¹⁄700

USS California

"MSW crew-mate David J. Salvin shares a gallery of images and build details of his USS California, in this Build Story feature!"

Model kit- Midship Models
Scale: 1/700

The Kit:

While I loath to criticize any kit, I really have to say that my particular kit, when you figure in the price, was a complete mess. Starting with the hull...Absolutely no hull detail is included on this kit including portholes. (Drilling portholes is difficult to get right and really no fun in 1/700). No plating details, and just the barest hint of a torpedo blister exists on this kit. The lack of detail goes up through the superstructure and other parts which are devoid of any detail and are all exactly flat...No doors, no details of any sort.

In addition to the lack of detailing, the molding process left a large shelf of resin under each part that involved a great deal of sanding and shaping for each part (some of which was actually thicker than the part itself).

My particular kit was missing both the search light platform and the aircraft frets. After writing several times to the company, I finally got the search light platform, (without the hole drilled in the middle for the cage mast to go through). This required a drill press to drill out with the requisite accuracy. This same process was necessary for the bridge level which the front cage mast went through. Again, a tough operation.

I have no idea if the proportions of the ship are correct, and still think the rear cage mast is too short. The kit came without any provision for the front fighting top machine gun tubs which required scratch building. (for such a major component of this particular ship I though this should be included)

The instructions I received (apparently a beta version) missed several building steps, neglected to mention the placement of several components including the 5" casement guns.

Overall, at every step I felt like I was fighting the model rather than enjoying building it. At a retail price at nearly $100.00, this kit (in comparison to the plastic kits or even other resin kits) was like carving the ship from a bar of soap.

The Build:

I built the model to represent the ship in about 1940-41 (prior to the attack). The sea is done using Liquitex on plexiglass painted underneath. Then using a spoon and sponge to get the ocean detail. The wake and bow wave were added in by mixing the thickest Liquitex with white paint and dabbing it on at the end.

Rigging is stretched sprue. All paints are Tamiya acrylics.