"Flying Carrier - Scratchbuild Tips" Topic

I am interested in suggestions on building a flying aircraft carrier (to serve with 1/600 aircraft)

I'm thinking of adding plumbing fittings as side fans/lifters to a 1/700 carrier kit but I'm sure there are better ideas out there, for a unique looking carrier.

As you may infer, I'm going for a 20s-50s vibe rather than VSF – so it can be used from mid war to Weird War II.

Not the same scale
henriettagames.blogspot.com

If you can find one, the Revel Zeppelin kit is about the right scale – 1/700 I think it used to say on the box. It built up to round a foot (30cm) long.

The Acron & Macon were real lighter-than-air aircraft carriers of the Pulp era, and it they weren't both flown into storms would have been in service into the 1940's – equipped with miniature P-40's to replace the biplanes judging from some of the design sketches.

I think 'Sky Captain' had zeppelin-style lift modules or some of their carriers too.

Rich Johnson of Rattrap Production had one as the setting for a .45 Adventures game at Historicon a few years back. There may be some photos on their web pages.

Dennis

You might lookat some of the Dystopian Wars stuff. Each faction has a flying carrier. Not sure what the scale is.

so maybe this means Murph is gonna finish the USS Richard Nixon?????

Here's a conversion Steelonsand (who's here on TMP) is doing for aeronef:
steelonsand.blogspot.com

Sorry for coming rather late to this discussion – had missed it earlier – and thanks to boy wundyr x for the referral; my own take on such a carrier is, I suppose, in line with Aeronef, around 1/1200th in scale, and is based on an upturned snap-together kit, ostensibly of the USS Eisenhower – although what scale this was, is anyones' guess – given how cheap and nasty the original kit was!

I think if you are looking to match a carrier with 1/600th 'planes, then it has to be really, really B-I-G, so I second the suggestion from bsrlee above regarding the 1/700th kit – I think a dirigible type would sit well with an interwar period setting, too, bringing to mind the Acron et al….

I think the key with whatever you go for is the detailing – this is what will really bring the model to life, and is what I am struggling with at the moment – a good 'bits box' is essential – my own top tip would be the inner workings of an old wind-up watch – really good for all sorts of mechanical gubbins at the smaller scale – wheels, cogs, etc….

My own in-progress efforts were very much encouraged by the carriers that can be seen both here;

link

and here:

link

Well worth a look!

Great ideas and models here. Lighter than air seems the way to go but the possibilities, while not endless, are conducive to distinct types for different forces.