USS Nashville Model Ships
(CL 43)
Brooklyn Class Light Cruiser
Iron Shipwright 1:350 Scale Kit

Preview by
Rob Mackie
www.warship.simplenet.com

The USS Nashville saw extensive action in the Pacific Theatre, earning more battle stars than any other Brooklyn class cruiser. In December 1944 she was hit by a kamikaze while en route to Mindoro in the Philippines. Seriously damaged and with 310 men dead or wounded, she was knocked out of the war until April '45, when she returned to action in the Philippines. The Nashville was sold to Chile in 1951. Renamed Capitan Prat, she served in the Chilean Navy until her 1984 decommissioning.

The Iron Shipwright kit depicts Nashville as she appeared 1944-45. Like all front line US cruisers, her AA fit was augmented throughout the war. By 1945 she had twenty-eight 40mm (4x4, 6x2) and nine twin 20mm. Paint schemes during this period included the splinter scheme shown above and the late war measure 12.

I find Brooklyn class cruisers sleek and uncluttered, even in their late war fit. Perhaps it's the lengthy forecastle,uncluttered quarterdeck or the evenly spaced funnels, but somehow this design works for me. The Iron Shipwright kit is an all resin affair. There is no white metal. A customized etched brass fret is included, as well as the brass rod needed to fabricate the masts. Jon Warneke
fabricated the master pattern and provided production assistance. The full hull kit will be available late May at a suggested retail price of $220. I will add the instructions and etched brass artwork to this preview when they become available. This kit includes decals for all of the ships.