| Gold Medal Model | |
| 1/350 World War II Liberty Ship Photo Etch Detail Set | |
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kit number 350-31 |
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Reviewed By Charles Landrum, #26328 |
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MSRP: $36.00 USD
Review copy provided by Gold Medal Models 1412 Fisherman Bay Road Lopez, WA 98261 USA I would like to thank Loren Perry for this review sample. More than in any other type of modeling, photo-etched brass has become an indispensable accessory to the ship modeler. It is now hard to imagine trying to build a realistic ship model with out the fine detail of railings, ladders and radars (plus many other fittings) that PE offers. Fortunately, ship modelers have enjoyed the benefit of PE accessories for the last 20 years and it all started with Loren Perry and Gold Medal Models. Judging by this set, he has not been resting on his laurels. The unglamorous workhorses of the war, the Liberty Ships ferried the material that led to victory in multiple theaters. These were busy ships, but they bristled not with the weaponry of war but with the tools of the stevedore’s trade: derricks, booms, sheaves (pulleys), cables and hooks. Trumpeter has well captured the lines of these functional ships. But even with 268 parts, the kit still needs a lot of extra detail to really capture the industrial feel of these ships. Nor were any two Liberty Ships alike, they were as distinct as the merchant sailors that crewed them. Loren Perry, in this set has captured numerous details of these less than glamorous vessels. There is a lot of detail packed into the 10 x 5.5 inch sheet and you will not need another detail set to finish the detail work, it is all here. Unlike previous GMM offerings this one is done in a heavier gauge of brass which allows deeper detail in double relief etching. What GMM has done is to replicate prototype details from the two Liberty Ships that are museums, JOHN W. BROWN and JEREMIAH O’BRIAN. It will be hard to cover the all of the details without rambling but I will try. There are the standard parts we come to expect in a detail set: railings, ladders (vertical and horizontal), doors, hatches and details for the guns. But there is a lot more detail than is standard. For instance boat details are included for not only life rails and rudders, but also oars, very tiny propellers and sagging manropes for the davit. A real treat is the open bridge assembly that replaces part B26. It comes with grating for the deck, stanchions and life rails, an awning, and a complete set of ship controls including the wheel, binnacle and engine order telegraph. All this in a space 5/16ths of an inch square! Other details provided in this set include: |
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If you are so inclined, the small eyebolts and turnbuckles have small eye through which you can pass rigging! I would be spare
with the superglue in this case. But in addition to providing a wealth of details in many cases you get duplicate parts in
differing styles depending on which ship you want to model. Which brings up a point of concern in many detail sets – “Where
does all this detail go?” What I like about the GMM detail sets is the fact that the parts are clearly marked and the instructions are thorough. But Loren has taken it to a new level with this set. Not only are the parts marked but also they are marked with the noun names of the components. So like the model instructions of yesteryear, you actually learn what component you are adding. The instructions are well illustrated and provide pretty clear guidance for assembly and location. There is both an overhead and plan view drawing of the ship showing the location of many of the smaller components. Many components are illustrated in explode views that more precisely locates the parts. The instructions are clear to also call out which parts are relevant to which museum ship. There are even general assembly instructions, if you have limited experience with photo etch details. The other advantage to the GMM details is that they are easily removed, easily folded and hold up to more ham-handedness than other sets (despite their petite detail). Like with any minute detail, I would be patient, be sparing of the CA and work in an area where parts that mysteriously fly off the tweezers can be easily found. |
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| Try as I did, I could find no fault with this set. Overall, it is a good value for $36. You get a wealth of detail and comprehensive instructions; a set perfect for the novice or old China hand alike, neither will be disappointed. In fact even if you don’t have a Liberty Ship to build it might be worth getting this set for the details that would be at home on many warship models. If you were thinking of building the Trumpeter Liberty Ship don’t think twice about picking up this set. Strongly recommended. | |
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