by Bob Nandell
1/500 USS America CVA 66 UNREP with USS Milwaukee AOR 2, USS McDonnell FF 1043, early 1970's. (Scratchbuild)
These ships were largely built from photo archives using balsa, sheet plastic, note-card paper, and broom stick bristle. The carrier America was recently sunk as a test target. The Milwaukee was decommissioned several years ago, and the McConnell is long gone from the fleet. My frustration as a modeler is that few replenishment ships are available in kit form. For most post-WWII type ships I am interested in modeling it simply means getting the raw materials and getting out the saws and exacto knives. The carrier and oiler hulls are laminated balsa. The frigate hull is carved from pine block.
