Need Some Help/advice

[roughneck06]

I need some help and advice for a model project to honor a WW2/Korean War Navy veteran.....

I have a neighbor- well advanced in age, who was a naval aviator. He served aboard the CVL USS Wright after it was commissioned. He remembers the CVL had F6Fs, F8Fs, and TBFs as it's air group. When they deployed in the Atlantic after WW2- the CVL was accompanied usually by a CL and 3 DDs. I am looking to build a diorama to depict his Task group and need some advice. I hope to present it to him this spring.

I'm planning on 1/700 scale. the CL and DDs- no problem getting the kits. I know there's 1/700 scale Independance CVL  kits ( almost finished w/ my Proto SCS USS Langely CVL ). Any thoughts as to how to modify a CVL 22 to be a good representation of the USS Wright? As to Airgroup- I have the F6fs and TBFs. I understand that White Ensign models have a F8F in 1/700 ( any feed back on their products? ).

BTW- my neighbor was involved w/ the " Flying pancake " If I can talk him into letting me scan his pics of it.... would anyone here be interested in seeing them here?

Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions/advice/tips.

[Jennings]

You need to post over at www.steelnavy.com

I can almost guarantee you'll get a response.

J

[GTX]

BTW- my neighbor was involved w/ the " Flying pancake " If I can talk him into letting me scan his pics of it.... would anyone here be interested in seeing them here?

I most certainly would be.

Regards,

Greg

[Joe C-P]

Here's one good source for photos of all USN ships:

Navsource

You'll find several photos of both Saipan and Wright, plus once you find the escorts there are photos of many CLs and DDs.

Note that they were based on heavy cruiser hulls, but were not conversions like the earlier CVLs, which were conversions of Cleveland class light cruisers. I don't believe there is a model of the Saipan/Wright, but you might be able to hack together a Dragon/DML Independence and a Skywave Baltimore (newly or about to be released) to come close.

Once you're done I'd like to see images of the result. Good luck with the project!

JoeP