¹⁄350

As a follow on to the earlier news report of Kenny Loup in February 2008 Dragon Models have released some more detailed information on the 1/350 USS Buchanan. As with most of the recent Smart Kits releases this kit will incorporate many innovative features including photoetch, pliant paper fiber for flags and decals representing the deck walkway texture. The most exciting news is that this kit will be released in May 2008. The retail price has yet to be announced.

After a lengthy period of development Dragon Models have finalised their model of the USS Buchanan as it appeared in 1942.

This kitset aims to represent a significant milestone in 1/350 warship kits. Dragon has indicated that its aim with this kit release is to raise and establish the standard for kitset manufacturers in one bold product. Several features of this kit include a one-piece upper hull made from slide moulds, sponsons expertly made with new techniques, and the use of photo-etched components, combined with the features outlined below all go together to indicate the level of new technology involved. There are even some scale figures included. It appears that Dragons aim with this kitset is to combine an unprecedented level of detail with an easy and pleasurable build.


Kit features:

• One piece slide moulded upper hull with undercut details realistically represented
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• Waterline or full hull version can be assembled
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• Sponsons are represented on lower hull by slide mould technology
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• Rudder is movable
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• True to scale ultra thin propellers reproduced
  
• Extra thin shield walls on superstructure reproduced for accurate 1/350 appearance
  
• Extra fine detail on superstructure walls like hose, ladder patterns delicately reproduced
  
• Extremely fine detailed parts like davits for whalers
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• Whalers with photo etched parts finely reproduced
  
• Finest tread pattern ever reproduced
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• Funnels provided with option of moulded on ladders or add on photo etched ladders
  
• 12 inch, 24 inch and 36 inch searchlights provided
  
• 36 inch searchlight platform delicately rendered
  
• Movable structure for 36 inch searchlight with clear parts included
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• Special device included to bend specific photo etched parts to correct angle
  
• Realistically detailed gun barrels are slide moulded with hollow ends
  
• Turret with realistic detail
  
• Optional barrels provided for gun turrets
  
• Upper mount and lower mount 5 inch guns realistically reproduced
  
• Quintuple torpedo launcher in fine detail
  
• 5 inch practice loading machine in great detail
  
• 1.1 inch AA gun reproduced with delicate detail
  
• 20mm AA guns finely reproduced with photo etched shields
  
• Smoke generator with fine detail
  
• Depth charges and K-gun moulded with extra fine detail
  
• Platforms on funnels finely reproduced by photo etched parts
  
• Photo etched propeller guards finely reproduced
  
• Sky-lookout shield finely represented with photo etched parts
  
• Bridge supports finely represented with photo etched parts
  
• Photo etched parts finely reproduced for radar and antennas
  
• Side doors (with optional photo-etched parts) can be assembled open or closed
  
• Six realistic 1/350 scale figures
  
• New Paper materials for pliant and robust stickers for signal flags
  
• New Cartograf decal, including the deck walkway texture
  

Ship History
The USS Buchanan (DD-484) had an illustrious career during World War 2. This Gleaves-class destroyer, named after a Confederate Navy Admiral Franklin Buchanan, was commissioned on March 21, 1942. She served in the Pacific, taking part in such significant battles as Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. This destroyer holds the honour of having transported General MacArthur to and from the USS Missouri to accept the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay on August 30, 1945. As well as this, the ship endured such misfortunes as being hit by friendly fire during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, later running aground at Guadalcanal and colliding with another destroyer during the Battle of Kolombangara. The USS Buchanan received the Presidential Unit Citation and 16 battle stars for her World War 2 service. She was turned over to the Turkish navy on the 28th of April 1949 and served with that Navy until she was retired in 1976.

Original CAD preview of this model can be seen here at Modelwarships.com