Questions regarding Navy ship model kit scales.

[BlackSheep214]

Can you tell me which is larger between of the scale model ship kit are in the following scales:

1/350 scale
1/700 scale

My only regret I have I failed to build a Fletcher Class destroyer my dad was on when he was in the Navy - He served on USS Wadleigh and USS Courtney (Destroyer Escort Dealey Class Destroyer Escort)

He served between wars (after Korea, before Vietnam) However, my uncle and my dad's only surviving brother served on "Big E" USS Enterprise. I do know his ship saw action during the Vietnam conflict. I was told he worked on the catapults below deck. I definitely planned on building that kit as well.

So my thought a 1/350 scale ship kit is larger than a 1/700 scale ship kit correct?
If so, my guess an aircraft carrier kit in 1/350 scale is massive (and expensive?) kit compared to a destroyer kit in 1/350 scale.

[Scruffy]

You are correct; 1/350 is larger than 1/700.

[Stikpusher]

In 1/350, there are two kits of Fletcher class destroyers available in injection plastic:Tamiya which makes an early fit, and Trumpeter, which can be done in a mid War or late War fit. Both kits would have to be modified for post WWII appearance.There is only one kit of CVN-65 USS Enterprise currently available in 1/350 injection plastic, by Tamiya. It is one of their older large scale ships, so not as costly as some of their newer large ships. But it represents the Big E after her early 1980’s SLEP refit, and now how she looked for commissioning and during her Vietnam era service. The main difference being the “beehive” antenna array atop the island was removed, and her self defense armament set up was changed. As far as 1/350 DE’s go, there is only Trumpeter’s USS England currently available. She is an earlier Buckley class DE.

[BlackSheep214]

Thank you, Stik. I reconfirmed with my sister regarding my Uncle’s, my father’s only surviving brother of the aircraft carrier he served on. I come to find out it was the USS Independence, not the “Big E” he served on. I keep getting confused which one he was on.

I have heard someone say I can use USS England, or even USS The Sullivans to build USS Courtney.

A Fletcher class destroyer kit (Tamiya or Trumpeter kit) will do but I may look into possibly finding aftermarket pieces in order to build USS Wadleigh my dad was on during the period he served. I imagine there have been some upgrades after WW2 on a Fletcher class destroyer.

[Stikpusher]

The post war Fletchers saw numerous modifications during their service life. The armament fit was changed, as radars got bigger and heavier they received a new main mast, etc.
I don’t think a Fletcher or England could easily be converted into Courtney. There is a substantial difference in superstructure and weapons fits between the types.
As far as USS Independence goes, there is no kit in 1/350. But there are kits in 1/540, 1/600, 1/720, and 1/800 of Forrestal Class carriers available.

[Stikpusher]

Well look what I found... apparently Iron Shipwrights make (or made) a 1/350 USS Courtney... it’s resin, so it will cost a bit more than an mainstream plastic kit of the same size... but since it is a family connection subject, I imagine the price is not too much.

http://store.spruebrothers.com/product_p/isw4-174.htm

[BlackSheep214]

OMG Stik! A great find! Definitely something I'm willing to get once it's back in stock. Although I've never worked with on a resin kit before.