Hobby Boss USS Kearsarge LHD-3 – Diorama Build Review and Pictures

Hobby Boss USS Kearsarge LHD-3 in the 1/700 scale is a model that certainly offers the builder a challenge. For some time this kit had been sitting there waiting made.

However, each time on opening the box being greeted by a lot of plastic and photoetch it always seemed too much.

The Hobby Boss USS Kearsarge LHD-3 1/700 is an amazing model kit. The price tag may seem quite high but what you get in the box is staggering. If you have tackled the larger-scale version of this ship from Revell then it’s the same, just smaller.

As mentioned there is a combination of plastic and metal parts including safety nets. You also get a full complement of land, sea and air vehicles.

It was the inclusion of so much hardware that determined how this model was going to be built. Placing the USS Kearsarge in seascape was the obvious move.

The model is supplied with the option of a waterline or full hull so a pretty straightforward task.

Hobby Boss USS Kearsarge LHD-3 1/700 Build Process

To avoid feeling overwhelmed by the kit the model was broken down into smaller projects. First up was the deck which was painted with Tamiya paints and numerous decals applied. Once these had dried the deck was weathered using a dark wash. There is a lot of texture on the deck that the wash can pick up.

Attention was then turned to the vehicles. These were built up in a number of sessions. They were then all painted again using Tamiya paints.

Next up was the main island. This was not too difficult to put together. Some areas needed more care than others while there was also an option for using metal or plastic from the communications towers.

Work on the hull then begun. This was more complicated than anticipated. The gangways are photoetch and require bending. Fitting these parts required a lot of patience and took some time. However, once these were on everything else was plain sailing.

With the model built attention moved to the seascape. Using some scrap MDF a rough layout was planned. The base was then sprayed with a range of Tamiya blue paints and the ship attached. Once the Hobby Boss USS Kearsarge LHD-3 was in place all the craft that came with the model were added.

Further additions to the kit came in the form of two submarines and also some 1/700 figures to place on the deck. The texture was added to the base to help create sea effects and the model was complete.

Hobby Boss USS Kearsarge LHD-3 1/700 Conclusion

Hobby Boss has come up with a very good model here. While the price point, around £40, for 1/700 model ship may seem excessive it really does offer good value for money. Furthermore, the inclusion of all the equipment means that everything you need, minus the railing, is in the kit to make a really nice display model.

It may not be the easiest model ship kit on the market but what the Hobby Boss USS Kearsarge LHD-3 does offer the builder is the option to take the project in a number of directions right out of the box.

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Hobby Boss USS Kearsarge LHD-3 1/700 Gallery

Model from Trumpeter. As kits go this is certainly one of the better ones. It has a very good fit. You build it up in modules. It’s a bit of a cross between making ships and tanks, the skirt is solid rubber.

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