| The 1/350
Trumpeter Essex class kit was a big hit when released. But like many
such kits, they are soft on the details, and can not be built accurately
out of the box. The fact that you reading this means you are probably not
content to build out of the box anymore. Enter Pontos Models of Korea with
yet another "Detail Up" set. This one includes all the photo etch, CNC
turned parts, resin upgrades and a nice wood deck that you could ever imagine.
This one is designed for the USS Yorktown CV-10 in 1944, but there are
other sets that take care of the other variations of Essex Class carriers
of WW2. |
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| WOOD FLIGHT DECK |
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| This set features a blue stained wood deck with realistic
wood planking to overlay on top of the kit flight deck. This deck is really
thin and doesn't have an oversize wood grain that you sometimes get with
early wood deck sets. |
click images
to enlarge
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| PHOTOETCH |
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| FRET 1 |
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| The first fret has the elevator frames to go around the elevator cutouts
in the deck. The arresting gear hardware and tie down strips will make
that wood deck stand out. Many of the parts are relief etched for added
detail. |
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| FRET 2 |
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| This fret includes most of the island, and mast details. Radar, yardarm,
and various antenna details are nicely etched in brass. New funnel and
mast platforms are provided. Some have the railings already attached to
simplify the assembly. The deck side elevator frames and some of the under
deck bracing is on this fret as well. |
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| FRET 3 |
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| The aircraft crane and antenna towers are the main parts on this fret.
Many more details are included such as ladders, additional platforms and
the entire lower island platform. |
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| FRET 4 |
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| This fret provides the bulk of the details for the quad 40 mm mounts.
Ammo clips are provided to detail out those gun tubs. Sights, shields,
and railings are among those extra details. |
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| FRET 5 |
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| New walls and platforms for the bow and stern area under the flight
deck. New platforms and bracing make up for the plastic kits total lack
of accurate detail. |
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| FRET 6 |
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| Another shortcoming of the plastic kit is the walls along the flight
deck. The platforms are are also included with realistic tread and attached
railing. |
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| FRET 7 |
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| A new flight deck underside is included with etched lines to help locate
the intricate support structure. This should help make this tedious part
of the assembly more bearable. The photo below
shows the effect of this treatment. |
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| FRET 8 |
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| On this fret are the many floater net baskets and 20 mm gun details.
These will keep you busy for a while. |
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| FRET 9 |
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| Aircraft details such as landing gear, propellers and flaps will really
make them stand out. |
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| FRET 10 |
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| More platforms, railings, and doors and hatches are included on this
fret. |
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| METAL BARRELS AND DETAILS |
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The CNC machined parts are the most amazing. They include 20 mm gun pedestals
and guns, 5" and 40 mm gun barrels, and even a scale size bell and clapper!
The mast parts are also turned as are the radar assembly base. These parts
are simply amazing and really require a good magnifying glass to truly
appreciate! |
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| RESIN PARTS |
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| For the resin parts Pontos goes with the well detailed Veteran Models
weapons. Five inch twin mounts with separate blast bags, gun captain hoods,
and barrel mounts for mounts without the blast bags. |
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| Five inch open mounts are also included and these have
some fantastic detailing with intricate yoke, barrel assembly, and even
fuse setters. The quad 40 mm mounts are very intricate as well. the base
and yokes are a single part simplifying the assembly. Shell extraction
chutes are separate parts. Finally the Mk-51 directors are
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| DECALS |
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| Pontos supplies dry transfers for some of the markings.
Masks with self adhesive backing is provided to allow you to accurately
paint your deck. Sharp aircraft markings are printed by Cartograph and
include the roundels, squadron marking and numbers for the Yorktown in
1944. |
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| INSTRUCTIONS |
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The instructions are several pages many with captioned
color photos. Deck and aircraft marking are shown. The assemblies are well
documented and if you find some info missing, you can always ask on the
forum where Kim of Pontos models regularly posts.
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| BUILDUP PHOTOS FROM THE MANUFACTURER |
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| The following photos from Pontos show the finished kit
and some subassemblies in their natural brass color showing what your kit
can look like.
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| CONCLUSIONS |
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This new set from Pontos, is a work of art. It is not for the faint
of heart as there are a multitude of small delicate parts. but if your
the type of modeler that likes a large parts count and is not intimidated
by fine details, your going to love this set. It has literally everything
you could possibly want in an Essex class upgrade set and it not only upgrades
the kit, it makes it more accurate.
This is set #35004F1
1/350 USS CV-10 Yorktown 1944 Detail Up Set retailing for about $199.95
US on Free Time Hobbies site. This may seem pricey, but it includes
a ton of high quality parts. Check the Pontos
website for more information or inquire
on the forum about the set. |
