Trumpeter 1/700 USS Saratoga CV-3
|
 |
History
The history of the USS Saratoga (CV-3) the second of the two Lexington
class carriers was covered extensively several months ago, (October
2006), with the release of Trumpeter's 1/350th scale pre WWII version
of this ship. Some of the highlights of that review were that the Saratoga
was originally designed as a World War I battle cruiser. However, the
rising need for naval airpower made it apparent to navy planners that
her usage as a carrier was more critical. This decision was made easier
as a result of the terms of the Washington Naval Treaty which had eliminated
the construction of post WWI battle cruisers anyway. Considering construction
of the US battle cruisers, which were in large part based on designs borrowed
from the British battle cruiser HMS Hood, had already begun, the shift
from battle cruiser to aircraft carrier became academic.
 Although
Saratoga’s keels had been laid down in September of 1920 she wasn’t
launched until almost five years later in April of 1925. The Saratoga
was eventually commissioned in Nov.1927 and served with distinction in
both the pre WWII years and through out the war itself. During WWII she
was torpedoed by a Japanese sub in early 1942 and as a result was returned
to the West Coast for repairs and refit. From then on she participated
in one way or another in many of the great Pacific battles including Guadalcanal,
Rabaul, Tarawa, the Marshall Islands, Iwo Jima, and raids on the Japanese
Home Islands.
 The
Saratoga survived WWII despite suffering bomb damage off Iwo Jima. The
end of her service life was probably nobler than many of her younger sisters
that ended up eventually as scrap. Saratoga’s final mission was
for the purpose of military science when, in 1946, she became a target
ship for the atomic bomb test at Bikini atoll. Although she did survive
the blast she was eventually sunk by naval gun fire because of extreme
radioactive contamination.
The Kit
 New
from Trumpeter is their 1/700th scale version of the USS Saratoga (CV-3).
The kit is of the Lexington class of carrier as it was originally built
and appeared in the late 1920s and through out the 1930s.
The kit is typical for Trumpeter in that it can be built as either a
full hull or waterline model. Of course the kit includes the, now standard,
clear dark blue simulated ocean base for the waterline configuration and
the black base for full hull display. The model consists of five larger
section that make up the choices of the hull configuration and five styrene
trees that contain the many details including the island, deck guns, elevators,
ships boats, etc. All are cast in medium gray plastic with the exception
of the lower hull which is dark red.
 Although
the kit doesn’t have a fully detailed hanger deck it does provide
for the aircraft elevators to be in either the lowered position or flush
with the flight deck. The instructions are very clear and easy to follow.
Likewise construction of the kit looks to be very straight forward. However
many of the details parts look to be both very delicate and minuscule
so care and patience in handling and assembly is a must.
 The
aircraft provided with the kit include nine each of a Grumman F-3F fighter,
a Vought SBU dive bomber, a Curtiss BFC fighter, and six each of a Martin/Great
Lakes TG-2 torpedo bomber. These aircraft are all cast in clear plastic
including the various props for each aircraft.
Markings
 The
kit decals are very complete, providing for both the ship itself, including
the detailed deck markings, as well as her complement of aircraft with
their individual squadron colors. Typically Trumpeter decals are of good
quality and registration, and with a little care in application have little
if any tendency to silver.
Conclusion
Those ship modelers who build 1/700th scale should be very satisfied
with this kit of the USS Saratoga (CV-3). From a first look perspective
Trumpeter seems to have done an excellent job on this 1930s vintage US
Navy carrier classic. My thanks to Stevens
International for the review sample.
|
|
