Revell 1/700 Wasp Class Assault Carrier
Jun 30, 2024 17:41:52 GMT
Paul B, nito74, and 2 more like this
Post by alexb on Jun 30, 2024 17:41:52 GMT
A bit lengthy on the intro...but the truth is I really didn't know much about this vessel. For what they are, it surprised me the relative low profile they have compared to the CVs.
I'll be building Revell's US Navy WASP Class Assault Carrier in 1/700 scale (05178). It's also offered in 1/350 scale but I typically don't do ships so...price. This one was $25 usd. Hobby Boss makes a Wasp in 1/700 scale for about twice that and it apparently is crammed with all manner of goodies. And of course Trumpeter offers a 1/350 scale kit but it's almost $200 usd.
So what is the LHD Carriers? These are specifically designed as amphibious landing carriers. They can host a variety of USMC aircraft, landing craft, and helicopters. They carry a crew of around 1,000 and carry between 1,200 to 2,400 US Marines, depending on mission. Its airwing is configured to support any landings and provide air support.
The LHDs displace around 41,000 tons, have a length of 843 ft (257 m), beam of 104 ft (31.8 m), and a draft of 27 ft (8.1 m). It's conventionally powered, giving it a speed of 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph)and a range of 9,500 nautical miles (17,600 km; 10,900 mi) at 18 kn (33 km/h; 21 mph)
The US constructed eight of these, in the mid to late 80s; Wasp (LHD-1), Essex (LHD-2), Kearsarge (LHD-3), Boxer (LHD-4), Bataan (LHD-5), Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6), Iwo Jima (LHD-7), and Makin Island (LHD-8). The Bonhomme Richard was retired and sold for scrap following its infamous fire due to repair costs. The LHDs are based out of Norfolk, Va and San Diego, Ca.
So I went with this by chance. I was looking up kits for the Insect GB and this and up came the USS Wasp (CV-7) from the WW2. I saw the LHD Wasp kit and liked that one's price so I went with it. I've built ships when I was little. And I had some of Revell's 1/500-and-something scale aircraft carrier kits from the 80/90s. I gave them to a coworker when I got out of the hobby back in the late 90s.
The Revell kit offers markings for four different Wasp Class Assault Carriers; Wasp, Essex, Kearsarge, Boxer. It comes with eight Harriers, three Sikorsky helicopters, three Ospreys, and eight (what are supposed to be some sort of) landing vessels. The landing boats look like game pieces from the game Battleship. It is a waterline kit. The instructions have an example diorama with the landing boats deploying.
The kit is molded in grey stryene. It has the expected one-piece open end box that I hate. The packing is sparse with two sprues slammed in bags, with the hull sprue left bare. One of the hull halves was detached from the sprue.
Trumpeter offers 1/700 aircraft and landing craft that should work. I'll wait until I finish this build before adding all that. I want to look into them more. I am favoring having more Cobra gunships and replace the Harriers with F35s. The Revell kit was originally released in 2001 with three subsequent re-issues with new decals. They never updated the airwing or added the aircushion landing craft.
There's not alot to the kit. I don't expect it to be a huge build. It's pretty basic. The trick is the paint work. I'll take my time with this one. It's been a bit since I built a ship kit. And I'm not sure if it's something I want to get into...though I wouldn't mind doing a WW1/2 destroyer and maybe something from the age of sail. It'll be something different.
I'll be building Revell's US Navy WASP Class Assault Carrier in 1/700 scale (05178). It's also offered in 1/350 scale but I typically don't do ships so...price. This one was $25 usd. Hobby Boss makes a Wasp in 1/700 scale for about twice that and it apparently is crammed with all manner of goodies. And of course Trumpeter offers a 1/350 scale kit but it's almost $200 usd.
So what is the LHD Carriers? These are specifically designed as amphibious landing carriers. They can host a variety of USMC aircraft, landing craft, and helicopters. They carry a crew of around 1,000 and carry between 1,200 to 2,400 US Marines, depending on mission. Its airwing is configured to support any landings and provide air support.
The LHDs displace around 41,000 tons, have a length of 843 ft (257 m), beam of 104 ft (31.8 m), and a draft of 27 ft (8.1 m). It's conventionally powered, giving it a speed of 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph)and a range of 9,500 nautical miles (17,600 km; 10,900 mi) at 18 kn (33 km/h; 21 mph)
The US constructed eight of these, in the mid to late 80s; Wasp (LHD-1), Essex (LHD-2), Kearsarge (LHD-3), Boxer (LHD-4), Bataan (LHD-5), Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6), Iwo Jima (LHD-7), and Makin Island (LHD-8). The Bonhomme Richard was retired and sold for scrap following its infamous fire due to repair costs. The LHDs are based out of Norfolk, Va and San Diego, Ca.
So I went with this by chance. I was looking up kits for the Insect GB and this and up came the USS Wasp (CV-7) from the WW2. I saw the LHD Wasp kit and liked that one's price so I went with it. I've built ships when I was little. And I had some of Revell's 1/500-and-something scale aircraft carrier kits from the 80/90s. I gave them to a coworker when I got out of the hobby back in the late 90s.
The Revell kit offers markings for four different Wasp Class Assault Carriers; Wasp, Essex, Kearsarge, Boxer. It comes with eight Harriers, three Sikorsky helicopters, three Ospreys, and eight (what are supposed to be some sort of) landing vessels. The landing boats look like game pieces from the game Battleship. It is a waterline kit. The instructions have an example diorama with the landing boats deploying.
The kit is molded in grey stryene. It has the expected one-piece open end box that I hate. The packing is sparse with two sprues slammed in bags, with the hull sprue left bare. One of the hull halves was detached from the sprue.
Trumpeter offers 1/700 aircraft and landing craft that should work. I'll wait until I finish this build before adding all that. I want to look into them more. I am favoring having more Cobra gunships and replace the Harriers with F35s. The Revell kit was originally released in 2001 with three subsequent re-issues with new decals. They never updated the airwing or added the aircushion landing craft.
There's not alot to the kit. I don't expect it to be a huge build. It's pretty basic. The trick is the paint work. I'll take my time with this one. It's been a bit since I built a ship kit. And I'm not sure if it's something I want to get into...though I wouldn't mind doing a WW1/2 destroyer and maybe something from the age of sail. It'll be something different.
I'll probably get started in a few days. I don't see myself busting it out in a few days. I'm currently working on 1/24 figures.