Roy McKay
Built mine around 1985 (my teen era!) and still display it. Got seriously damaged recently thanks to my german shepherd and the neighbours cat. Not fatally but enough to need a drydock period. As I have another 2012 issue of the kit in the stash, was thinking of converting the original 1985 model into something resembling the final fit of the real ship at decommissioning. The only issue with the aircraft are the Phantoms really. I plan to build the second kit as 1975 fit with Italeri F-14s and other Italeri 1/720 aircraft. VF-1 & VF-2!
I personally wouldn't bother with the clear 1/700 planes. I've got them in the Trumpeter 2005 Nimitz and used them on the Fujimi 1/700 Kittyhawk. They look good but they are VERY fiddly. And sit too tall unless you shorten the legs; try cutting less than a millimetre from a part that is maybe 4 mm long. And don't talk to me about masking 1/700 canopies.
Do get the GMM PE set though. That makes a big difference to the model.

Robert W Martel
Yea, that might make sense Roy. I haven't built any of these yet, but I see the planes are pretty small. I was thinking more like painting around the glass with a brush??? HA! I'm sure masking will be near impossible!! We'll just have to see what happens when I get around to one. Probably won't be for a while yet. By that time I'll have a dozed different ships! I just ordered the HobbyBoss USS Kearsarge LHD-3. It just looks cool!, lots of neat vehicles & such. More itty bitty stuff. Not sure I'm even going to be able to handle stuff that small!! I may be biting off more than I can chew!!! lol