Trumpeter's 1/350 scale USS Lassen, DDG-82, Burke Flight IIA, OOB Review & Buildup, Kit #4526
USS Lassen DDG-82, Arleigh Burke Flight IIA Destroyer
Introduction and What's in the Box - December 27, 2012
Trumpeter has become the pre-iminent manufacturer of 1/350 scale model warships, particularly modern warships. This model, their kit #4526, is of the USS Lassen, DDG-82, a Flight IIA Arleigh Burke class AEGUIS destroyer. The Flight IIA models include additional vertical launch (VLS) cells and full hangar facilities for two Seahawk anti-submarine helicopeters.
Dragon also makes a Flight IIA Arleigh Burke DDG, the USS Preble, DDG-88. I have purchased this kit as well and intend to build it and compare the two. the Dragon kit is cheaper, but also includes a good Photo Etch set, as does this Trmpeter model. but far fewer parts and a single piece hull. Generlly, the Dragon model has a lot of detail modled into the deck houses which are pre-molded, where as on the Trumpeter model you have many sub-assemblies and more individual part detail. I will compare both builds but generally view Trumpter as the more detailed model, more difficult to build, and with more options. The Dragon models build into very nice models, but are generally less detailed, with less options and therefore an easier build. But, well worth the proce aas they are usually priced $15-$20 dollars less than their Trumpeter equivalent model. Watch for my Preble Build on my Main 1/350 Scale Model Warship Site.
This Trumpter model comes in a beautifully illustrated box, that is well built and very protective. Inside, the hull comes in twp ppieces, the below water-line section, and an above water-line section if the builder wants to build a water-line only model, both pieces are very well molded without any excess flash. There are a total of eight sprues with over 420 parts, including a photo etch part with all the handrails and safetyr netting. No photo etch parts for the sensors and radars, however the plastic parts are exceptionally well detailed and will suffice if one is careful in taking them off the sprues and adding them to the model. After market manufacturers such as Gold Medal Model Works and Tom's Model do make very good after market photo etching for all of the Arleigh Burke class destroyers. I may add one for this model.
The plastic parts are, as stated, extremely well detailed and very well modled, down to some of the most intricate parts, so building the model as is, out of the box can also be extremely satisfying. The parts are modled in light gray, clear (for the helicopters) and gold for the photo etched parts. I intend to use my standard US Navy paint scheme of Neutral Gray for all major vertical surfaces of the ship, a mix of 2 parts red and one part brown of Model Masters paints for the below water line hull, Flat Black for the waterline stripe and other flat black areas, Weathered Black for the funnels and the windows, Flight Deck Stain for the horizontal surfaces outside of the actual landing pad, Flight Deck Gray for the landing pad, Camoflage White for the hangar enterior walls, and Flat White for the radomes and life rafts. Other colors (such as Ensignia Orange for the life buoys), as required. Here are the initial parts out of the box.
At the time I purchased the model (almost a year ago) I did not take a hard look at it, other than opening it and making sure all looked in order. Then, after completing my Trumpeter 1/350 scale PLA Navy's Aircraft Carrier CV-16, Liaoning, and then completing my Tamyia 1/350 scale USS Enterprise, CVN-65, I began to look at this model in more detail.
To my surprise, I discovered that the entire "S" sprue was missing! This is a small sprue that contains all of the bridge window structures and the aft helo deck landing windows! I have contacted the seller (HobbyLinc) to ask them to replace these parts but am proceeding forward trying to scratch build the respective parts as I go. If I get the parts later, I will (if I do not do a very respectable job on the scratch builds) take the model apart and rebuild those areas with the appropriate parts.
The Build - Painting all parts and initial Deck House construction - December 31, 2012
I first go through and paint all of the parts on the sprues their respective colors, figuring to do any touch up work later after they come together where necessary...and it is always necessary.
So, here are all the main parts painted accordingly:
The it was time to actually start building the various major deck house structures. This shows the after deck house areas being built and the forward one (with my initial work on the missing parts shown) completed. I will further work on the scratch build of the bridge areas later.
All in all the detail of the vessel is quite good with this kit, and I expect it will continue to come together nicely with furute reports. Back again in a few days time.
The Build - Mid-ships Deck House, Hangar Bays, and intial Railings complete - January 4, 2012
Well, I contacted HobbyLinc and their policy is to only do returns or fixes after three months. Despite the fact that the model remained un-open, since it has been almost a year, they will not send a replacement for the "S" Sprue...not very good customer service in my opinion...but it is what it is. I contacted Stevens Interational, who is the US supplier for Trumpeter, but their policy is to do returns only on items purchased directly from them. I contacted Trumpeter in China and have not heard back from them. HobbyLinc is holding firm, and it will probably result in me buying my USS Preble by Dragon from someone else because HobbyLinc (IMHO) is not "taking care" of me, their customer. If they have a policy to get missing parts, then they could easily make an exception in a case where a model remained unopened for a year and was essentially new out of the box. But they are sticking to their guns and I suppose they will lose my business on the USS Preble purchase. Oh, well, such is the life of model building, particularly when dealing with models and parts delivered from off-shore. I'll make due with my own scratch building efforts, or buy another kit.
I left this a few days ago in the middle of the mid-ships deck house construction. This is the part that includes the largest Mk-41 VLS launcher with 64 cells, their directors, the aft smoke stacks, and the coverings for the helicopter hangar bays. The hanger bays include parts that show a very detailed and accurate depiction of each hanger bay. I completed the deck house and then completed both hangar bays as shown below. This is one difference between this Trumpeter Arleigh Burke Flight IIA the Flight IIA USS Preble by Dragon Models. The Preble makes no provision for the hanger bays for the two helos being open and visible. Their model is set up to be built with the hanger doors closed, though they do provide the Sea Hawk helicopter for the landing deck. I intend to leave both bays open on the Trumpeter model to show helo flight operations with one helo coming out of one bay, and the other helo on deck preparing to take off, with its bay also open. As I said, the bays have a nice amount of detail on the interior and they were fun to build and paint.
Once that was all built and dried, it was time to put it together onto the hull. The fit is good, but because of the hangar bays being situated under the mid ships deck house with a close fit, and because the after edges of that deck house are flush with the sides of the hull, it required some careful placement and then clamping to ensure that a good solid fit and bond were formed.
At this point, I decided to place the railing on all of the deck areas using the photo etched railing that came with the kit. To this point I have completed the forward and mid ship main deck areas and the forward second deck, around the forward CIWS mount. I will continue with more of this railing for all main deck areas in the next section, adding the forward stack area along with the detail between that stack and the forward deck house/bridge area. As it is, here is the intial PE railing.
Coming along nicely now.
The Build - Forward and Mid-Ship Details, Decals - January 8, 2013
There is simply a lot of detail in this ship. Many, many small parts that add a lot of realism to the decks. All sorts of equipment, instrumentation, sensors, weapons, and other details.
In this build I added a lot of those, including the forward gun. The gun was meant, in this model, to be glued in place. I decided to scratch build a simple mechanism to let it rotate. I did this by removing (cutting off) the bottom spindle on the 5" gun assembly that was to be glued into the hole in the deck, and then drilling a hole in the lower plate of the 5" gun to add a small round piece of sprue. I then ensured that the hole in the deck was a tight fit for this and added a small cap on the bottom, glued to that sprue that now extended through the deck into the hull so the gun could rotate. I also built the many, many other small details provided by Trumpeter for this model. It is another of the areas where the Trumpeter model differs sifnificantly from the Dragon model of the same Flight IIA Class (which I will discuss later during that build, comparing the two). Here's how some of that building went:
I then went on to add the missile directors forward and aft (three directers in all, one forward and two aft) the forward and aft smoke stack structure and smoke stacks, and the details above the main deck for the forward deck house and all the details on the main deck forward on the ship from the bridge to the bow. This necessitated adding many of the decals so that the guns and CIWS and other pieces could be placed over the deck decals. So, I just added all of the decals. Here's how the vessel looks now:
Good progress over the last few days. Next will be the main mast which is a significant assembly of scores of pieces in and of itself...but will add the characteristic raked mast to the vessel. Then, in the same build, I will add all the details on the main deck clear to the stern of the vessel. There's a lot of them, including the Mk-38 25mm guns, the ships boats and cranes for them, more .50 cal machine guns on the helo deck on the forward port and starboard sides, and a lot more equipment, life buoys, all of the life rafts, etc. I'll go there over the next few days and then catch back up here.
SCHEDULE for Future Activities as of December 31, 2012
- By Jan 15, 2012: Complete the USS Lassen, DDG-82.
- By Feb 15, 2013: Complete PLAN Xuzhao (FFG-53) and Huangshan(FFG-570).
- By Mar 15, 2013: Complete Cyber Hobby's USS Independence, LCS-2
- By May 01, 2013: Complete entire PLAN Carrier Group.
- By Jun 15, 2013: Complete Entire US Carrier Group (Just the CSG).
- By Jul 01, 2013: Start the UK Carrier Group Centered on Airfix's HMS Illustrious.
- By Aug 15, 2013: Start the JMSDF Carrier Group Centered on Fujimi's JMSDF Hyuga.
- By Oct 01, 2013: Start the French Carrier group centered on Heller's Charles de Gaulle.
- By Nov 15, 2013, Start the US ARG centered on the USS Iwo Jima and USS Sommerset.
The completion of the PLAN Carrier group, centered on the already completed Trumpeter's 1/350 scale PLA Navy's Aircraft Carrier CV-16, Liaoning[/b], (in addition ot the other escorts already completed) will incluide Mini Hobby's's PLAN Guangzhou, DDG-168; the PLAN Ningbo, DDG-139; and the PLAN ChangZhang5, SSN-405 by Hobby Boss. If a 1/350 scale model of the PLAN Type 071 LPD, Yuzhao Class, is added, I will add one of those, propbably LPD-999, Jinggangshan.
The completion of the US Carrier Strike group, centered on the completed Tamyia's 1/350 scale USS Enterprise, CVN-65[/b], (in addition ot the other escorts already completed) will include Trumpeter's USS Bunker Hill, CG-52 and USS Freedom, LCS-1 and Hobby Boss's USS Texas, SSN-775. (All of which I already own). When a 1/350 scale USS Enterprise, CVN-80 (or any Gerald R. Ford Class) comes out from Trumpeter, Airfix, Tamiya, Dragon, or whomever else, I will add it to this group along with another AEGIS Cruiser. Whatever Ford Class coms out, I will build her as the USS Enterprise, CVN-80.
The UK Group will indlude the Airfix 1/350 scale HMS Illustrious (which I already own), two Airfix 1/350 scale Daring Class DDGs (which I own and should arrive in January 2013), two Trumpeter 1/350 scale Type 23 HMS Duke class Frigates (which I already own), and the Hobby Boss 1/350 scale HMS Astute SSN and Airfix 1/350 scale HMS Tragalgar SSN, both of which which I already own. One day, when a 1/350 scale HMS Queen Elizabeth carrier and a 1/350 HMS Ocean LPD come out, I will add both to this group.
The French CSG will be centered on Heller's 1/400 scale Charles De Gualle (which I already own). I have purchased 1/400 scale Heller French De Grasse, D612 DDG, which is an ASW DDG, the French Duquesne, D603 DDG which is an anti-air multi-purpose DDG, and the French Aconit F713 FFG and Gueprattet F714 FFGs, both of which are Lafayette class frigates. These five vessels will round out my French CSG. As soon as a French Robin class nuclear sub, like the French Perale S606 SSN comes out, I will add that to the group. Also as soon as the Forbin D620, Horizon class anti-air DDG is available, I will purchase it and add it to the group as well.
The Japanese JMSDF group will be centered on Fujimi's very finely detailed, 1/350 scale Hyuga, DDH-181, which I own. It will be escorted by Trumpeter's 1/350 scale DDG-177, Atago, an AEGIS class DDG (which I have purchased), Trumpeters's 1/350 scale DDG-114 Susunami (A Tachanami Class DDG which I own), and by the 1/350 scale SS-503 Hakuryu (which I own), one of Japans new, very modern and capable AIP Diesel Electric submarines. As soo as a DDG-115 Akizuki in 1/350 scale becomes available, I will add it to this group.
The completion of the US ARG will include Tamiya's 1/350 scale, USS Iowa, BB-62[/b] (which I have already completed), Trumpeter's 1/350 scale USS Iwo Jima LHD-7, Gallery's 1/350 scale USS Sommerset, LPD-25, and Trumpeter's 1/350 scale USS The Sullivans DDG-68,
Then, finally it will be a complete Russian CSG (centered on Trumpeter's Kuznetsov which is available but I have not purchased yet) the Russian Slava Class cruiser, Varyag by Trumperter (which I own), two Trumpeter 1/350 scale Udalaoy DDGs (which I own), Hobby Boss's Akula II class SSN (which I own), and the Russian Alfa Class SSN[/b], which I have already completed.
Recently I purchased Heller's 1/400 scale Foch, the Clemceau Class carrier that was sold to the Brazilians in 2000 and in 2002 was refitted and bacame the Brazilian CV, Sao Paulo, using steam catapaults. I will build the model as the Sao Paulo and thus start a Brazilian group, though the Type 22 DDGs and the FFGs the Brazilians use are not available at present.
Then, again, once the models are available, I'd like to build an Italian Group centered on the Cavour and their Horizon DDGs, a Spanish Group centered on the Juan Carlos and their F-100 AEGIS FFGs, and ultimatly an Australian Group centered on the new Canberra Class LPD and the Hobart class AEGIS DDGs. If they ever build the models, an Indian group centered on either the Vikramaditya or their new ADS Carrier the Vikrant and their Kolkata class DDGs and Shivlak class FFGs would also be nice.
You can see all of these actual carriers, read their histories and specifictions at my site:
WORLD-WIDE AIRCRAFT CARRIERS
...and most of their surface escorts at:
AEGIS AND AEGIS-LIKE VESSELS OF THE WORLD