1/350 Scale "What if" Aircraft Carrier Projects Cont.
Now, one of the most famous "what if" designs ever: The USS United States CVA-58.
USS United States CVA-58
From the Federation of American Scientists:
After several years of planning, on 29 July 1948 President Truman approved construction of a "supercarrier", for which funds had been provided in the Naval Appropriations Act 1949. This first postwar carrier was laid down in April 1949. The flush-deck 65,000-ton CVA 58 United States was designed to launch and recover the large aircraft of 100,000 pounds required to carry early nuclear weapons, which weighed as much as five tons. The ship was to be over 1000 feet long, without an island, and of a radical new design. The construction cost of the new ship was estimated at $190 million, with the additional thirty-nine ships required to complete the accompanying task force estimated to cost $1.265 billion. The United States was also intended to provide tactical air support for air and amphibious forces and to conduct sea control operations. But the general perception was that the United States was primarily intended as a platform for long-range nuclear bombardment. The Air Force viewed the United States as the embodiment of the Navy's nuclear aspirations as an attempt to challenge what had been an effective Air Force monopoly on strategic nuclear weapons delivery. A majority of the JCS maintained that the super carrier’s main function would be a duplication of the primary role of the Air Force. In the face of limited budgetary resources, and responding to opposition from the Army and Air Force, Defense Secretary Louis Johnson announced on 23 April 1949 the cancellation of construction of the United States.
The United States is such an interesting possibility because it is such an unusual design. At nearly 1000ft long, the ship is the size of a modern-day super carrier, but had a modified axial deck. It looks nothing like Nimitz or the Essex classes. It is truly an odd looking ship.
I have yet to see anyone attempt to build the United States in 1/350 scale. However, I did find an example in 1/720 scale. See http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=42801
Degree of Difficulty:
Hard. Given the length you could use the Tamiya Enterprise as a base. You will need to remove the sponsons and overhangs and close off some of the hangar entrances. You can build up the hull using plastic sheet. You may be able to salvage parts from the Enterprise's flight deck and use the catwalks and maybe the elevators. Details such as radars will have to come from various modern or Korean War-era detail sets. Fortunately, there are a number of aftermarket deck vehicles, armaments and aircraft available in resin.
USS United States CVA-58
From the Federation of American Scientists:
After several years of planning, on 29 July 1948 President Truman approved construction of a "supercarrier", for which funds had been provided in the Naval Appropriations Act 1949. This first postwar carrier was laid down in April 1949. The flush-deck 65,000-ton CVA 58 United States was designed to launch and recover the large aircraft of 100,000 pounds required to carry early nuclear weapons, which weighed as much as five tons. The ship was to be over 1000 feet long, without an island, and of a radical new design. The construction cost of the new ship was estimated at $190 million, with the additional thirty-nine ships required to complete the accompanying task force estimated to cost $1.265 billion. The United States was also intended to provide tactical air support for air and amphibious forces and to conduct sea control operations. But the general perception was that the United States was primarily intended as a platform for long-range nuclear bombardment. The Air Force viewed the United States as the embodiment of the Navy's nuclear aspirations as an attempt to challenge what had been an effective Air Force monopoly on strategic nuclear weapons delivery. A majority of the JCS maintained that the super carrier’s main function would be a duplication of the primary role of the Air Force. In the face of limited budgetary resources, and responding to opposition from the Army and Air Force, Defense Secretary Louis Johnson announced on 23 April 1949 the cancellation of construction of the United States.
The United States is such an interesting possibility because it is such an unusual design. At nearly 1000ft long, the ship is the size of a modern-day super carrier, but had a modified axial deck. It looks nothing like Nimitz or the Essex classes. It is truly an odd looking ship.
I have yet to see anyone attempt to build the United States in 1/350 scale. However, I did find an example in 1/720 scale. See http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=42801
Degree of Difficulty:
Hard. Given the length you could use the Tamiya Enterprise as a base. You will need to remove the sponsons and overhangs and close off some of the hangar entrances. You can build up the hull using plastic sheet. You may be able to salvage parts from the Enterprise's flight deck and use the catwalks and maybe the elevators. Details such as radars will have to come from various modern or Korean War-era detail sets. Fortunately, there are a number of aftermarket deck vehicles, armaments and aircraft available in resin.
What You'll Need:
- Tamiya Enterprise kit
- Evergreen sheet
- Korean-era and modern-era radars
- Various PE detailing sets
- Misc. WWII era deck tactors found in after market resin or PE sets
- L'Arsenal 5/54 gun turrets
- Ironshipwrights 3/70 twin turrets
- Veteran MK 27 directors
- Veteran Mk 56 directors
For the airwing you will need several Korean War-era aircraft.
- L'Arsenal F2H Banshees
- 1/285 AJ-1 Savage bombers from Shapeway Miniatures
- L'Arsenal A-1 Skyraiders
- L'Arsenal S-51 Dragonfly Helicopter (coming soon)
- L'Arsenal Avenger AEW
Comments
Post a Comment