1/350 Post-War US Aircraft Carrier Conversions

When it comes to building post-war aircraft carriers you have a good selection of super carriers such as the Enterprise and Nimitz, as well as smaller designs like the Invincible class and the Kuznestov class.  Yet this selection pales in comparison to the availability of World War II era carriers.

Trumpeter in particular is the leader when it comes to 1/350 WWII aircraft carriers. They have released multiple short hull and long hull versions of the Essex Class.  Hasagawa and DML also provide WWII era carriers in plastic. Ironshipwrights provides a Bogue class escort carrier in resin.

All of these are great model kits. However,  if you want to be different, here are possible conversions you can do to these World War II carriers to make them post-war carriers.  Each has varying degrees of difficulty, but all will result in very cool carriers that will standout from the crowd.

Bogue Class

Kit: Ironshipwrights USS Bogue

Possible Post-War Conversions:

HMS Reaper:  After the war, the US transported dozens of captured German aircraft, even jets, back to the US for testing.  HMS Reaper, a Bogue class carrier, was pressed into service as a transport. This model is truly the first post-war carrier option you can do, and the easiest.  You just need to build the Bogue as is, but equip it with 1/285 or 1/300 German aircraft.

USS Core T-CVU 11: During the Vietnam War, the USS Core was put back into service as an aircraft transport.  The degree of difficulty is pretty hard.  You will need to modify the smoke stacks and scratch build two heavy lift cranes. You will also need to remove the 40mm tubes and modify the catwalks and the island.

What's great about this conversion is the variety of aircraft you can put on the deck.  F105s, F4s, F8s, Skyraiders, Hueys, F5s, Chinooks, trucks, containers etc., can fill the deck. It would make for a really interesting model, especially next to a WWII version.

Casablanca Class

Kit: Hasagawa USS Gambier Bay

Possible Post-War Conversions:

USS Thetis Bay LPH1:  The Thetis Bay became in the first helicopter carrier to enter service. Her career as a helicopter carrier was short, but it was very interesting.  This conversion has a medium degree of difficulty.  You will need to modify the flight deck, build a new elevator and accompanying machinery, modify the catwalks and modify the island.  For aircraft you will need several UH-37 Choctaws and a few deck tractors.

USS Cape Esperance CVU-88:  This is a very easy conversion. During the Korean War, the Cape Esperance was brought back into service as an aircraft transport.  You will need to remove the radars, and all of the weapons, except the rear five inch gun.  Possible aircraft include Korean War Era naval aircraft, and 1/285 and 1/300 scale F86s F84s, F51s, A26 Invaders, containers, etc.

Independence Class

Kit: DML USS Independence and USS Princeton

Possible Post-War Conversions:

USS Moneterey CVL-26: By far the easiest conversion.  You will just need to change the decals and markings, and remove the 20mm and 5-inch guns.  Air wing is a dozen 1/300 or 1/285 SNJs.

USS Bataan CVL-29: Will need to modify the island, eliminate two smoke stacks, and scratch build a new radio antenna and eliminate the 20mm guns. Air wing would consist of F4U4 Corsairs and L'Arsenal S-51 Dragonflys.

FNS La Feyette R96: Will need to do all of the modifications listed for the Bataan and change the radars to match those in service with the French Navy.  L'Arsenal's 1/400 accessory line can provide the details you will need.  Aircraft include F4U-4 Corsairs (Suez Crisis) or F6F Hellcats or SBD Dauntlesses (Indochina).

Dedalo R01: Will need to do all of the modifications for the carriers above. You will need to find modern radars or scratch build them out of plastic and/or PE.  Aircraft include: AV-8A Harriers, SeaKings and UH-1N Hueys.

Essex Class

Kit: Trumpeter USS Ticonderoga or USS Hancock

Possible Post-War Conversions:  

USS Princeton LPH6: The Boxer, Valley Forge and Princeton were converted into LPH's during the late 1950s and they served through the Vietnam War.  Each ship had different fits during their life time so you will need consult your resources, but generally you will need to modify the island, scratch build the mast and the radar platforms.  You also need to remove, modify or scratch build catwalks, platforms, and radars.  You will need to remove the 40mm and 20mm guns, and depending which ship you build, some of the 5-inch mounts.

Marine Aircraft include: CH-46s, CH-53s, UH-1s, UH-34s, UH-37s.  If you would like to build the USS Princeton as the recovery ship for Apollo 10 (which is pretty cool looking by the way) you will need a UH-34 Choctaw and 5 SH-3 Seakings.

USS Lake Champlain CVS-39: First you will need the Ironshipwrights SCB-27A conversion set along with additional details like S-2 Trackers and SH-34 Sea Horses. You will need to build the ship per the conversion's instructions.  Keep in mind the set's details can be soft, so you will need to purchase some PE details, as well as, Veteran Models Mk56 directors.

USS Essex CVA-9: Like the Champlain you will need to purchase the Ironshipwrights SCB-27A conversion and complete the conversion as planned as planned. I recommend purchasing Veteran weapons and directors since some of the kits details are soft.

To equip the ship with a Korean-War era airwing, you will need to purchase F3H Banshees, F9F Panthars, A-1 Skyraiders, F4U4 Corsairs and S.51 Dragonflies.  You can get most of these aircraft at L'Arsenal.

Unfortunately, I just learned that the SCB-27 conversion is out of production, however, if you reach out to Ironshipwrights, who knows.