Reviews

Admiralty Model Works
1/700 USS Worcester Class 1958

Reviewed by Sean Hert

HISTORY

The Worcester class of large light cruisers was designed from the start to field the troubled 6"/47 DP Mk 16 gun. This 6" gun, essentially the same gun as fitted in earlier light cruisers, had improved shell handling characteristics and training rates, making it the first truly dual-purpose gun larger than 5". This led to the General Board designing the Worcesters without a 5" secondary battery.

Finalized by BuShips in 1944, the Worcester design embodied many lessons learned during the war, and was intended as a replacement for the now top heavy Cleveland class cruisers. The new 6"/47 DP was also seen to be an effective weapon against the larger aircraft and new, guided missiles being fielded by the Germans, and in all likelihood, soon by the Japanese. The Worcesters as designed were intended to carry up to 12 quad 40mm Bofors, but there were upgraded to the new 3"/50 automatic gun. Equipped with a hangar and catapult for operating up to 4 seaplanes, no seaplanes were ever carried, and the catapults were soon removed in favor of additional boat storage.

The General Board had recommended at the start that 6-7 of these ships be constructed. This was later lowered to 4, with the other being built as members of the Des Moines class heavy cruiser; the Des Moines having the 8"/55 Mk l6 inspired by the 6"/47 DP Mk 16. Ultimately, only 2 of these light cruisers were completed, CL-144 Worcester and CL-145 Roanoke, with Vallejo CL-146 and Gary CL-147 being cancelled. Both ships were commissioned in 1948, too late to serve in World War 2. The Worcesters had short service lives, from 1948 to 1958. Roanoke served primarily in the Atlantic and Mediterranean, with her last 3 years in the Pacific. Worcester had a slightly more colorful life, earning two battle stars for her Korean War service. Neither ship ever had the chance to really shine, as the age of the all-gun cruiser drew to a close, coming to an ignoble end after only 10 years of service.

Admiralty Model Works has turned their not inconsiderable talents to this pair of cruisers. This latest ship kit, released at the IMPS USA Nationals in 2009, includes the necessary parts and fittings to build either Worcester or Roanoke at the time of their decommissioning in 1958. Packaged in the standard rigid white cardboard box, this waterline kit is cast in a light bluish grey resin, and includes 2 sheets of photoetch, decals, and turned brass barrels for the 6" guns, as well as turned brass masts.

HULL

The waterlined hull is cast as one single piece, with most of the superstructure and deck fittings molded in place, and a slight armor belt showing above the waterline. Packaged well in bubble wrap and a plastic bag, there is an additional styrofoam peanut in place to protect the molded on SEARCHLIGHT amidships! The hull is dead flat, with no hogging or bowing. There is only the most subtlest of resin overpour on the bottom of the hull- so little, I would expect most builders will leave it alone. The hull has an amazing amount of detail molded on- and what details are not already in place, have well thought out locators indicating where further parts and assemblies will go.

The decks have wood planking molded in, bollards and chock and many of the waterproof deck vents. The well done hangar door is appropriately offset from the centerline. The gun and AA director tub walls are somewhat thick, but cleanly done. Every time I look at this hull, I notice more detail; the director towers, the hatches on the 3" ready ammo lockers, the pressure bottles along the bulkheads, the air ducting and ventilation system. When just looking at the pictures, it is easy to forget you are looking at a 1/700 ship, not a 1/350.

This hull measures out to a waterline length of 11.53" long, 11.8" overall with a 1.22" beam. This is about 1% oversize; dimensions should be 11.38"wl, 11.64"oa x 1.21"

RESIN PARTS ONE

The resin parts for this kit are packaged in the usual Admiralty way; parts heat sealed in plastic with blue cartstock stiffeners. Some of the included resin parts are ship specific, namely the single piece bridge and forward funnel, with an after funnel that is common between them. There are distinct differences between the parts; telling the difference should not be difficult.

The level of detail established with the hull continues here. Each of these parts exhibits a fine attention to detail, and the quality of the casting is superb. The funnels are all open on the top, with some simplified baffles cast in place. The funnels also have steam pipes and vents molded on or in, and they are all very well executed.

Worcester Bridge

Roanoke Bridge

Worcester Funnel

Roanoke Funnel

Common Funnel

Twin 3"/50 Platforms

There are six of these platforms on these ships. Each one sports a twin 3"/50 mount; the post-war successor to the ubiquitous wartime 40mm Bofors mount. Each twin 3"/50 was dimensionally equal to a quad 40mm, and as such limited the complications of upgrading to this weapon.

The six platforms are cast together on a single wafer of resin, with an arrow indicating the direction towards the bow. There are three "styles" of platform, one for each side port and starboard. Each platform is unique, and care should be taken on the part of the modeler not to get them confused.

3"/50 Gun Platforms

RESIN PARTS TWO

The remaining resin parts for this kit cover a variety of subjects, from short and tall director towers for the Mk 51's, "open" and "box" style life rafts, searchlights, boats and boat davits. Admiralty has included spare parts for many of the pieces listed.

6. Director Tower for Mk. 51 high
7. Director Tower for Mk. 51 small
8. Tacan Dome - Worcester
9. Deck Vent
10. Small Searchlight x 3 (need 2)
11. Whistle Steam Horn x 2 (need 1)
12. Ship’s Bell x 2 (need 1)

13. Box Life Rafts x 24 (need 18)
14. 3” Practice Loader x 2 (need 1)
15. Crane Base
16. SG-6 Radar - Roanoke
17. SPS – 10 Radar Base - Worcester x 2 (need 1)
21. Large Flag Bags x 2
25. Boat Davits x 4

4. Worcester Bridge Platform
5. Roanoke Bridge Platform
24. Signal Lamps x 12 (need 6)
26. 27 ft. Whaler x 2
27. Motor Boat Open x 2
28. Back 6” Gun Platform

32. Open Life Rafts x 15 (need 6)
37. Director Platform On Gun Structure x 2
38. Fore Mast Platform
39. Main Mast Platform
46. Mk. 56 Director Tower x 2
48. Mk. 37 Director x 4


	Worcester Bridge Platform	Roanoke Bridge Platform

The Worcester class carried two primary weapon types; the dual-purpose 6"/47 and the 3"/50 guns. Six twin 6" turrets were carried, split equally fore and aft. A total of 22 3"/50's were aboard in 1958; 10 twin mounts amidships, and 2 singles on the fantail. All of these are cast per type on a single resin wafer. The 3" guns are cast as a single piece, breech and barrel; look closely and you can see a tiny coiled recoil spring on each resin barrel. Some barrels show some slight bending, but a short application of warm water should help to bend them back to proper shape.

Finishing out the resin are the parts needed to detail the various gun directors. The Mk 56 director in particular is an amazing little part, with great detail.

18. Mk. 51 Director x 12 (need 8)
19. Mk. 13 Radar Antenna x 2
20. Mk. 25 Radar Dish x 5 (need 4)
22. Mk. 56 Director x 4
23. Small Flag Bags x 2 (need 1

PHOTOETCH

Worcester includes 2 sheets of stainless steel, relief-etched photoetch. The first sheet has most of the required photoetch, like radars, railings and the large aircraft handling/boat crane. In addition, there are anchors and anchor chains, hose reels and yardarms as well.

The second sheet consists mainly of parts necessary for backdating Worcester to 1950, including the SP-2 radar and twin 20mm Oerlikons. The bases for the Mk 25 radar, mounted to the Mk 37 gun directors, are also here.

Sheet #1

Sheet #2

TURNED BRASS

3 machined mast parts, as well as 12 turned barrels are included in this kit. All these parts are nicely done, with no machining marks or burrs. The barrels have drilled muzzles and a small mounting post on the breech end, which fits snugly into the corresponding hole on the turret.

6"/47 DP Mk 16 barrels

Masts

DECAL

Some basic decals are included, with hull numbers and the ships' name, plus the usual ensign and jack. There is also a commissioning pennant, and an admiral and vice-admiral flag. Interestingly, the decal set is labelled "Fargo Class Light Cruisers;" perhaps a hint of things to come?

INSTRUCTIONS

A 15 page set of instructions, with CAD drawn steps is included. The first page includes a brief history of Worcester class, and the reverse is the contents list, with line drawings, the stated replacement policy and some general instructions on working with resin ship kits. As is more common today, there is little text to these instructions- and not much is needed. Each step is numbered, with some steps dependant upon the decision to build either Worcester or Roanoke. There is also an included rigging diagram, with pointers for using stretched sprue for the antenna aerials, which is a very nice touch.

The final construction step is actually for modelers who wish to backdate USS Worcester to 1950. Some steps are pointed out, but the modeler is urged to conduct their own research before committing to the build.

Worcester

Roanoke

CONCLUSIONS

This kit from Admiralty Model Works is more impressive than the last. Each new release from them keeps raising the bar for the other resin casters out there. Another home run for the gang at Admiralty; if you like late-war or post-war ships, or just like exquisite ship model kits, you need to pick this one up. Highly recommended!

Worcester has a list price of $120.00 USD, and is available direct from Admiralty Model Works, as well as some of our sponsors. This is a good price for a premium kit of this quality. Thanks to Admiralty for this review sample.