1:350 USS Massachusetts BB-59 (For Trumpeter 05306)

The real subject

USS Massachusetts BB-59 was an American battleship of the South Dakota class from the Second World War. She was deployed in the Atlantic and in the Pacific and, unlike most of her contemporaries, she survived: today she serves as a museum ship. Her broad wooden deck is one of the features that draw the eye most on a model.

What the set offers

This is a deck in wood, shaped for the Trumpeter 05306 kit in 1:350 scale. The grain of the wood is natural, because it is neither overpainted nor imitated with paint, and the seams between the planks read more finely on the finished model than the molded detail of a plastic deck. The parts follow the outlines of one specific kit, so the deck does not have to be laboriously trimmed to the model.

Building tips

First level the surface of the kit, sand it and get rid of the dust, so that the deck sits down along its whole length and does not curl anywhere. Before you start gluing, check in the instructions from the manufacturer whether the part has an adhesive layer or is glued separately, and choose the glue accordingly. Lay the parts out dry first and only then settle them step by step from the center out to the edges. Try any surface treatment on an offcut, as wood soaks differently from plastic.

Who it is for

It suits the modeler who wants to lift a ship model with one striking step without an extensive rebuild. The work is careful rather than complicated, and even a less experienced builder can manage it.

The delivery contains the wooden deck. The kit, paints and glue are not included, unless stated otherwise.