by Edward Pinniger
1/80 USCG Cape Gull (Lindberg)
The 95-foot Cape-class cutters were built in the 1950s and served until the 1980s. As built, they were equipped as coastal sub-chasers, with a forward-firing "Mousetrap" ASW weapon and depth charge racks aft.
Lindberg's 1/80 scale "Coast Guard Patrol Boat" is currently out of production, as are most of their ship kits - both good and bad - at the minute. This is a great shame as it is one of their best large-scale ship kits, not to mention the only plastic kit of a post-war USCG cutter. The kit represents a Cape-class cutter in "as built" configuration. The basic shapes of the hull and superstructure look right, and many of the smaller parts, such as the Mousetrap launchers and rockets, are quite finely moulded; with a bit of scratchbuilding work it is a good basis for an excellent model.
I added many additional scratchbuilt and kitbashed detail to my model, including railings, boat davits, mast and radar details, and aerials. The 20mm gun has scratchbuilt shoulder rests, shield details, ammo drums and sight (using a photo-etched ring sight)
The paint scheme on my model is strictly inaccurate, as the Coast Guard "racing stripe" wasn't introduced until the 1960s - by which time the ASW armament had been removed. However, it's so distinctive and striking that I just had to use it! This model definitely stands out on a shelf of grey camouflaged 1/72 MTBs and PT boats.
