USS Admirable Class Minesweepers
Loose Cannon Productions - 1/700
By: Brad Barker
I would Like to share some good news with my fellow ship modelers. I have just
received two new pre-productions 1/700 kits that Loose Cannon Productions have
in the works and was asked to review them.
First let me say that these are not kits they are a set of kits. The first set
are of the Admirable class minesweepers and the different versions that were born
of this class. In the set you get four different ships. There appears to be one
minesweeper, one PCE, one PCE(C) and a PCR(R). As with all of LCP's kits they
are on scale. The versions that I have are cast in a light gray resin and have
very little flash to clean up. Each individual ship comes complete with guns,life
rafts.masts and a boat etc. The superstructure comes in three levels and the hull
is nicely done with the appropriate deck detail such as gun tubs,depth charge
racks etc.
I for one am impressed with the funnel. On the real ships the funnel has a notch
to stow the boat boom. On the kit version this is included. Some kits don't add
the little things that stand out on a particular class so for me it is nice to
see things like this. Also some of these ships did not have a funnel they carried
a smoke pipe. This too is represented on two of the hulls in the set. I have not
built these ships yet but dry fitting the parts shows a nice fit. The sets also
come with a photo-etch sprue with enough parts to complete all four ships. At
this time though all I have is a photo copy of the sprue. When the set was sent
to me the PE was not ready nor were the instruction sheets. But from what I see
of the PE set it is the same great quality that LCP has always given us.
Again Loose Cannon has come through. Their usual quality is present and David
Angelo is not afraid to tackle unusual subjects for his kits. Even though the
queens of the seas are important I find it refreshing to get the little guys too.
For me this set fills another gap in my collection. Without the tenders and tugs
and patrol ships the fleet could find themselves stretched thin. This is a set
that everyone should add to their collection. I say well done LCP.
From the information given to me these ships should be available after July 1st,
2001. They will also be available from Pacific Front Hobbies for $39.00. Just
remember that if its new Pacific Front Hobbies will have it.