1:700 USS Independence CVL-22 / 1944 (Standard Edition)

1:700 USS Independence CVL-22 1944 (Standard Edition) from Vee Hobby

A plastic kit of the American light aircraft carrier USS Independence (CVL-22) as she appeared in 1944, in 1:700 from Vee Hobby. The main purchasing distinction is the edition: this is Standard, that is injection-molded plastic and decals. The manufacturer has also released the same vessel in the Deluxe edition, which adds photo-etched parts, metal barrels and deck masking stencils to the same plastic; check the exact scope of both editions on the box.

The real subject

The CVL designation means a light aircraft carrier, not a light cruiser: Independence is the lead ship of a whole class of aircraft carriers that came about by converting the hulls of Cleveland-class light cruisers. The keel was laid down in May 1941 as the cruiser USS Amsterdam (CL-59), and the vessel was reclassified as CVL-22 in July 1943. The year 1944 is the appearance in that year, and with Independence that is crucial: over the course of 1944 she became the first American aircraft carrier equipped for night flying and carried a whole night squadron. The converted hulls were narrow and the flight deck short.

Building and painting tips

Try the hull parts dry first; in 1:700 every gap shows on the superstructures. Spray the bottom of the hull and the waterline before you glue on the railings and cranes. Bring out the decks by washing a darker shade into the engraved seams. Join photo-etched railings and ladders with cyanoacrylate glue, and apply the decals onto a gloss base. Add rigging from stretched sprue at the very end.

Who the model is for

• modelers of aircraft carriers looking for a smaller hull than that of the Essex class
• collectors of 1:700 and of American ships of the Second World War
• builders for whom plastic with decals is enough and who add photo-etch themselves

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.