Reviews of 1/350 and 1/400 Modern Aircraft Carriers

Like many of you, I am interested in finding reviews and construction articles for the 1/350 and 1/400 scale post-war aircraft carriers that are available in either plastic or resin.  There are number of reviews out there, but nothing posted in a single resource. I wanted to change that.  Here are some of the best reviews that I have found on the various model websites.

Please know this is work in a progress so not all of the reviews out there are included.

However, I welcome any comments and links to additional resources.

This list will be updated from time to time.

Airfix

1/350 HMS Illustrious 

Internet Modeler

 "This is Airfix's first foray into the common ship scale of 1/350, and they have made quite a splash, so to speak.  This is an impressive model no matter which way you slice it, being both well detailed, sturdy in assembly, and relatively inexpensive. "

http://www.internetmodeler.com/artman/publish/flships/Airfix-1-350-HMS-Illustrious.php

Heller

1/400 HMS Colossus/FNS Arromanches Aircraft Carrier
Ship Kit Previews

"Heller's 1/400 scale kit can be built to represent either as Arromanches at the time of the 1950s Indo-China campaign, with an airwing of ex-USN F6F Hellcat fighters and SB2C Helldiver bombers (and a helicopter) - or as this ship's original incarnation, HMS Colossus in the last months of the WW2 Pacific campaign, with F4U Corsair fighters and Fairey Barracuda torpedo-bombers."

http://www.epmodels.co.uk/shipkits/index.html

1/400 FNS Clemenceau/Foch Aircraft Carrier
Ship Kit Previews

"Heller's Clemenceau kit is presumably one of their earlier issues, as it's definitely not up to the standard of other kits in their range. Surface detail is very sparse on the superstructure, hull and deck, and the aircraft are very basic, with moulded-on undercarriage and crude props for the Alizes, although they at least have engraved lines for the control surfaces and cockpit canopies. There's also a fair amount of flash on many of the smaller parts."

http://www.epmodels.co.uk/shipkits/index.html

1/400 FNS Charles DeGaulle Aircraft Carrier

No online reviews at this time.  However, please see Sebastien Lausdat's super detailed DeGaulle on http://www.steelnavy.com/CharlesDeGaulleSL.htm

MRC/Gallery Models

1/350 USS Wasp LHD-1
Modelwarships.com

"Wasp is molded as a large single piece hull with no waterline option. It is solidly cast, with thick plastic sides to stiffen the hull against warpage. This dimensional stability will be enhanced with the addition of the flight deck, as well was the hangar and well decks in the after half of the hull. The only parts of the main hull that are molded separately are the bulbous forefoot and bilge keels."

http://www.modelwarships.com/reviews/rev-11-index.html

1/350 USS Iwo Jima LHD-7
Modelwarships.com

"The Iwo Jima shares the same hull with Wasp.  As such, it is molded as a large single piece hull with no waterline option.  Sprue L is made up of large flat structures; mostly the bulkheads needed to make the monolithic superstucture/bridge atop the flight deck. There is also the small deck for the fantail and after Sea Sparrow mount."

http://www.modelwarships.com/reviews/rev-11-index.html

Aurora/Monogram/Revell 

1/400 USS Enterprise CVAN-65

No online reviews at this time. 

Otaki/Arii

No online reviews at this time.  However, please see Jean Louis Couston's super detailed CVAN-65 USS Enterprise here. 

Ironshipwrights

1/350 USS Guam LPH-9

No online reviews at this time

Tamiya

1/350 USS Enterprise CVN-65
Model Shipwrights

"Upon opening the box one is welcomed by some injected-molded parts lying on top of the separately secured flight deck and the underlying hull parts. Over all we are talking about roughly 294 parts. The flight deck parts are secured by lying between two strong cardboards like an insert. Everything is kept well in clear plastic bags as not to provoke any damage before assembly."

http://www.modelshipwrights.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Reviews&file=index&req=showcontent&id=5017

Trumpeter

1/350 USS Nimitz CVN-68
Modelwarships.com

"The hull is molded in two parts split at the waterline. The large hull is internally braced with aluminum straps that bolt together for strength. The lower hull is cast in red and test fitting indicates a pretty good fit. A separate waterline flat bottom is also included so you can display your ship at sea. A full hanger deck is provided in two parts with tie down detail molded in place."

http://www.modelwarships.com/reviews/ships/cv/cvn-68/350-trump/nimitz.html

1/350 Admiral Kuznetsov Aircraft Carrier
Modelwarships.com

"The flight deck comes in three parts. The bow with it's distinct ski jump and rounded sides joins to the main deck with a read deck add-on. All the parts have little tabs to help keep the decks level when joined. The flight deck lines are etched into the surface. I would prefer to use the decals to represent these lines instead of them being molded on."

http://www.modelwarships.com/reviews/ships/ru/cv/350-kuznetzov-trump/kuznetsov.html

1/350 PLAN Aircraft Carrier
Jeffhead.com

"The decal page is extensive to fully mark the vessel and the deck. The instructions are extensive. There is no official name or pennant number for the vessel yet. Numbers that are most likely are either "01" for their first carrier, or "83" for their next large training vessel which they may class her as for political purposes. But make no mistake, with the weapons outfit, and the Chinese J-15 Strike Fighters (which are modernized Chinese rebuilds of the Russian SU-33, this carrier will be fully operational and capable once the crew is trained up and the aircraft are embarked."

http://www.jeffhead.com/modelbuilds/PRC-CV-01.htm