Gold Medal Models

1/350 WW2 USS Gearing For the Dragon kit

Stock Number: 350-49

Reviewed By  Charles Landrum, IPMS# 26328

MSRP: $40 Website: www.goldmm.com On the heels of it USS Buchanan family of kits, Dragon has released a terrific kit of the Gearing Class. The level of detail is even better than the Benson-Gleaves kits. Dragon provides two double relief etched PE fret that provide support structure, ladders, gun details, radar details, anchor chain and PE doors. These details are finer and more extensive than that offered in the Benson-Gleaves but the kit PE is thicker than the aftermarket sets and therefore the smaller parts are more difficult to fold. The modeler will still need an aftermarket detail set for the railings and numerous other details. Fortunately, we did not have to wait long for a dedicated set that provides much finer and more details for such a nice kit.

This release by Gold Medal Models provides not only the basic details like railings and ladders, but also the finer details to make your model a standout. The fret is crammed with details and once again there are some really nice details in different configurations depending on the version the modeler is building. Here is a complete list of the details you will find in this set: Pre-measured life rails. In four styles, with very petite snaking (safety netting to prevent sailors from washing overboard) for the main weather decks. The deck edge railing with the snaking has the chocks etched in with extra pieces to build them into a more 3-D effect . Inclined and vertical ladders. Watertight doors, both open and closed including bridge doors. Gun sights, shields and hand wheels for the 20mm. Gun sights, seats, hand wheels and handrails for the twin and quad 40mm guns. Ammo racks for the 40mm gun splinter shields. Gun sights for the 5in 38 mounts. Torpedo tube director station. Mk.3 and Mk.9 stern depth charge racks and stowage racks. K-gun depth charge storage racks and J-bar davits. Details for the Motor Whaleboats and davits including manropes. Liferaft bottoms, floater net baskets, paddles and life raft racks. Finely etched radar antennas including: SR, SG, SC-4, and the Mk.22 and Mk.12 for the Mk.37 director. Communication and direction finding antennas including: DF loops, TBS, BK and Type A and Type B ECM. Antenna brackets. A highly detailed yardarm and doublers and masthead lights. Mk.51 director towers. Searchlight platform railing. Funnel details including: handrails, footrails, grilles, whistle platform and antenna brackets. Rigging turnbuckles and padeyes. Stokes litters. Anchor chain. Liferings. Capstan handwheels. Spare handwheels. Propeller guards. Signal stands. Jackstaff and flagstaff. Swab rack and extra swabs (mops) and brooms (a nice detail!). This is a very comprehensive set which will fully detail the kit. Some of the details in this set are very small, like the pad eyes and turnbuckles, may tax the patience of those not very experienced working with PE. The swab rack and swabs and brooms are a signature addition by Loren Perry and hearken back to one of his most famous award winning models - USS Vogelgesang - which featured fine details of everyday shipboard life. This latest set from Gold Medal Models is an excellent companion set to a great kit. It will enable the modeler to replicate the prototypically busy and business-like appearance of these workhorses; these ships were crammed with machinery and weaponry. Strongly recommended! I would like to thank Loren Perry for this review sample.