by Mike Cavel
1/350 USS San Francisco CA-38 (Trumpeter)
This is the Trumpeter San Francisco with the Gold Medal Models photo etch set, a relatively easy set to use and one which greatly enhances the basic model. I used Floquil paints, the kit decals for the hull numbers, and for the SOC's some aftermarket decals given to me by Carl Musselman, a fellow modeler who also took these photos. I made some smoke generators to replace those in the kit, and made both masts from brass tubing, the yardarms and doublers being provided by GMM. I replaced the 5" gun barrels with 23 gauge needles, and did a little work on the boats hanging by davits in order to use the photo etch pulleys rather than the crude arrangement provided by Trumpeter. The signal flags are from Hawk Graphics and display the San Francisco's radio call sign. Finally, the anchor chain came from some inexpensive jewelry I found at Target.
