VERY RARE Sealed Revell 1/530 USS ESSEX Angled Deck Aircraft Carrier. Commissioned in December 1942, Essex participated in several campaigns in the Pacific Theater of Operations, earning the Presidential Unit Citation and 13 battle stars. Decommissioned shortly after the war, she was modernized with an angled flight deck, steam catapults, provisions to support modern naval jet aircraft, modernized island superstructure, and recommissioned in the early 1950s as an attack carrier (CVA), eventually becoming an antisubmarine aircraft carrier (CVS). In her second career, she served mainly in the Atlantic, playing a role in the Cuban Missile Crisis. She also participated in the Korean War, earning four battle stars and the Navy Unit Commendation. She was the primary recovery carrier for the Apollo 7 space mission. She was decommissioned for the last time in 1969. Produced in 1957, Revell created this kit of the USS ESSEX in her modernized configuration as an Attack Aircraft Carrier. A very RARE kit, photographs of the completed kit are very difficult to find. The photo examples of a completed kit come from a rebuild of the ESSEX as her sistership USS HANCOCK CVA-19. The kit was obtained shrink wrapped. Features of this kit include. Assembled kit length 20 inches (508 mm). Grey color injection molded plastic with full lower hull. Positionable Port and Starboard elevators. Forward elevator is removable to display in lowered configuration. F-8 CRUSADER supersonic Fighter jets. F-11F TIGER first US naval supersonic Fighter jets. F9F-6 COUGAR swept wing Fighter jets. AD SKYRAIDER Propeller Attack aircraft. A4 SKYHAWK jet Fighter/Attack aircraft. HUP-2 RETRIEVER Rescue/Utility helicopter. Twin barrel 3-inch guns. Moveable hangar-level aircraft crane. Exterior hangar-level bulkheads with numerous molded on details. Exterior frame of elevator that carried pilots from the hangar level to the flight deck. Forward hangar level refueling/cargo crane. Aircraft tow tractors and Crash Crane (“Tilly”). Waterslide decals with detailed markings. Flight deck landing strips. Flight deck forward dashed line aircraft position markings. Deck edge elevator markings. Detailed illustrated assembly, decal placement and painting guide. Please check the photos PLEASE NOTE: Any photos of completed kits are from manufacturers or other sources. This kit is unpainted, unbuilt provided and let me know if you have any questions. Thanks for stopping by! PLEASE READ AT LEAST THE RED TEXT. Unless otherwise specified, photos of completed items shown represent reference builds of the item offered and may include aftermarket details photo-etch, etc. Not included in the kit. Details depicted in the photographs of the kit box and specifically stated in the description are included. International Buyers – Please Note. We do not mark merchandise values below value or mark items as “gifts” – US and International government regulations prohibit such behavior.