by Kym Knight
1/350 USS Oakland CL-95 (Yankee Modelworks)
This build is Yankee Modelwork's kit of CL95 USS Oakland. I constructed this scene after reading some time ago that the Oakland rendered assistance to survivors of CV17 - USS Bunker Hill after being hit by 2 Kamikazes on the 11th of May, 1945.
After doing the bulk of the diorama, I wanted to double-check the date of the incident and then, after reading the DANFS history page, think Oakland's part wasn't as big as I thought. To quote DANFS:
"Two kamikazes plummeted into the flight deck of BUNKER HILL (CV-17), 2000 yards from the cruiser. A trio of life rafts were cut loose from OAKLAND to aid in the rescue of BUNKER HILL survivors sighted ahead."
Well it's too late now, so this scene will have to be a 'what if'.
The YMW's kit is very good with nice detail on the resin pieces (for what the improved Atlanta class had) and goes together quite easily. The instructions are not as bad as some, but a few of the photo's of assembly are too blured to be of much help (photo copies of photo copies). The figures are Pit Roads pre-painted set but re-painted to USN colours. Ships paints from WEM.
