Black Cat Models
1/350 Royal Navy Carley Floats

 

Reviewed by Martin J Quinn
February 2022
Black Cat Models has sent us some additional items to review.  Among the latest to arrive are two sets of Carley floats:
  • AC350100c - Stacked Carley floats No 18 (x4)
  • AC350100e - Stacked Carley floats No 20/18 (x5)

According to Wikipedia, the Carley float was "was a form of invertible liferaft designed by American inventor Horace Carley (1838–1918).[1] Supplied mainly to warships, it saw widespread use in a number of navies during peacetime and both World Wars until superseded by more modern rigid or inflatable designs".  For more on the Carley float, check out the Wikipedia page here, or the Naval Historical Society of Australia page here.


Click to enlarge images
No 18 CARLEY FLOAT
The packaging is the usual plastic clamshell container, with a single print raft containing the 3D printed parts attached to the bottom of the packaging with double sided tape.  

There are four sets of stacked Carley floats in the package.   The floats are of equal size, with nice details, including the wood grating (deck), straps on the sides of the floats and oars printed to the backs of each set.  

 
Click to enlarge images
No 20 CARLEY FLOAT
The packaging is the usual plastic clamshell container, with a single print raft containing the 3D printed parts attached to the bottom of the packaging with double sided tape.  

There are five sets of stacked Carley floats in the package.   There are two sizes of floats in each set, one nested inside the other.  As with the previous set above, the details are very nice, especially the gratings (deck) inside the floats. 

INSTRUCTIONS
There are no instructions in the box, but the packing directs you to the Black Cat Models website.   There, on a data page for the particular item, you will find a PDF on how to remove the printed supports that are part of the 3D printing process.

CONCLUSIONS
With the explosion of Royal Navy subjects released in plastic, this terrific accessory from Black Cat should modelers to really dress up their Royal Navy model ships.  You'll have to do some research to find which size - Black Cat makes a total of 9 different Carley float sets at this time - fits the model you are working on.

There are Black Cat Models sets

They each retail for about $7.50 USD, and are available directly from Black Cat Models,  who I'd like to thank for this review sample, or from some of our other fine sponsors.   Highly recommended!


 
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