Calling all Forrestal-class & Kitty Hawk-class fans

[Mark McKinnis]

I have several Floating Drydock plans and I find them very helpful. I went to a print shop and converted a set of Ranger CV-61 and Midway CV-41 plans into both 1/350 scale and 1/700 scale.

[Mark McKinnis]

I just saw on the cybermodeler website that Trumpeter's 1/700 JFK is supposed to be out in Sept of this year.

https://www.cybermodeler.com/special/ki ... cale.shtml

Fingers crossed on that one!

[alberto_palmieri]

I just saw on the cybermodeler website that Trumpeter's 1/700 JFK is supposed to be out in Sept of this year.

https://www.cybermodeler.com/special/ki ... cale.shtml

Fingers crossed on that one!

I saw on Trumpeter website....all make a prayer to Trumpeter...!!

Alberto

[haneto]

Hello guys

I'm a big fan of both CV-64 Kitty Hawk and F-14 Tomcat, so I want to make my Trumpeter 1/350 Kitty Hawk with F-14 onboard.

Understanding the default setting of Trumpeter kit is to have Super Hornet onboard instead of Tomcats, my question is what modification I need to do to "backdate" the kit to her status with Tomcats, ideally say 1998-2002 with VF-154 Tomcats on her?

I have the MK1 (Ka Models) DX set for Kitty Hawk, so do I still need to buy the new released DX set for Constellation as well?

Thanks a lot in advance!

Yufei

[Mark McKinnis]

Hi Yufei,

Take a quick look here: http://www.navsource.org/archives/02/63a.htm

At a glance, Kitty Hawk appears to be in the final configuration when she deployed to Japan in 1998. I think the kit out of the box gets you what you are looking for along with the detail sets available for KH. The Conny and KH were different starting in the early 90s so I don't see added value in getting the Conny detail sets as well. If there are some differences, they are subtle and probably in the details of the antennas and SAT Domes. As you move along in your build, compare what you are doing to photos from the era you are modeling as a check and you should be fine.

Go here for the air wing composition: http://www.gonavy.jp/CV-CV63-02f.html

You can do VF-154 from 1998 to 2003 when the air wing started transitioning to all Hornets.

Looking forward to seeing your build.

Good luck,

Mark

[haneto]

Hi Mark

Thank you so much for the valuable information!
Now to me, the only 2 concerns left are:
1. The KA Models Kitty Hawk DX set only offers accessories for Super Hornet, because Trumpeter only gives Super Hornet parts in the original boxing.
Meanwhile the Connie set does have F-14 Tomcats accessories.
Now I have to ask KA Models if they could sell the aircraft accessories separately to me...
2. I failed to find any 1/350 CVW-5 decal to finish the Tomcats and other planes to match the same time period.
Or does there exist any aftermarket decal for CVW-5 or at least VF-154 Tomcats?

Thank you!

Yufei

[Mark McKinnis]

I am not aware of any CVW-5 Decals in 1/350 scale for that era. I make my own using MS Paint and decal paper. Since most of the airwing is low viz, it is not too hard to create a set for a modern air wing. CVW-5 is a bit more problematic because of the font used for the tail code "NF".

[gtbred]

Started on the Trumpy 1/350 Constellation hull to convert into CVA-62 1965.

[gtbred]

[Mark McKinnis]

Nice work red!

I plan to do the same thing for a 1967 Ranger.

[gtbred]

I finished the hull. Just need to add the p.e on it. If Gregg makes those forward sposon in 1/350 I will do the Ranger myself about 1991.

[gtbred]

[Mark McKinnis]

That looks really nice. I forgot that all of the Forrestal's lost there forward sponsons early in life except Ranger.

Well done!!

[gtbred]

Thanks Mark, hope that Gregg will enlarge those Ranger sponsons. That would be great.

[Mark McKinnis]

Hi Red,

I have not heard from him in a while. He had a lot of projects going so I do not think Forrestal Parts are coming any time soon. We can hope though!

Mark

[gjholmes77]

Mark and Mardis,

I do have a lot of projects going but I've got one of the Italeri Forrestal kits and am turning it into a Desert Storm USS Ranger. The front sponsons actually fit pretty well when I tried so I will try to get those scaled up to 1/350 soon. It shouldn't be too hard to make the earlier versions once that is done. Short answer is: I'm working on it finally

~Greg

[gtbred]

[Mark McKinnis]

Mark and Mardis,

I do have a lot of projects going but I've got one of the Italeri Forrestal kits and am turning it into a Desert Storm USS Ranger. The front sponsons actually fit pretty well when I tried so I will try to get those scaled up to 1/350 soon. It shouldn't be too hard to make the earlier versions once that is done. Short answer is: I'm working on it finally

~Greg

COOL!!

You are our hero sir!

My first attempt will be a 1/700 scale Ranger. That should make a 1/350 Ranger an easier prospect.

Thanks again,

Mark

[gjholmes77]

I'm also working on the enclosed fantail, the port aft Phalanx platform and I'm sketching out the elevators now. The fantail and Phalanx platform are printing at Shapeways now. The elevators will be in my next order.

~Greg

[Mark McKinnis]

Wow!

You are way far along.

I find the Ranger 1967 era one of the the most fascinating because of the make up of CVW-2 during that period. The air wing was comprised of all of the 60's aircraft at the same time. It was a period of air wing transition so there was still an A-4F squadron, one that had already gone to A-6A's, and another that went to A-7A's. There were also still A-3B's and RA-5C's as well and of course Phantoms. Use some artistic license and add a couple of EA-1 Spads in there as well. What more could you want?