Eduard

1/350 USS Ticonderoga CV-14 Big Ed Set For the Trumpeter kit

Stock Number: BigEd 53-03

Reviewed By  Charles Landrum, IPMS# 26328

MSRP: $53.16 Available directly from Eduard www.eduard.cz or through retail outlets. Trumpeter's series of 1/350 Essex Class Fleet Carriers are well detailed and have proven very popular amongst modelers. Large and complex machines, with a lot of variations between the ships of the class, these vessels are a detail fanatic's dream. As detailed as the kit is, there are many details that can be added or replaced. Whatever your level of interest in detailing, a PE set is a must for this kit. Eduard, better known for its aircraft and armor detail sets, is not really thought of as a manufacturer of PE details for ship models. However, Eduard has stepped up and released several PE sets for Trumpeter's Ticonderoga release. Since their initial release, Eduard has bundled the dedicated PE sets as well as one of flight deck figures into a Big Ed set: · 53030 - the big set with most of the ship details · 53031 - Replacement catwalks and associated railings · 17509 - Color Flight deck figures All with a cost savings of $34.72! Let's look at each set in detail.

Peruse the Instructions

53030 is a large detail set comprised of three large (5 x7) frets of PE. The details are double relief etched into .015 steel. Detail is petite, so much so that I managed to damage some of the railings in just handling the set. Still these railings are comparable to those of other manufacturers. These three sets cover a lot of real estate and include details for: · Railings for lower hull and the island · Vertical and diagonal ladders · Closed and open watertight doors · Replacement lower deck catwalks · Forecastle details:    - Anchor chain    - Stopper padeyes (the first time I have seen these in any set)    - Hawsepipe covers    - Brake / windlass handwheels    - Mooring line reels · Quad 40mm gun details    - Base ring    - Replacement gun platform with railings    - Replacement splinter shield    - Gun carriage details · Replacement 20mm guns with PE tripod stands · Enclosed dual 5 inch 38 details    - Hatches    - Ladders    - Gun port frames    - Range finder details · Open single 5 inch 38 details    - Fuse setter    - Railings    - Gun sights · Boat details    - Decking    - Cockswain railings    - Rudder and tiller    - Securing straps   · Flight deck details    - Arresting wire sheaves    - Barricade stanchions    - Elevator safety lines (raised when the elevator is lowered) · Liferaft flooring · Replacement crane with pulley/hook Replacement deck edge antennas · Deck edge elevator    - Understructure    - Safety nets · Communication/radar antenna platforms · Replacement radar arrays · Stack grilles · Mk 37 Director detail    - Director barbette view slots    - Ladders    - Radar antennas, antenna support stand and bracket · Island details    - Pri-fly booth    - PA system speakers    - Windscreen details    - DF loop · Mast detail    - Replacement platforms    - Support brackets    - Crossmember bracing    - Upper mast radar platforms    - Replacement radar antennas    - Yardarms with pulleys (not open for rigging)

As you can see this is a pretty comprehensive set. It lacks some minor parts like accommodation ladders, boat booms, leadsman platforms, fire stations, life rings or stokes litters. Also absent are any aircraft details and from what I can tell, Eduard does not offer them separately. Still, those are minor issues when compared to the comprehensiveness of this set. Many of the details are one for one replacements for kit parts. However, there are some complex assemblies that will require more care and patience. These include the deck edge elevator, the mast and stack details, and the lattice antenna masts.

Peruse the Instructions

The other set, 53031, provides catwalks and railing and complements well the previous set. While the kit catwalks are adequate they are molded solid, while the real catwalks were perforated to allow the drainage of water. Included in this set: · Perforated catwalks (replace the solid decks in the kit) with integrated handrails · Floater net baskets · A template plate for modifying the flight deck · Hangar side door safety railings · Catwalk ladders · Adds the LSO platform, windbreak and safety netting underneath · Small platforms · Stowed accommodation ladders

This set is well engineered. The railings are etched integral to the catwalks, so it easy to get the proper alignment and straight runs in such a visible area. Folding the floater net baskets will be a project unto itself, since there are so many! The inclusion of a compete LSO platform makes this an even better set. The template for making the flight deck modifications is also a nice touch and provides a nice guide for cutting plastic. The final set, Air Carrier Figures WWII 17509, is one of Eduard's trademark color PE detail sets. It includes 96 1/350 figures pre-painted on both sides with colored jerseys and dungaree pants. The jerseys include: · Red - Ordnance, crash and salvage · Yellow - Aircraft handling officers, catapult and arresting gear officers and plane directors · Green - Catapult and arresting gear crews, air wing maintenance personnel and cargo-handling personnel · Brown - Air wing plane captains and line leading petty officers · Purple - Aviation Fuels · White - Supervisory, safety, medical All of the personnel are enlisted since they have blue dungaree pants painted on. Curiously there are no blue jersey personnel provided (plane handlers, aircraft elevator operators and tractor drivers). The figures are well printed and even include the skull caps! Like most PE figures they will be a little two dimensional when viewed on edge.

All in all this is a huge set that will add immensely to the appearance of the Trumpeter kit. The instructions for the most part clearly indicate in symbols and colors where details go and what action the modeler needs to take to fit the PE detail; Eduard makes the best instructions. This is a very comprehensive set that stands alone on its own and offers details the other manufacturers do not. With the bundle discount it is well worth the price. I would like to thank Eduard for this review sample.

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