Gold Medal Models

1/350 USS San Francisco Detail Set For the Trumpeter kit

Stock Number: 350-44

Reviewed By  Charles Landrum, IPMS# 26328

MSRP: $44.00 Available directly from Gold Medal Models or through retail outlets:    Gold Medal Models, 1412 Fisherman Bay Road, Lopez, WA 98261          website: www.goldmm.com Trumpeter's release in 1/350 of USS San Francisco circa 1942 has generated a lot of excitement both by subject matter and quality. These cruisers played an important role before and during the war and if built waterline offer the potential of a lot of operational vignettes. Modelers are already getting this kit built and onto contest tables or websites. However, like most kits, injection molding only goes so far in replicating fine detail; a nice PE set is needed to fill the void. This latest release by GMM allows the modeler to take the San Francisco kit to the next level of detail and realism.

Double relief etched on a large 7 x 10 sheet of brass, this latest set is dense with detail both in the number of parts and the quality of the double-relief etching. The set is designed to not only replace clunky injection molded components with etched brass and to add missing details like railings, but it also corrects molded errors like the splinter shields for the 5 in 25 cal guns. The details in this set include: Liferails in pre-measured sections upswept bow sections. Set in the lifelines are replacement chocks (open and closed) with additional pieces too triple them up for a more realistic thickness. A lattice searchlight tower. 2 Catapults and surrounding walkways. 2 Catapult shuttles. Details for two SOCs. 2 crane booms with hooks and optional boom vangs for posing at different angles of height. Inclined and vertical ladders. Watertight doors, left and right handed and open doors included. Replacement yardarms with rigging holes etched in. Included are doubler plates for greater thickness and strength. Life raft netting and paddles. Depth charge racks. 5in 25cal details. 1.1 inch quad machine gun details. 20mm gun details. Replacement splinter shields for the 5in 25cal guns. Cable reels. Boat, boat cradles and davit details. Two styles of replacement bridge window frames. Eyebolts for rigging. Funnel cap grilles and funnel catwalks. Two styles of life rings. Leadsman platforms. Accommodation ladder. Transom rails. Hand wheels. Propeller guards. SC, SC-2, SG, SK, SM-1, Mk 3 and Mk 4 radars. I have to say that this is a very complete set and I can think of nothing that really needs to be added. There are some complex build-ups in this set, more so than in past sets - the radars being a good example. While these increase the difficulty, the result is a more realistic antenna structure. This set also requires the modeler to do some scratch building with styrene, for the depth charge rack and the base of the SM-1 radar. I really like the option of the boom vangs, which could make for an interesting in port diorama along with the leadsman platforms and accommodation ladder. Highly recommended. I would like to thank Loren Perry for this review sample.

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