USS Enterprise sets
White Ensign Models 1/350

By: Tim Reynaga

White Ensign Models of England has recently released a pair of photoetch upgrade sets for Tamiya's classic 1/350 scale USS Enterprise CVN-65. There are two sets, one for the ship and a second for the airwing.
The first set is for the ship itself, and it is awesome. The parts are flawlessly etched in a single 11 ¼ inch by 7 11/16 inch brass fret, providing over 300 separate parts to really dress up your Enterprise. The set is very comprehensive, and the etching is some of the nicest I've seen. I especially liked the relief-etched safety nets, delicate radars and numerous hose reels. The illustrated 5 page instruction leaves no mysteries, and the assemblies are intelligently designed, straightforward builds.
The set includes: 3 bar guard rails (standard), 3 bar guard rails (close stanchioned), 2 bar guard rails, bar guard rails (close stanchioned), elevator safety rail safety net (deck angle front), safety net (bow corners), safety net (bow center), safety net (elevator edges), safety net (roundown), safety net (port fwd phalanx), safety net (port bow catcher), safety net (stbd bow catcher), folding side antenna handles, 4 point aerial spreaders, 3 point aerial spreaders, side sensor deck grid, SPS 10 radar antenna assembly, SPS 49 mounting safety nets, mast lower yardarms assembly, wind direction vanes, mast upper yardarms assembly, SPS 49 radar antenna screen, SPS 49 radar antenna assembly, SPS 49 radar screen backing, frames, safety net small deck angle, SPS 48 radar antenna screen assembly, SPS 48 radar screen support braces, approach radar scanner center probe, island starboard director platform supports, island port director platform supports, island starboard upper sensor platform braces, aft SPN 41 platform supports, island vertical ladders and cages, cone antenna (upper yardarm starboard), island forward aerial spreader, island aft aerial spreader assembly, mast approach radar platform assembly, mast sensor platform assembly, long inclined ladders, short inclined ladders (starboard fitting), cable and hose reel assemblies, boat falls, island VHF antenna, DF antenna, short inclined ladders (port fitting), stock inclined ladder, stock vertical ladder, island pole antenna, arrestor wire guides, accommodation ladders, island munted hose reels, catapult operators deck hatches, WT doors with handwheel, standard WT doors, quick acting WT doors, inner side WT doors.

USS Enterprise "The Airwing"

A completed forklift from the WEM 1/350 USS Enterprise "Airwing" set perched on a US dime

This set is also relief etched in brass. It contains detail parts for the following aircraft: F14 Tomcat, F/A18 Hornet, A6 Intruder/Prowler, A7 Corsair (8 sets each), S3 Viking (four sets), E2C Hawkeye (two sets), and one each SH 3 Sea King spread rotor, folded rotor, tail rotor and cargo door. In addition WEM provides nine startcart hoses, eight sidewinder missile trolleys, seven aircraft towing frames, six high capacity aircraft jacks, six flatbed trailers, five forklifts, five fluid replenishment trolley carts, and even a finely etched flight deck crash barricade.
Tamiya's 1/350 scale Enterprise was arguably one of the finest model kits ever produced when it first appeared in the late 1970's. It remains today an impressive model, and these magnificent upgrade parts are just what you need to bring the old girl into the Twenty First Century.
The sets can be had directly from WEM at White Ensign Models, South Farm, Snitton, Ludlow, SY8 3EZ, U.K. or ordered online at their website

Thanks to White Ensign Models for the review samples.

Copyright © SMML 2003