1/350 USS Intrepid CV-11 (Gallery)
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by Keith Bender |
1/350 USS Intrepid CV-11 (Gallery)
We been waiting a very long time for one of the big plastic guys to put out a 1:350 Essex class in her 60's fit. I'll get to the point. I wanted to build one for so long I didn't wait for the after market guys nor did i plate the hull even though i have the hull plating diagram here. I just built it "out of box". Yes you who know me will think I lost it. Nope, just wanted to build it and fast. I also needed some relief or a vacation from the norm.
The kit is big, about
as big as the 1:350 LHD. I know Martin Quinn will be doing a review
so I won't get too much into that. However i'll mention a few things that
need to be noticed.
Biggest disappointment to me I would say has to be the lack of any
yellow gear of any sort, nothing ! It was still yellow gear when
"Mighty I" was in service. The radars aren't nothing to write
home about so after market PE guys get on your game here.
No ships boats or life rafts for the catwalks. The small amount of AC leaves the deck wide open even with the full amount on deck. I asked the air boss from Enterprise if I could send four A3D's over to CV-11 to fill some deck space, permission was granted, the kit does not come with A3D's. I didn't even fold any of the wings with the eception of the A3D's to make the deck look a little more covered with AC but there is still plenty of room. I'm hoping that Gallery puts out AC kits as they have for the LHD. My A3d's already had their wings folded on Big E.
The decals aren't too bad but the white for any of the deck markings is a little transparent as is the yellow. There is no decal for the island " beware of propellers, jets and rotors". Also no names for the stern "INTREPID" for either side of the former gun tubs. I put the black shadow next to the 11 on the bow with trim film.
I pretty much left the hanger alone. With either elevator up you have a hard time seeing into it so the question is, to detail or not to detail ? I didn't with the exception of gray and white. I found a couple of fit issues but nothing too severe. The flightdeck goes on like it was made to, well it was and it's about time a model this large didn't have a fit issue in that area, thank you Gallery for that. The PE other then the radars isn't too bad, I used it all. However there is not enough 3 bar to go around. I used it on all hanger sponsons and stern area along with the island. When it came time to do the catwalks I ran out by the time i had only the stb. side aft up to the island done. I dip into my stash of GMM PE to complete it.
In all it is a very good kit, not the greatest but good. We now have a nice base to build from to make either CV 11, 14 or 19 a reality. With some scratchbuiding you can do a few other ones in the class but you'll need to relocate the stb. elevator more fwd. and that is only for starters.
Martin Quinn pointed out about the mold lines
on the bow corners. It almost looks as if Gallery had in mind to be able
to change out the bow to mold some of the others in the class. I don't
think they can do CV 16, 31 or 38 for their bow has a slab side shape.
Anyway i'll let you figure that one out for future releases, I hope.
