| HISTORY |
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| For years the only Essex class carriers in 1/700
were the
Hasegawa kit
and the Revell 1/720 kit. Both were nice 30 years ago, but fall short of
today's standards. This new carrier from Dragon Models of Hong Kong,
China also known as DML for Dragon Models Limited, has raised
the bar for the 1/700 world. Designed using CAD (Computer Aided
Design), the parts of this model could be test fitted and checked before
tooling was produced. One the design was finalized the mold was cut using
the latest cutting tool technology to produce some extremely fine parts
for an injected mold. The end result is another state of the art carrier.
Thanks to Dragon we now have a new Long Hull Essex AKA Ticonderoga Class
carrier to go along with that Short
Hull one previously released. |
| HULL |
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| The hull is one piece with a separate hanger deck and lower
hull.. There is some really nice porthole detail with eyebrows (rain gutters)
above them and plenty of piping, vent, and other detail. The many openings
to the hanger deck are all left open with separate roll up doors that can
be shown open or closed. |
Click
images
to enlarge |
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| HANGER DECK SPRUE A |
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| Probably the most exciting item on this kit, is this detailed hanger
deck. It included some interior details and nice deck plate details. |
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| FLIGHT DECK SPRUE B |
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| The flight deck looks like the one in the
USS Essex CV-9, however there are two catapults, one slightly offset
from the front of the deck. The deck on this carrier is also shorter to
clear the field of fire for the bow mounted anti aircraft guns. This is
typical of Long Hull type Essex Class carriers. The deck is nicely
engraved with some really intricate planking and tie down detailing. Note
the deck elevator for a close-up of this pattern. |
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| CLEAR FLIGHT DECK OPTION |
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| Notice the bow insert for the deck is different on this ship than the
Short hull Essex. It is longer and includes two gun tubs for the 40 mm
gun mounts. The bow deck piece is finely detailed with some really nice
anchor chain molded on. |
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| You even get a clear flight deck that will allow you to
show off that detailed hanger deck. The deck is smooth without surface
detail so you can clearly see into the hanger. Note one way to show off
the details in this photo from Dragon below.
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| SPRUE C |
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| This sprue is identical to the one in the Essex kit. It contains some
of the walls that form the hanger deck as well as the separate roll up
doors. Various platforms and other details are very sharp. You might also
notice that there are carly floats molded on the underside of many of these
platforms. One other thing that I noticed was the absence of those dreaded
Aztec
stairs. Finally a kit that you don't have to try to scrape them off the
platforms. |
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| SPRUE D |
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| This sprue is similar to the one in the Essex kit except it has been
extended on the bottom side to include the four platforms and sponsons
shown below. The other items on the sprue include the walls and doors seen
on the above sprue. It also included the boat cranes and deck edge elevators
as well as the folding deck antenna masts. There are two different deck
edge elevators; one with molded on underside detail and one without. The
latter is designed for use with the included photo etch fret shown below.
Again the modeler is presented with a choice in how they wish to build
their ship. |
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| SPRUE E |
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| These sprues include many of the gun platforms and bridge platforms.
Notice that in most cases the underside bracing is present. There are also
several extra platforms that are not used on this kit. Stay tuned for details
on future releases. Dragon has more in store for us in the future. Also
notice the open grills in the top of the funnel cap, nice! |
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| SPRUE F |
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| More platforms for the 20 mm guns. The other parts on this sprue are
not needed for the Hancock. |
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| SPRUE G |
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| This sprue contains many platforms exclusive to the Hancock. The only
ones you will need are the 40 mm guad tubs. |
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| SPRUE H |
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The sprue is exclusive to the Randolph and includes some Long hull
specific platform details. Notice that on the bottom of several of them
are Carley Floats. |
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| SPRUE J |
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| A stand is included to mount your ship on. |
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| SPRUE K |
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| This is the weapons spure and there are two of them in the kit. It
includes the many anti-aircraft guns and various fittings used on the ship.
Various radar's and other detail items are also included. 5" 38 cal guns
are included in both open and closed types. The 40 mm guns are not bad
but the gun barrels are a little thick. The 20 mm are also a little thick,
but I really like the way they are molded. The front shield is offset from
the pedestal and the separate gun can be mounted at any angle just like
the real ones. You also get Mk-51 directors, searchlights and even some
pelorus mounts. All are as fine as injections molding permits in this scale.
Not to be overlooked are the nice life rafts that have some nice netting
molded on. |
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| SPRUE L |
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| The island is another really nice part in this kit. The main sprue
pictured below is from a very complex multi-slide mold that allows for
detail to be molded on almost all sides. On a conventional mold, there
are two halves and the parts need to be able to slide out of the mold.
This prevents some surface detail from being included as it would be scraped
off as the part was ejected out of the mold. The mold used here has what
are called slides that pull from different directions. This allows detail
to be cast on the sides and then before the part is ejected those parts
of the mold slide out of the way preserving the detail. These types of
molds are expensive and require quite an engineering effort to design.
This goes to show that Dragon is committed to offering the most
accurate kits to modelers and is willing to invest in the Research and
Development to bring it about. |
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The bridge has all kinds of detail on it from extensive conduit piping,
to the watertight doors and molded on ladders. The four dual 5" 38 cal
gun mounts on this sprue are a testament to how detail can be preserved
with this type of molding technology. The sights on the gun houses rival
that that we see in resin kits. |
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| SPRUE M |
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| This sprue contains some of the quad 40 mm gun tubs that mount under
the flightdeck. |
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| SPRUE P |
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| This is a second weapons sprue that adds an important weapon to the
kit. Specifically 20 mm twin mounts. Dragon has created a brand
new fret to add this weapon that was added later in the war. Additional
40 mm guad mounts and gun directors are also added. |
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| SPRUE J |
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| A base is included to display your ship on should you chose to build
it full hull. A nameplate is also included with a peel and stick label
that fits within the border. |
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| PHOTOETCH |
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| Two photoetch frets are included that will allow you to
replace some of the molded on details. The lower frame of the deck edge
elevator and open radio antenna. You also get radar's and other platforms.
There is also a variety of deck personnel in various poses that will lend
action to your deck.
The second fret includes 20 mm gun platforms and braces. |
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| DECALS |
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| The decals by Cartograf include the aircraft insignia that were
used during the war and include the red outlined insignia used briefly
by some squadrons. The deck striping and lines are well done. They are
all nicely registered and much improved from the typical kit supplied decals. |
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| AIRCRAFT |
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| The aircraft in this kit are simply the best available in this scale.
They are molded in clear plastic so you can mask off the canopies and when
you paint them. When the paint dries you peel off the masking and are presented
with a nice clear canopy. These aircraft also benefit from the CAD
technology |
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SB2C Helldiver Dive Bomber (six included).
These are molded with separate propellers and landing gear. Panel lines
are recessed and the lines of the aircraft look accurate. |
TBF Avenger Torpedo Bomber (six included).
These torpedo bombers have recessed panel lines and folding wings.
Separate gear and propellers are included. |
F6F Hellcat Fighter (six included).
Also molded with folding wings and separate landing gear and props. |
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| INSTRUCTIONS |
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| The instructions are an eight page booklet showing the
assembly in a step by step process that is easy to follow. Very thorough
and well illustrated. Camouflage is shown in three schemes. Measure 22,
21, and 32.
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| BONUS SPRUE |
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| Here's another nice touch, a bonus tug boat to help you dock this carrier.
It will help give you an idea of this ships imense size when displayed
alongside the carrier. This tug is not just an extra thrown in, it is an
all new mold produced with the slide molding technology that is fast making
Dragon
famous. |
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| REFERENCE |
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| The most obvious differences between the Long Hull and
Short Hull Essex Class carriers are shown below. Notice the difference
in the shape and length of the bow.
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| CONCLUSIONS |
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 This
kit is extremely well designed and packed with options. The modeler has
many choices when building this kit. Full hull or waterline, Open hanger
doors or closed, clear deck or opaque, and many more. Dragon USA
lists this kit with an MSRP of $34.95 US. More than a fair price when you
consider the extras. Right now this kit gets my vote for the best 1/700
scale injection molded kit on the market today. It even improves on their
previous release the Essex. Bravo Zulu Dragon. |
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