So, after I bought the Revell Lionfish, then the Nautilus Models PE set, resin upgrade and wooden deck, out comes the 1/72 and 1/144 Gato kits.
I think I spent more on the Lionfish than if I just waited on the 1/72 Gato! (though I didn't know at the time...)
Though My Revell lionfish - now a Balao, looks pretty darn good in it's 1/178 scale...

So, sitting on the 'to eventually build' pile is a Revell Forrestal, along with Gold Medal PE and two extra Revell Saras bought off ebay just to fill out the airwing.

Just letting everyone know that as soon as I start FID, Trumpeter will announce a 1/350 Forrestal class.

It always seems that way. I don't think it is real likely thouh. I don't think the Nimitz sold as well as Trumpeter would of liked. It is real big and real expensive. I know they were thinking of doing a later version as evidenced by their release of the Tomcats, Hornets and Super Hornet aircraft. That never materialized. I thnk they will see how the San Francisco goes and concentrate into cuisers and stay with battleships at a cheaper price. May be they will pop out the Akagi and see what happens but as to modern aircraft carriers in 350, I think you won't see one for a very long time. What scale are those Revell kits, I may pick one up cheap on ebay Cause I may want to throw it in the collection as I have a HOrnet, Lexington and Essex as well as the Nimitz.

I just did a quick search on ebay or this kit. Apparently, it managed to get itself upgraded. The kit now has phalanxs ad coes with a Tomcat, Intruder, and Hornet airwing. What a shame. I might have picked one up if it had been pre Viet Nam.

Once in a blue moon you can find a pre VietNam Forrestal on eBay.


The kit is 1/542 scale - the same scale as Revell's 'Carriers of Midway'.
I have the PE set from Gold Medal - will mostly use it for Forrestal, but some PE I'm using on the Revell 'Carriers of Midway' to do a Midway era Enterprise.

I Have been waiting for a 1/350 scale of the FID for a while now. If one ever does come out Ill be the first to get one.
Jim

I won't tell you it is hopeless, but don't expect it anytime in the next four or five years. Battleships are always the hot items. Trumpeter released 2 this year and then branched a bit and is popping a US Crusier. Aoshima a new player is giving us a Japanese crusier, and finallly Hasegawa who threw out a couple of Japanese DD's a few months ago just announced a Japanese battleship....the Nagato. I would suspect Trumpeter to counter in a bit but my bet is for a Scharnhorst or Graf Spee. WW2 other than US carriers is another area yet to be breached.

If this FDR comes out right I might (not to sure) do the Indy.

Steve

I'm not sure if this is news to you but Airfix do a pre-Vietnam/ Vietnam era Forrestal in 1/600 - the kit dates from around 1980/81 and appears to come up regularly on eBay over here - possibly worth a punt?

Cheers

Karol

Thanks for the info Karol. I am a big ships guy. 600 is way to small for me as it is closer to 700. I am not sure, but I think there may be a Forrestal in that scale. As I am not interested that muh, I have never bothered to look. Right now, I am reveling in all the battleships that are rolling out in 350. Trumpy's ALA/MASS, Hasegawa's Nagato, Fujimi announcing the Kongo and Trumpeter announcing the Richelieu.

No worries Steve - although I've never seen the Airfix Forrestal, I have seen their HMS Illustrious (late 60s fit), which is big for a 1/600 scale ship, I imagine the Forrestal would be half as large again - so perhaps not that small after all.

I've got to agree that the Kongo does look mighty tastey - it'll be interesting to see if anyone attempts to back date her to the original 1912 fit, something that would really interest me!

As for the Richelieu - sacre bleu, we no longer have to worry about sourcing the glorious Heller kit (for the right price) ever again (or do we?).

Cheers

Karol

Planing on scratchbuilding 2 Supercarriers :1/350 JFK,1/350 Ranger at the same time.

Now that I would like to see

Next Monday hangerdecks on both.

I used to be stationed on the Forrestal so I will be looking forward to it.

Shape of things to come 1/350 Ranger 1968 http://is129.photobucket.com/albums/p226/raider-hall/100_0667.jpg Had to redo JFK hangerdeck,more next week.

more pic's http://is129.photobucket.com/albums/p226/raider-hall/100_0670.jpg http://is129.photobucket.com/albums/p226/raider-hall/100_0673.jpg http://is129.photobucket.com/albums/p226/raider-hall/100_0674.jpg

http://is129.photobucket.com/albums/p226/raider-hall/100_0687.jpg http://is129.photobucket.com/albums/p226/raider-hall/100_0688.jpg http://is129.photobucket.com/albums/p226/raider-hall/100_0689.jpg http://is129.photobucket.com/albums/p226/raider-hall/100_0690.jpg JFK is giving me the fits. More next with JFK showing herself I hope. P.S put the FDR down just to get these two started.

more pic's http://is129.photobucket.com/albums/p226/raider-hall/100_0701.jpg http://is129.photobucket.com/albums/p226/raider-hall/100_0702.jpg http://is129.photobucket.com/albums/p226/raider-hall/100_0698.jpg

Thats a nice build, maybe consider posting in its own thread? May get lost as a continuation of this one? Cheers and good luck with the rest!

Thanks James ,I will give her its own thread after finishing the FDR.