Mods required for USS America CV-66 (& USS Nimitz CVN-68)

[Sun-downer]

Hi Guys,

I recently bought Italeri 1/720 models of USS America, which I wish to portray as she was in 1976, and USS Nimitz, which I intend to model as USS Carl Vinson in the early to mid 1980s. However, as many of you are no doubt aware the model of America is of her after her 1980 refit complete with CIWS sponsons, and the Carl Vinson has additional sponsons on the port quarter and stern that the Nimitz model does not.

My question is if it is worth my while attempting to remove the port quarter sponson from the America and transplant it to my Nimitz-based Carl Vinson, and if not what advice could anyone give me on methods of scratchbuilding this sponson (the stern CIWS platform looks relatively straightforward to build). Alternatively I could just leave them as they are in the knowledge that most people who will see the finished models will not know the difference, but I would know and would never be completely happy with them. I don't really want to buy two more kits, I was hoping to use my modelling skills to modify the ones I have.

Also, are there any other major modifications that the America would need to retro-fit her to her 1976 guise, as I have not been able to find many photos of the ship from around this time. I have already checked out navsource and navysite websites (amongst others) but there is a definite shortage of photos of the America in the mid 1970s across the whole of the internet.

Many thanks in advance for any advice and suggestions,

Pete

P.S. I intend to buy photo-etched detailing kits for these ships, and also for my Revell 1/720 USS Enterprise CVAN-65.

[DWD]

Hey Sun-downer, I guess if you are going to be removing the sponsons from the America anyway, that it would be worth your while to utilize them for your Vinson if possible. Worse case if your sponson transplant doesn't go as planned, you end up building them from plastic sheet styrene anyway. This site has a ton of information and "how to" on building what you are looking for. Another option you might consider, at least for your Vinson anyway; is to purchase the Revell 1/720 Carl Vinson. Should be around 20 bucks or so. I know you said you weren't looking to buy two more ships, but maybe one would do. Then you could have 3 carriers! Good luck in your research for your USS America. Sorry I don't have more useful information on her. I could however provide some info for the Vinson if you needed it. I recently built the Revell 1/720 Carl Vinson for a co-worker that served aboard her in the mid to late 80's. I posted it in the completed models picture post if you needed reference for close to the timeframe your looking for. Hope this helps.

[Sun-downer]

Thanks for your input DWD. I did try sourcing a Revell 1/720 Carl Vinson but found them extremely difficult to find; the only one I came across was in Canada for about $25 but shipping to the UK was a ridiculous $37, so I opted for an Italeri Nimitz with free shipping here in in the UK.

Thanks again,

Pete

[denstore]

Thanks for your input DWD. I did try sourcing a Revell 1/720 Carl Vinson but found them extremely difficult to find; the only one I came across was in Canada for about $25 but shipping to the UK was a ridiculous $37, so I opted for an Italeri Nimitz with free shipping here in in the UK.

Thanks again,

Pete

This isn't so bad. �27 including shipping. I havn't bought anything from that ebay store, but they seem to have good feedback from buyers.

http://www.ebay.de/itm/U-S-S-CARL-VINSO ... 1467wt_929

[Sun-downer]

Thanks Denstore, I have now it on my watch list.

Pete

[Sun-downer]

Well what a disappointment; I bought the Italeri Carl Vinson mentioned in previous posts and it has now arrived.

Apart from having no decal sheet but (correctly) only having the one bridle catcher, it is exactly the same as the Italeri Nimitz, i.e. no port forward sponson or stern CIWS platform, so I am in the same position I was before but with an additional ship.

Very disappointed with Italeri, this was a case of extreme laziness by their research department.

Pete

[JoeBonz]

I have never found a USS America model kit yet that had the bow anchors in the correct position. The America, unlike the previous two(Kitty Hawk and Constitution) in her class did not have a port-bow anchor, but instead had a frontal bow anchor. That may be another mod you may have to contend with unless you have it already and if you do please let me know where you found it!

[Cliffy B]

The 1/720 Italeri CV-66 kit has both stem and starboard anchors. I built mine about 15 years ago and I still have it.

[Sun-downer]

I wasn't aware that the America didn't have a port anchor, but having checked my Italeri 1/720 kit No.5521 it is correct. I got mine from http://www.hobbyandleisure.co.uk last July.

[sshwfgd]

it did have a bow anchor ,but it was lost on a I.O. cruise in 82