DML 1/350th USS Independence

Yes,I saw that too, so I went ahead and pre-ordered from Freetime for $125.00.Heck,that was what the Aoshima Takeo cost a few years ago with a lot less in it.this one  looks real good,lotsa extras+one piece flight deck.I had to give it a shot.

anthony2779

Yes,I saw that too, so I went ahead and pre-ordered from Freetime for $125.00.Heck,that was what the Aoshima Takeo cost a few years ago with a lot less in it.this one  looks real good,lotsa extras+one piece flight deck.I had to give it a shot.

Any idea when it'll ship?

no they didn't,originally it was october,but it's not like I'm looking to start on it right away,so whenever is ok with me.

Looks to be a great kit from these photos.

http://www.dragon-models.com/html/1024buildup.htm

Check out the Ship Model Forum at ModelWarships.com.  There are several threads, and an in-box review of the kit.  Here is a link for a thread discussing that review.

http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=63040

Tracy White was among the people who helped Dragon put this kit together.  From what I have seen and heard so far, if there was a Kit-of-the-Year competition, this kit might win it for 2010.

Yeah, I spent about two and a half years working on it with Dragon... it started REALLLY rough and there was lag time between when they would send revisions, and I'd get all the commenting done, and then when they'd make further revisions, so it's been a long process.

It's not perfect, but it should be a great kit. It provides a full hangar bay (most of which you won't be able to see) and options to do her in her Shake-down or either of the two raids she was involved in during 1943 (there's differences with each. I think both it and the Hasegawa CVE are going to seriously raise the bar for US carrier models (The Hasegawa Akagi already did) and both will leave fans of the type happy.

Be happy to answer any other questions....

Freetime tells me they shipped yesterday !! Will try to post some pics when it comes.

See, this just goes to show that some companies do listen to reasoned and informed offers of assistance. Now if enough of us will buy the thing ...

Recently Heard That Dragon/DML Their Company Is In Hong Kong Or In The USA ? Is Releasing A Highly Detailed Photo-Etched Aircraft Carrier Kit Based On The World War II Era. The Pricing Is Moderate Or Reasonably High For Some People Because Of The Number Of Plastic Parts Available Up To 100. This Is Not A Beginners Kit And Does Require Some Modeling Skills Like Intermediate And Advanced Modelers Like Myself. I Will Probably Save Myself Some Money And Get This Kit In The Future Ounce I Finished My Battleships And Carriers Fleet In 2012. It Will Be Interesting To See How Trumpeter Of China  Will React To This Because They Are Ahead Of The Competition.

Thanks Very Much.                                                                                                                                                  Mr.Hobbyman.    

HobbyMan

It Will Be Interesting To See How Trumpeter Of China  Will React To This Because They Are Ahead Of The Competition.

Disagree.   Dragon has already exceeded Trumpeter's  quality in the design & production of ship model kits.  Trumpeter needs to hustle to catch up.  

Trumpeter's ship kits are decidedly hit or miss.    Their destroyer USS The Sullivans is mediocre.   The walkways are raised sidewalks,  the 20mm guns are 10 feet tall,   the 40mm guns are sticks on boxes,  the grilles on the stacks are atrocious,  the torpedo tubes, meh ....   Need I go on?      Conversely, their DE USS England is much better.   Trumpeter's kits are often plagued with gaps and seams.

Dragons destroyer kits; the Buchanan,  Laffey,  and Gearing are better detailed and more accurate than Trumpeter's destroyer.    Dragon includes PE in their kits.   With Trumpeter kits they are an aftermarket purchase.  Dragon's kits include crewmen -- not so from Trumpeter. Dragon's kits fit well with a minimum of tinkering.

The only rap against Dragon's kits,   and if you've built any of their armor kits you may well agree, is their parts count.   Why do something in 5 parts when 20 will do.

Ed,  I Tend To Agree About That You Might Be Absolutely Right!

Thanks For Your Comments.

Mr. Hobbyman.

Instructions are another weakness we need to improve, in my opinion.

Hello. I was looking at the color guide, and two of the colors seem a little strange to me.  The actual paints listed for the navy blue 5-N and Flight Deck Stain (21) in particular are the ones I don't understand.  The navy blue paint the paint chart lists seems a little dark, and the flight deck stain calls for medium sea grey, which is a light grey..I thought that flight deck stain was more blue than that.  Of course, I am not sure at all..and I certianly don't know if Im correct or not.  Just asking for some clarification, or maybe better reccomendations if the listed ones aren't right.  Thanks!

Tracy White

Instructions are another weakness we need to improve, in my opinion.

+1 on that one Tracy!

Independance docked today,really looks sweet in the box,here are a few pics:

Yes, there's an error in the paint guide I didn't catch until AFTER it was finished because we were swapping a bunch of stuff around.

CVL-22 was in Measure 14 (Ocean Gray) on her shakedown and Measure 21 (Navy Blue) after that when she was operating in the pacific. Flight Deck Stain 21 was matched to 5-O Ocean gray when freshly applied. When she was in Measure 21 the deck would have been stained in 250N Blue Flight Deck stain, which is very close to deck blue when fresh. So the camouflage is another point to pay attention to with regard to the details (whether you want 5" guns or quad 40mms on the bow & stern).

OK...Thanks for the clarification! 

BigB asked in a PM if Navy Blue was 5N and for some color matching advice....

Unfortunately in this case I can't be a help as I equipped myself with White Ensign paints, which are matched to the WWII colors, so I haven't paid attention to which other companies migh thave similar paints.

Navy Nomenclature can get a little confusing; 5-N was Navy blue for the vast majority of the war, but in February of 1945 they revamped their camouflage paints and changed Navy Blue's designation to 5-NB and 5-N was for the new "Navy Gray" paint. Making things more annoying for modern builders, the paint colors from the 1940s predate the FS system and were not included, so there are no actual FS matches for any of the colors. Any "matches" you read are someone's interpretation as to the closest match.

I usually use www.paint4models.com for color conversions.  So, I guess I'll go with that and get as close as it will let me.  I know it's not 100%, but surely it will be close enough so that I can use the paint I already have.  Thank  you for the advice, Tracy!

Wow...kit looks cherry---I have the old 700th scale one.  Maybe you'll actually build this thing.  Nahhh...into the stash it goes...

Think of Dragon's Buchanan and Gearing and I think you might get the picture as to the quality.

Thanks Again Very Much  Anthony For Showing Those New Picks Of The Brand New USS Independance WWII Aircraft Carrier. So I Know For Sure What's Inside The Box When I Do Purchase One At A Nearby Hobby Shop.  Does Anyone Know How Many Pieces Are In That Box And What Is The MSRP Retail Price Is Going For? I Really Appreicate If Someone Can Respond To Me Back.

Mr. Hobbyman.

HobbyMan

.  Does Anyone Know How Many Pieces Are In That Box And What Is The MSRP Retail Price Is Going For? I Really Appreicate If Someone Can Respond To Me Back.

Mr. Hobbyman.

Parts count is 250 (+/-)

MSRP is about $170 (USD)  -- I've seen 169 and 172 posted -- so rounding it ...

http://www.freetimehobbies.com/DML1024.aspx

try this place,it's where I got mine

I Just Found Out The Actual Retail Price Of The WWII USS Independence Is $155.99 But No Parts Count On How Many Plastic Pieces Totaling. If Anyone Knows Please Fill Me In.

Thank You Very Much.

Mr. Hobbyman.

HobbyMan

I Just Found Out The Actual Retail Price Of The WWII USS Independence Is $155.99 But No Parts Count On How Many Plastic Pieces Totaling. If Anyone Knows Please Fill Me In.

Thank You Very Much.

Mr. Hobbyman.

see a couple of posts above

Dragon USA has this kit available for $139 US. You can also get a free kit with it as well. See the link for details.

http://www.dragonusaonline.com/item_detail.aspx?ItemCode=DRA1024

Hello Ed,

I Didn't Notice The Small Print You Typed In Because It's So Hard To See On The Computer But As I Looked Closely The Parts Count Is 250 For The Dragon 1/350 Scale WWII USS Independence And The MSRP Price Is $170.00 Dollars USD). I Apologize For The Misunderstanding Ed.

Thank You Very Much.

David

Just Want To Add A Comment Before I Leave This Post!

I Will Probably Get The Dragon/DML 1-350 Scale WWII USS Independance Sometime Around December 2012 Or Jan-March/April 2013. I Still Have A Few WWII Battleships And 4 Aircraft Carriers Old And New That Needed To Be Build Up After I Purchase The Independence At My Local Hobby Shop In SF.

Thanks Very Much.

Mr. Hobbyman