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White Ensign Models 1/350 Photo Etch Ship & Air Group Details |
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Reviewed By Tim Reynaga, #26391 |
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New from White Ensign Models of England is a pair of photo etch upgrade sets for Trumpeter’s 1/350 scale U.S.S. Hornet (CV8). As with their previous upgrades for the modern U.S.S. Enterprise, there are two separate sets, one for the ship and a second for the air wing.
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U.S.S. Hornet “The Ship” |
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Click image for full-size photo |
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The first set is for the ship itself. This set has all the basic upgrades you’d need for any ship. Railings, ladders, radars, etc. are beautifully etched in thin brass with the finesse and consistency we’ve come to expect from White Ensign. In addition to the basics, there are also many other details not always found in photo etch sets such as hose reels, chocks, boat details, fire hose racks, etc., all done with remarkable delicacy. Finally, there are those details characteristic of the Hornet and her sisters such as the perforated funnel catwalks, flight deck crane, forward flight deck support girders, and “Prifly” bridge extension. I especially liked the additional details for the 5” guns, which should help the rather weak parts provided by Trumpeter. There are even complete replacements for the awful 1.1” quads in the Trumpeter kit—a most welcome upgrade indeed. With WEMs usual well written and illustrated instructions this set should be no problem to use, provided you aren’t intimidated by the sheer volume of parts! |
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1.1 inch quad antiaircraft guns from “The Ship” Set |
5”/38 single open mounting details from “The Ship” Set |
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The set contains: standard 3 bar railings, close stanchion 3 bar railings, chain link safety railing, 2 bar railings, close stanchion 2 bar railings, motor whale boat rudder & prop, 50' motor launch rudder & prop, 40' motor boat rudder & prop, stern rail for 50' motor launch, rails for 40' motor boat, flight deck gun sponson nets, Mk 4 fire control radar, single 20mm Oerlikon mounting, single .50 cal machine gun, starboard side antennas, foremast top antenna, fittings for 5" 38 single mountings, 10.5mm inclined ladder, crane jib walkway handrail, crane jib, crane jib stay, crane jib stay attachment bracket, crane top platform railing, crane jib stay cable guide, crane hook, quad 1.1 gun barrel set, quad 1.1 gun mounting assembly, forward flight deck support beam, closed fairleads/chocks, hose bundles, bridge platform extension, forward batmans jump net, forward batmans platform, aft batmans platform, aft batmans jump net, perforated searchlight platforms, life raft paddles and retainers, life raft floors, short catwalk inclined ladders, 7mm inclined ladders, discrete deck lighting fixtures, fire hose points, leadsmans platforms, replacement starboard side platform, 8.5mm inclined ladder, stowed accommodation ladders, CXAM radar mounting yoke, CXAM radar screen assembly, horseshoe lifebuoy & rack, open fairleads/chocks, forward catwalk & railings, small hose reels, replacement fantail cable reels, 8mm inclined ladders, stock vertical ladder, 14mm inclined ladders, foretop lower half yards, foretop upper yard & footropes, foretop lower yard & footropes, mainmast lower yard, mainmast upper yard, island aft landing assembly, island aft support brackets, island landing frame & rails, landing lower Inclined ladder, landing upper inclined ladders, funnel upper starboard catwalks, funnel upper port catwalk, funnel cap grills. |
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U.S.S. Hornet "The Air Wing" |
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This second set designed for the Trumpeter Hornet focuses on the air wing. In addition to the aircraft upgrades for the F4Fs, TBFs, TBDs, and B-25s, the set has many useful parts for the ship including flight deck wind breaks and braces, elevator edge retractable rails, forward and aft deck end retractable railing, arrestor wire guides, fork lift truck & driver (4 sets), aircraft tow tractor & driver + assistant (6 sets), aircraft tow bars (7), torpedo/bomb trailers (11), and hand barrow bomb trolleys (14). These parts are all very well rendered in relief etch and will do a lot towards making your Hornet look like a living, working aircraft carrier. |
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It is the aircraft upgrades, though, which make this set special. Provided are two sets each of interior and exterior fittings for F4F Wildcat, SBD Dauntless, TBD Devastator, and B-25 Mitchell. These incredible sets enable you to make the most of Trumpeter’s already excellent aircraft. The exterior parts include such goodies as propellers, wheel struts, doors, tailhooks, and flaps. The dive brakes for the SBD are especially impressive with their dozens of miniscule holes. The cockpit interiors include the floors, bulkheads, seats, even control sticks and hand held machine guns. Amazingly, the consoles even have tiny individual instruments relief etched on them! These simple to assemble interiors actually rival those found in many 1/72 scale aircraft kits. Way cool! |
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The sets can be ordered by mail directly from WEM at: White Ensign Models South Farm, Snitton, Ludlow, SY8 3EZ, United Kingdom or online at: |
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