CV-31 the USS Bonne Homme Richard was an Essex class carrier, and commissioned in '43 or '44 (not sure which) My uncle served aboard her during Nam. Is there a update set for the essex class carrier kits for their later years of service?

Trumpeter put out 2 other versions of the Essex . They are the Yorktown as configured in 1944 (CV 10) and the Franklin (CV 13) If you are looking for the post war modifications then I'm pretty sure that no one has a modification kit out. This in 350 scale

As to 700, 600, 400. I couldn't find any. It's possible someone did an Intrepid like Revell that I don't have a listing for a few decades ago in conjunction with space models (she was a prime ercovery vessel). Check the resin field and you might post this question on modelwarships or steel navy websites

As far as I know, no one has done a conversion to the angle flight deck/Hurricane bow...... yet.
If they did, I would probably pick on up, since I did time on Essex class carriers.