USS New York LPD-21 - 1:700 Hobbyboss

[Paul A H]

USS New York LPD-21

1:700 Hobbyboss

The USS New York is the fifth of the San Antonio class of amphibious transport docks to enter service with the United States Navy. Laid down in September 2004, she was named USS New York in memory of the terrorist attacks on New York's World Trade Centre on 11 September 2001. In deference to this fact, a small amount of steel recovered from the ruins of the World Trade Centre was melted down and used to construct part of her bow. She was commissioned on 7 November 2009, and followed the USS San Antonio, USS New Orleans, USS Mesa Verde and USS Green Bay into service.

The class will be comprised on eleven ships in total. Each has been designed to ferry a landing force of around 700 US Marines into battle, deploying them via landing craft, hovercraft and helicopters. The Wasp Class of ships are also able to deploy assault helicopters, including the AH-1 SeaCobra.. The ships boast state of the art defensive armament, including Rolling Airframe surface-to-air missiles, 30mm Bushmaster II automated cannons and a reduced radar profile. The ship undertook a successful six month deployment to the Persian Gulf last year

Hobbyboss have produced some fine kits of modern US Navy subjects recently, so my hopes are high for this kit. In grand Hobbyboss style, the kit is immaculately packed into a sturdy top-opening box. Each sprue is individually wrapped and delicate parts are protected with extra strips of foam padding. This is superb for those purchasing kits, as it dramatically reduces the chance of broken parts. It's a bit of a pain when you're unpacking the things for review though! My only genuine bugbear concerns the decals, which have the protective paper sellotaped in place. Previous experience suggests that the residue from the sellotape can make it difficult to remove the decals from the backing paper.

The kit is comprised of over 360 parts, including the comprehensive air wing and a natty plastic stand. The plastic parts are spread across 21 separate sprues, as well as a separately moulded hull, upper deck and the aforementioned stand. Also included is a single small fret of photo etched parts. The plastic parts are perfectly moulded and feature plenty of intricate detail. The photo etch parts are also very fine indeed. The hull is moulded in one piece (with the exception of the protruding bow) and, unusually for a Hobbyboss kit, no waterline plate option is included.

The main superstructure is also moulded in one piece. To this large structure you will need to add the smaller details and sub-assemblies. Amongst these is a superb little hangar in which you will be able to fit some of the helicopters. If you don't wish to add this feature, you can just glue the hangar door shut instead. The two distinctive octagonal, pyramid-shaped enclosed mast towers are each made up of two parts, split vertically, plus finishing details.

As the bulk of the ship is now finished, constructions turns to the smaller details such as deck cranes, stairways and the defensive armament systems. Photo etched parts are used to add fine detail where appropriate, such as on the cranes or for parts of the platform which surrounds the flight deck. Once in place, the myriad small details will give what is a relatively clean-looking ship a suitably busy appearance.

Many of the remaining parts are used to build the other vehicles which the USS New York carries into battle. The quantity of mobile military hardware supplied with the kit is very impressive. A pair of Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) are included, as is a single Landing Craft Utility (LCU), a miniature kit in itself. Two AAVP-7 amphibious assault vehicles are also included. The air wing is just as good, if not better. Two MV-22 Ospreys, two CH-53E Sea Stallions, two CH-46 Sea Knights, two AH-1W Supercobras, and two UH-1N Iroquois are all part of the package. All of the aircraft are moulded in clear plastic, which gives you the option to mask the transparent parts if you are masochistically inclined. The aircraft and other vehicles all look excellent and, best of all, all of the helicopters feature folding rotor blades where appropriate a nice touch.

There are three decal sheets in total. The first is for the ship itself (including a lot of decals for the flight deck) while the second is for the aircraft and the LCAC. There is also the aforementioned fret of photo etched brass parts, meaning that this kit really is a complete package.

Conclusion

This is another appetising small scale ship from Hobbyboss. It is a well detailed kit and the variety and quantity of additional vehicles is very welcome. The quality of moulding is superb, as are the photo etched parts. All-in-all this looks like a great package and it can be firmly recommended to all fans of modern US Navy vessels.

Review sample courtesy of