By Dave Becker
1/350 USS Houston CA-30 (Blue Water Navy).
USS Houston CA-30 of the old Asiatic Fleet as she appeared shortly before war began. Ship model is in Admiral Hart's Asiatic Fleet version of Measure 1. Colors are Cavite Blue and #5 Navy Light Gray with wood decks remaining natural. Once war began, Admiral Hart ordered all of the ships of the fleet to paint in over all Cavite Blue. The Houston did but it remains a mystery if all the other ships did?
Ship model is the hard to find Blue Water Navy early version of the
USS Houston CA-30. This is their early release with the four
piece hull, current versions have a two piece upper and lower hull.
The model kit was a joy to build. These early releases have very
little excess resin over pour flash. Wish I had this kit when I built
the USS Chester then I
could of copied the spec.'s of the rear mast of the Houston to use on the
Chester. I built the Houston with the kits four 1.1" Quad AA guns
installed. I also scratch built for 3"/50 cal AA guns that I periodically
change with the 1.1"er's. To this day no body knows positively
what anti-aircraft armament the Houston carried into war.
