By Richard Sliwka
1/350 USS Wichita CA-45 (Yankee Model Works)
"This is the Yankee Modelworks (YMW) 1/350 scale kit built to represent
the USS Wichita in its April 1942 configuration. The model was built from-the-box
without any major structural modifications. As my references, I used the
photographs/drawings in Squadron's US Heavy Cruisers in action, Part
2 and Warship Pictorial # 14 U.S.S. Wichita CA-45 as well as the
drawings contained in the kit instructions.
Fitting the two hull halves took a bit of effort and time as the bottom
on my kit was about 1/8" wider than the upper part. Also, some positional
adjustments had to be made to the forward superstructure/bridge area and
wing 5" gun houses. The masts/mast details were scratch-built from brass
tubing/rods/pieces. The prominent forward funnel whistle/horn/vent support
platform was fabricated from various left-over PE parts (Nothing was provided
for this feature in the kit's extensive PE sheet.). Nuttall's 8" brass
barrels and L'Arsenal's 5" brass barrels, 5"38 open mounts, 1.1" quad mounts,
20mm guns, and para-vanes were used. White Ensign Models resin SOC Sea
Gull float planes were also used. Numerous other details--signal lamps,
target designators, searchlight platform supports, support stanchions,
etc.--were scratch-built and added.
The model was painted in the modified Measure 12 camouflage scheme
using the patterns provided in the indicated references with Model Master
and Poly Scale acrylic paints. The SOC's tail "red & white" stripes
were modified YMW's 1/350 aircraft decals.
The "build" took about 275 hours to complete; and, I'm very satisfied
with the results."
