built to represent ships at sea really fail to capture any ship at sea, unless it is in a dead calm. Given the pitching and rolling all ships experience, portions of the lower hull are always visible.


Please, I encourage as many of us as possible to bombard Trumpeter with emails and letters!


Bill Morrison

[Dick J]

ADM John Bing,

I have been writing endlessly to Trumpeter about their shift to waterline only. Indeed, I have stopped purchasing their 1/700 ships because of that decision. Waterline ship models are only half models; even those models built to represent ships at sea really fail to capture any ship at sea, unless it is in a dead calm. Given the pitching and rolling all ships experience, portions of the lower hull are always visible.


Please, I encourage as many of us as possible to bombard Trumpeter with emails and letters!


Bill Morrison

Perhaps you should take a different tack. If their goal is to save money on lower hulls most customers don't insist upon having, perhaps Trumpy can be convinced to release a "deluxe" version with the lower hull and a bit more PE. That way, they only include the lower hulls for those who really want them. Standard version, no lower hull - deluxe version with lower hull. Would you be willing to pay a bit more for the version you want?

Also, if you have the contact info for Trumpeter, could you share that with the rest of us?

[William]

Dick,

I use the email address on their website. I have received replies from using it except on this issue.


Bill

[Vlad]

Has anybody bought Trumpeter's new 1/700 USS Constellation? Can you comment on the general quality of the kit and if it's accurate overall for the time period it represents (late '90s to early '00s based on the F-14Ds)?

[Guba]

Is it released already? I put myself on the pre-order list, but haven't heard any news.

[Mark McKinnis]

1/700 Conny is available on ebay. No Kennedy CV-67 yet. Bummer...............

[Vlad]

It's been out for a while with regular model retailers, at least where I live.

[Pieter]

I did. It is a scaled down and waterlined version of the '350 kit.

Has anybody bought Trumpeter's new 1/700 USS Constellation? Can you comment on the general quality of the kit and if it's accurate overall for the time period it represents (late '90s to early '00s based on the F-14Ds)?

[Vlad]

I did. It is a scaled down and waterlined version of the '350 kit.

That doesn't tell me much since I had no interest in the 1/350 kit. Is it accurate and what time period is it accurate for?

[Mark McKinnis]

Based on the pics, it is the last cruise configuration. With the exception of the various SATDOMES that sprung up over the years the kit will build into a post 1993 ship without too much if any modifications. I can't give you any evaluation on accuracy.

Hope that helps some.

Mark

[William]

By the way, I ordered and received four 1/720 Forrestal class islands for my Italeri kits. Steve did a magnificent job with them. They are fantastic! Kudos! Now, if we could only find someone with the skills to manufacture the correct sponsons for them, especially the Ranger's forward ones . . .

Bill

[Mark McKinnis]

By the way, I ordered and received four 1/720 Forrestal class islands for my Italeri kits. Steve did a magnificent job with them. They are fantastic! Kudos! Now, if we could only find someone with the skills to manufacture the correct sponsons for them, especially the Ranger's forward ones . . .

Bill

Hi Bill.

I have corresponded with Greg at Baconfist Models about Forrestal Sponsons. Drop him a note and we can double the demand signal!

https://www.shapeways.com/shops/baconfist

[William]

Mark,

Done! I also ordered his 1/720 USS America island.

Bill

[Mark McKinnis]

Excellent!

I got the America Island in 1/700 scale with the hope of getting a 1/700 JFK (any day now, right????) and kit bashing it with a 1/700 Fujimi Conny to get the right elevator locations, flight deck configuration, and large wave deflectors under the elevator openings to build America. Add in the Baconfist America Island and it should be a pretty good build.

I fear that the 1/700 JFK Kit has gone the way of the 1/700 DML Enterprise CVAN-65 Kit.

[William]

The advantage of the Italeri kits is that they manufacture all the supercarriers to a common scale (except JFK), albeit lacking in detail and accuracy. Unfortunately, the Kitty Hawk and Constellation kits do not represent those ships well. But, as with all model kits, they can be modified. I am hoping that someone with 3D design skills can help.

Bill

[gtbred]

By the way, I ordered and received four 1/720 Forrestal class islands for my Italeri kits. Steve did a magnificent job with them. They are fantastic! Kudos! Now, if we could only find someone with the skills to manufacture the correct sponsons for them, especially the Ranger's forward ones . . .

Bill

Hi Bill.

I have corresponded with Greg at Baconfist Models about Forrestal Sponsons. Drop him a note and we can double the demand signal!

https://www.shapeways.com/shops/baconfist

Yeah if he can do the sponsons in 1/350 I would be happy.

[Ian Roberts]

Gents, any idea if good plans of the Kitty Hawk exist? I see Floating Drydock has some available (under the Misc Plans) section, but unsure of the quality. Before I drop $48, wondering if anyone can vouch for these. My area of interest is the ship during the 60s and 70s, but if more modern plans are available I'd take those too...

Also, is "Still Motion Photography" still in business? I tried contacting the guy through the email listed earlier in this thread, but got a bounceback. Messages sent via the contact form on the site have not received a response. I'd love to get a copy of the Kitty Hawk photo DVD!