1:700 USS Lassen DDG-82

USS Lassen DDG-82 in 1:700 scale from Hobby Boss

An injection-molded plastic kit of a modern American guided missile destroyer in 1:700 scale. Hobby Boss builds this range on multi-directionally split molds of the upper hull, so the outlines of the superstructures and the angular shapes of the ship come out cleanly. The kit offers a full-hull as well as a waterline version, and two SH-60B shipboard helicopters are in the box.

The real subject

USS Lassen is an Arleigh Burke class destroyer, specifically of the later Flight IIA subversion, which can be recognized by the pair of helicopter hangars at the stern. The ship was built at the yard in Pascagoula, was launched in 1999 and entered service in 2001. She spent much of her career as part of the American forces permanently based in Japan, and in 2015 she made the news with a passage near the disputed features in the South China Sea. The combat value of the class is set by the Aegis system, the Mk 41 vertical launching cells and the Mk 45 gun on the bow.

Building and painting tips

Decide beforehand between a full-hull model on a stand and a waterline form. Modern American ships have a very uniform finish, which is why the shades matter so much: the main hull and the superstructures in gray, the deck a little darker. Bring out the difference between the flight deck and the rest of the ship with masking, not with a freehand brush. Leave the antennas, masts and fine booms to the end of the build.

Who the model is for

• Collectors of the modern American war fleet
• Modelers who collect the whole family of Arleigh Burke destroyers
• Anyone interested in a smaller model that will not take up half the display case
• Builders of waterline dioramas with a sea surface

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.