1:700 USS Astoria CA-34 Wooden Deck (Blue) (For Trumpeter 05743)

Blue wooden deck 1:700 for the USS Astoria CA-34 from Artwox Model

This is not a model of the ship but an aftermarket accessory to a kit in 1:700 scale. According to the name the veneer is in the blue finish, that is in a dark shade that on American warships matches painted-over deck planks. The structure of the laying stays apparent, so the surface does not read as one uniform sprayed area. The back is self-adhesive and gluing it on does without glue. The deck is cut for the Trumpeter 05743 kit.

The real subject

The USS Astoria belonged to the American heavy cruisers of the New Orleans class, with nine 203 mm guns in three triple turrets and with aircraft equipment aft, which was standard on prewar American cruisers. The ship was lost in August 1942 in the night action off Savo Island. It is precisely the later, more darkly painted deck finishes that are the reason a dark variant is often chosen on American ships of this period instead of light wood.

Gluing and painting tips

A dark deck takes discreet weathering well, but it rewards restraint. A very fine dry brush in a grayish tone drawn in the direction of the planks proves itself, as it brings out the pattern, together with spot highlighting of service traces around the turrets and the cranes. Heavy washes make no sense, because the contrast is already in the color of the veneer itself. If you are adding photo-etched railings to the model, allow for the order of work: the deck first, then the drilling and gluing of the railings, or you would damage the veneer during handling.

Who the set is for

• Builders of American cruisers from the period of the fighting in the Pacific
• Modelers who want a dark deck without spraying it by hand
• Those who combine a wooden deck with photo-etched railings
• Modelers who prefer discreet weathering to pronounced effects

This is an accessory to a plastic kit. The kit itself, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.