1:700 USS Oakland CL-95 (Deluxe Edition)

USS Oakland CL-95 in 1:700 scale, Vee Hobby, Deluxe edition

An injection-molded plastic kit of the light cruiser Oakland. The main purchasing distinction is the level of the edition: this is the Deluxe edition, that is the middle of three levels. The manufacturer keeps this line in three levels: Standard builds on plastic and decals, Deluxe adds detailing extras and Platinum is the highest level. The extent differs between individual vessels, so check the contents on the packaging. The manufacturer also releases the same ship in the Standard version. The designation CL-95 belongs to a light cruiser, not to a battleship.

The real subject

The Oakland was a modified unit of the Atlanta class and the first of the four ships that are sometimes listed as a separate Oakland class. She was an anti-aircraft cruiser: the main armament consisted of sixteen barrels of 127 mm caliber, complemented by a quantity of automatic cannon of 40 and 20 mm caliber. Against the Atlanta class she lost a pair of wing turrets, which improved stability. She entered service in 1943 and went through the battle for Leyte and the closing attacks on the Japanese home islands. The cruiser earned nine battle honors.

Building and painting tips

Decide between the full hull and the waterline, as the choice of stand depends on that too. The dense anti-aircraft armament is the main surface of detail, so paint it on the sprue and fit it only at the end. Glue the photo-etched railings after painting and join the metal parts with cyanoacrylate. Paint the decks separately from the hull and mask the camouflage transitions.

Who the model is for

• Collectors of American cruisers in 1:700 scale
• Modelers who want detailing parts already in the package
• Those interested in anti-aircraft cruisers of the Second World War
• More advanced builders with experience of photo-etch

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