USS Longbeach
JAG Collective - 1/700 resin

By : Frank Berger with imagery by Greg George

CGN9, the USS Longbeach, has long been one of my favourite modern ships. The first nuclear powered surface ship and the first purpose built guided missile cruiser, the Longbeach, with her square bridge and uncluttered deck is the epitome of the post WWII US Navy.

Having decided to take a break from the WWII ships I have been building, the question became, what to build? The answer came at the Warships web site. JAG Collective, a recent entrant to the resin ship fraternity, had announced the release of the Longbeach. Having read the review of the JAG 1/700 Gearing FRAM, I knew this was the kit for me. An order was placed with Pacific Front Hobbies, and even in the midst of their move, my order was promptly processed.

This is actually an "out-of-the-tube" review. JAG Collective uses a unique cardboard tube with plastic end caps to package their kits. My kit arrived unscathed, so they may be on to something. Upon removing the end caps, I found a resin hull, resin bridge, and on several resin runners, directors, guns, ships boats, Talos and Terrier launchers and missiles, ASROC launcher, flag bags, cranes and misc. deck fittings. Photo etch components were contained on two small frets and included safety nets for the heli-deck, structural braces, antenna towers, mast and dipole parts and boat davits. Having read JAG Collective's philosophy on photo etch at the Warship web page, I knew in advance that no railings were included. I do like to use railings on my kits, so I had ordered the GMM Modern USN fret along with the ship. Also included was plastic stock for scratch building various components. There are no white metal parts included, nor decals. A single page instruction sheet rounded out the kit.

The components are cast in a medium gray resin. Overall quality of the resin casting is very good. There are a minimum of air bubbles and the hull is straight and well detailed. The hull appears to be slightly short in length, but right on the money in beam, when compared to published dimensions. My only complaint about the hull is the engraved heli-deck markings. Some of the smaller pieces exhibited a bit of flash. The photo etch parts are acceptable, but I will probably use the safety nets included with the GMM set in lieu of the kit parts.

No decals are included with the kit. Gold Medal Models to the rescue again, with their modern USN markings sheet.

The kit represents CGN9 in her 1964 fit. The instructions do state that conversion to a more modern appearance is easily accomplished using Skywave components and a bit of research. The remainder of the instructions are a bit simplistic. A single exploded view with parts called out in English is the sum of directions. Although stock is provided for masts, no dimensions are given and it is unclear whether the assembly illustration is to scale. The instructions recommend Pollyscale paints and state that vertical surfaces should be painted Light Gray, 5-L and the decks Weather Deck Blue, 20-B. I've not worked with the Pollyscale acrylic paints yet, but I do know that those two colours are US WWII blue-grays, and as such are inappropriate for modern USN ships. There have been several postings on SMML lately regarding painting of modern USN ships and the colours quoted are Fs36270 for vertical surfaces and Fs36008 for decks. Thanks to the guys at Snyder and Short for the timely postings!

Overall, the quality of the kit is very good. Poor instructions, a questionable painting guide and the engraved heli-deck detract from an otherwise excellent kit. This is the first resin kit of a modern ship I've purchased and the first from JAG Collective. Given the overall level of quality, it certainly won't be the last.

Links:

Header photo courtesy of NavSource
Pacific Front
Gold Medal Models
Snyder and Short