Keith Bender
1/350 USS Kearsarge BB-5 (ISW)
This is a 1/350 ISW kit built for a client. The model comes "as built:" configuration but my client wanted it as she looked during the Great White Fleet cruise. There wasn't too much to mod on this one. However I turned all my own barrels, 5",8" and 13". The mast tops and two of the platforms are also turned. Since Kearsarge had a combination of anchors during her career I used two old stock type and two new stockless type on the bow. There is several photos of her in this get up. The buff was another question. These ships of that era had the paint done several times in different layouts but during the 1907-09 time she wore it like this.
I used Floquil "depot buff" right from the bottle. Testors white and flat red for below the waterline. Floquil "box car red" for all dark wood color and my own blend of deck color. MV Product lenses went in the search lights and I made my own semaphores. The aft deck awning is tissue paper placed over .010 brass wire frame I soldered. All mast and yards are brass and soldered as well.
The hull has been plated using my tape and paint method and the name on the stern is 1/32" dry transfer letters from Scale Scenic's # 575. In all this was a good kit, small and colorful. If I worked on nothing else I could have built this in two weeks. I'll thank Martin Quinn for parting with the kit.
