USS Ft. Worth, LCS-3, Bronco 1/350 Kit# NB5028 OOB Review and Build
My Review and Build of Bronco's 1/350 scale Kit #NB5028,
USS Ft. Worth, LCS-3, Littoral Combat Ship
Last update: Deck details, antennae, decals - December 17, 2014
Introduction and What's in the Box- December 13, 2014
About the ship:
This model is a 1/350 scale model depiction of the US Navy's USS Ft. worth, LCS-3, Littoral Combat Ship.
In the mid 2000s, the United States Navy identified a need for a completely new class of combat vessel, specifically designed to fight in serveral ways in the littoral waters, with a shallow draft, very fast sprint dspeeds, and the ability to conduct anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, mine counter measures, and landing and supporting special forces in the shallow, near to the coast, littoral waters. These vessels would have to be stealthy, network centric, and capable of also performing escort duites, particularly in the anti-submarine role for other task forces if called upon. As such, they were to be called Littoral OCmbat Ships (LCS) and would end up replaceing the older Perry Class Frigates, Avenger Class counter-mine vessels, and other vessels associated with the missions this ship was meant to conduct.
The vessels would be either large corvette or light frigates in displacement, around 3,000-3,500 tons. They would have to consist of a basic armament suite, but would also allow for significant space internal to the vessel to accomodate one or two "mission packs," that would customize them to the specific mission they were meant to perform on that specific mission. Furthermore, these "mission packs," would have to be able to be changed out within a 24 hour period at forward operating bases so the vessels could change their mission as required.
Initially several companies submitted bids, but this was relatively quickly narrowed down to two manufacturers. One headed by Lockheed Martin building n advanced mono-plane hull design, and the second headed by Grumman with a new, trimaren hull design. Both had pros and cons for their specific designs, and both were meeting the requirements. In the final run-off the companies each built one vessel, and then were authorized to build another one. When the Navy tested both designs it found both adequate and then went ahead and signed contracts for each company to build another ten of each vessel.
The total requirement was for 55 vessels. Current contracts will produce 24 vessels, 12 of each variant. At that time, the US Navy has decided to begin building an upgraded and uparmed variant of each vessel that will be called the Small Surface Combatant. These new ships will diplace a little more than the current LCS and will have less modularity and more standard weapons systems to allow them to fullfill a multi-role mission without the need for swapping out moidules. These new SSC vessels will also be built to the higher combat II standard that is common for vessels like frigtates and destroyers.
As these upgraded sensors and armaments are built into the new vessels, it is expected that the existing LCS vessels will receive similar sensor and armament fits..
The Lockheed LCS design is the USS Freedom class of Littoral Combat Ships. These vessels will have odd pennant numbers, beginning with LCS-1 for the USS Freedom. So far four have been launched (USS Freedom, LCS-1, USS Fort Worth, LCS-3 (for which this model is depcited), USS Milwaukee, LCS-5, and USS Detriot, LCS-7.The USS Freedom is beginning its second deployment as this build is occurring, being deployed to the western Pacific and the South China Sea. The USS Ft. Worth is deploying to the Western Pacific in January 2015..
The second LCS class is the Trimaren design by Grumman. it is called the Independence Class of Littoral Combat Ships and they will be numbered with even numbered pennants, starting with LCS-2, the USS Independence. Four of those vessels have also been launched. The USS Independence, LCS-2, the USS Coronado, LCS-4, the USS Jackson, LCS-6, and the USS Montgomery, LCS-8.
The Kit:
The Bronco model kit is realtively new and is a typical, very well done kit. Lots of detail, photo etched parts, and numerous options. In comparing the trupmeter kit for the USS Fredom, and the Bronco kit for the USS Ft. Worth, both seem very good with extensive details for the sensors, hangars, well deck areas, hull cut-outs for launches, etc. But there are some differences. For example this Bronco model has an option for a waterline hull version, and it includes the lengthened flight deck of the USS Ft. Worth that covers the entire aft well deck opening (a small well deck that both vessels have for launching and recovering unmanned water vehicles and special forces. In addition, the Ft. Worth has clear plastic for the aft, helo flight deck observation windows as well, which are lacking in the Trumpeter model (you have to paint them in). Having said that, a lot of the detail that Trumpeter includes as small pieces, and which when correctly done can provide a more detailed and realistic look, are modled into the Bronco model. For example, the stack outlets which are seprate pieces on the Trumpeter model, are molded into the stack area of the Bronco model. I am sure both will look great when complete.
Despite not being quite as detailed in terms of oindividual part, the Bronco model still has a wealth of detail in its plastic molded parts, includoing a decent fret of Photo Etch parts for railing, sensors, gratings, etc.
The plastic parts are on ten sprues, with two separate parts for the hull, the above waterline portion and the below the waterline portions which fit nicely together. I intedne to build the vessel in a full hull configuration.
The main deck is comprised of three pieces. The landing deck, the helicopter hanger floor, and the forward deck. The deck house comes in one large piece though you do have to add the main mast and a seciotn on top of the hanger separately.
There are four sprues for the various helicopters, both FireScout UVAVs and Seahawk helciopters. There is one clear sprue that contains the windows for the bridge and the helicopter deck observation house.. There are five sprues for parts for the vessel.
The instructions are very well done with 11 pages of very detailed and yet intuitive explanations. There is are two full color color scheme that depict the colors and the locations for the decals, and calls out the specific colors and their numbers for several different paint suppliers. One of these pages if dedicated to the helicopters and the other to the ship itself.
All in all a very good looking, out of the box kit that looks fun to build, with a lot of detail, but straight forward enough for the relative novice who has the right tools and the patience.
Here's how she looks out of the box:
And here are several pictues of the instructions and the paint schemes:
The Build - Main and lower hull, and the main deck- December 13, 2014
I started building the vessel by adding the rear doors to the lauinch deck and the door to the dise launch. I determined to show this vessel all buttoned up excpet for the helicopter hanger which I will show open.
I then painted the upper and lower hulls, and then painted the three secions fot he deck...the landing pad, the hanger deck, and the foreard gun deck.
That was all the time I had for this session. In the next session I will add the water jets to the lower hull. Paint the waterline mark on the lower hull and add it to the main hull. Add the main deck house to the upper hull and then build and add the weapons systems.
The Build - Waterjets, main deck House, Weapon Systems, Sensors, Details- December 15, 2014
I started this session by adding the four waterjets to the lower hull, and then painting the main deck house and the exhaust house, the main mast and the after attachement to the main deck house. I then painted the waterline mark on the lower hull and then added the main deck house and the lower hull to the main hull.
I then built the various weapons systems. The 57m,m main gun, the RAM missile launcher, the two 30mm cannons, and the four .50 cal machine guns and added these to the vessel. I also added some the details to the main mast, the sensors, and various other details like the life rafts.
Then there were some more details to add, indlcuding details on the bridge wings, the exhaust funnels, and others.
This was all for this session, but the vessel is coming together very nicely. In the next session I will complete the deck details and begin adding the photo etch railing and decals.
The Build - Deck details, antennae, decals- December 17, 2014
During this session I did not have time to get to the photo etch railing, but I was able to get to the rest of the ddetails around the decks of the USS Ft. Worth, and also add the decals.
There were numerous pieces of equipment, sensors, and antennae that needed to be added, including trhe life buoys. Tese are relatively small parts on this sized vessel in 1/350 scale so it took some time and care. But they were added:
Once this was completed I was able to add the decals. They were pretty straight forward...adding the pennant numbers to the bow and aft on each side at the end of the flight deck, adding the vessel name to the stern, and then adding the helicopter landing pad markings on the flight deck. These decals, though few in number, do set the vessel off though.
And that was it for this session. The vessel is complete except for the photo etch railing and safety netting around the flight deck...and then the tough up and final dull coats of paint which I will complete in the next session over the next 2-3 days.
Schedule for Future Activities: December 17, 2014
- By Dec 15, 2014, Complete the PLAN JH-7A Flying Leopard in 1/72 scale.
- By Mar 15, 2015, Complete the US Navy Amphibious Ready Group centered on the Gallery USS Iwo Jime, a 2nd LPD, USS Somerset, LPD-25, a CG, a DDG, and another LCS.
- By Mar 16, 2015 Go back and start finishing the rest of the DDG and FFG escorts for each CSG and ARG group.
The completion of the PLAN Carrier group was centered on the already completed Trumpeter's 1/350 scale PLA Navy's Aircraft Carrier CV-16, Liaoning, (in addition to the other escorts already completed) included Mini Hobby's's PLAN Guangzhou, DDG-168. I recently pre-ordered a 1/350 scale model of the PLAN Type 071 LPD, Yuzhao Class, announced by Trumpeter and due out in October, 2013. I will end up adding two of those, propbably LPD-998 Yuzhao and LPD-999, Jinggangshan, add the PLAN- DDG-139, Ningbo, and the PLAN DDG-115, Shenyang, along with the PLAN Weifang, FFG-550 and thus build a PLAN ARG.
The completion of the US Carrier Strike group was centered on the completed Tamyia's 1/350 scale USS Enterprise, CVN-65, (in addition ot the other escorts already completed) included Trumpeter's, USS Freedom, LCS-1, Dragon's USS Preble, DDG-88 and Hobby Boss's USS Texas, SSN-775. When a 1/350 scale USS Enterprise, CVN-80 (or any Gerald R. Ford Class) is released from Trumpeter, Tamiya, Dragon, or whomever else, I will add it to this group along with another AEGIS Cruiser. Whichever Ford Class coms out in 1/350 scale, I will build it as the USS Enterprise, CVN-80.
The US ARG will include Tamiya's 1/350 scale, USS Iowa, BB-62(which I have already completed), Trumpeter's 1/350 scale USS Iwo Jima LHD-7, Gallery's 1/350 scale USS Sommerset, LPD-25, Bronco Models 1/350 Scale USS New York, LPD-21, Cyber Hobby's USS Independence, LCS-2, Acadamy's 1/350 scale USS Rueben James, FFG-57, and another Flight IIA US AEGIS class detroyer based on Trumpeter's 1/350 scale USS Lassen, DDG-82...all of these models which I already own.
The completion of the UK Group featured the Airfix 1/350 scale HMS Illustrious, R06as its centerp[iece until a 1/350 scale Queen Elizabeth carrier is released. When that happens, I will add that carrier to the group as its centerpiece. The Royal Navy CSG will also include two Airfix 1/350 scale Daring Class DDGs (one of which is already completed), two Trumpeter 1/350 scale Type 23 HMS Duke class Frigates (one of which is already completed), and the Hobby Boss 1/350 scale HMS Astute SSN (which is also already completed) and Airfix 1/350 scale HMS Tragalgar SSN. One day, when a 1/350 scale HMS Ocean LPD come out, I will use tt to start building a Royal Navy ARG.
The French CSG is centered on Heller's 1/400 scale Charles De Gualle, R91. I have purchased the 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 D612 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 is released in 1/350 or 1/400 scale, I will add that to the group. Also as soon as the Forbin D620, Horizon class anti-air DDG is released in 1/350 or 1/400 scale, I will purchase two of them and replace the De Grrasse and Duquesne with them, and then save those two for when a Mistral Class LPD is released in 1/350 or 1/400 scale so I can create a French ARG with those vessels.
The completion of the Japanese JMSDF group was centered on Fujimi's very finely detailed, 1/350 scale Hyuga, DDH-181. It will be escorted by Trumpeter's 1/350 scale DDG-177, Atago, an AEGIS class DDG and the JMSDF, DDG-174, Kongo class (which I own), Trumpeters's 1/350 scale DDG-114 Susunami and DDG-111 (both of which are Takinami Class DDGs 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 soon as a DDG-115 Akizuki in 1/350 scale is released, I will add it to this group. Should a 1/350 scale Osumi Class LPD be relased, I will buy two of those vessels and create a JMSDF ARG.
Then, finally it will be a complete Russian CSG (centered on Trumpeter's Kuznetsov which I own) the Russian Kirov Class nuclear battle cruiser (CGN), the Peter the Great, by Trumpeter (which I own), the Russian Slava Class cruiser, Varyag by Trumperter (which I own), two Trumpeter 1/350 scale Udaloy DDGs (which I own), Hobby Boss's Akula II class SSN (which I own), and the new Yasen class Russian SSN (which I own), all in 1/350 scale. Some time in the more distant future when a 1/350 scale Russian version of the French Mistral class comes out (which is building in real life right now), I will add two of those and build a Russian ARG.
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 became 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. I have however purchased a set of 1/400 scale A-4 Skyhawks and S-3 Trackers to build a suitable airwing for the Sao Paulo.
Then, again, once the models are available, I'd like to build an Italian Carrier Strike Group centered on the Cavour and their Horizon DDGs, a Spanish Carrier Strike Group centered on the Juan Carlos and their F-100 AEGIS FFGs, and ultimatly an Australian Strike Group centered on the new Canberra Class LPD and the Hobart class AEGIS DDGs. If they ever build the models, an Indian Carrier Strike 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.
Years more worth of work!
You can see all of these actual carriers, read their histories and specifictions at my site:
WORLD-WIDE AIRCRAFT CARRIERS
You can see most of their escorts at:
AEGIS & AEGIS-LIKE VESSELS OF THE WORLD