USS Detroit CL-8 Omaha Class Light Cruiser Corsair Armada 1:700th Waterline Kit by Jeff Herne

The USS Detroit CL-8 was the 5th ship of the Omaha class of 'Scout Cruisers' ordered in 1916. She was completed too late to see action in WW1, and spent the inter-war years acting as a light cruiser and destroyer division flagship. She was present at Pearl Harbor on December 7th, and survived the attack undamaged. She spent the majority of 1942 escorting convoys between Hawaii and the West Coast. After a brief overhaul, she provided fire support in the Northern Pacific. Detroit received an upgraded AA suite in 1945, and arrived on station at Ulithi in February 1945, and became the flagship for the replenishment group tasked with supplying the fast carrier groups. She participated in the bombardments of Okinawa and Iwo Jima. As a result of these actions, she earned 2 battle stars. She oversaw the supply of the surrender fleet at Tokyo Bay, entering the harbor on September 1, 1945. In October of that year, Detroit took US servicemen home as part of the 'Magic Carpet' Operation. She was decommissioned   January 11, 1946, and sold for shortly thereafter. Detroit earned a total of 6 battle stars for her wartime service.

The Corsair Armada Productions USS Detroit is yet another outstanding kit from this producer. The 1:700th waterline model, an all resin affair, shows Detroit in her 1945 fit when she carried much a enhanced radar and AA fit. As with other Corsair Armada offerings, the uniformly high quality castings are well detailed, and their assembly is well within the capabilities of the less experienced resin modeler.

I found only a solitary air bubble on the upper surface of my kit, and it was easily filled and sanded. The hull is straight and true, and many of the main deck level details are cast integrally, including the midship splinter shields and deckhouses. The portholes, hawsepipes, and anchor chains require no attention, as they are crisp and well detailed. The small parts are basically flash-free, requiring minimal clean up. The only problem I encountered was the loss of some  3"/50cal. gun barrels. These are easily replaced with brass wire or plastic stock.

Small Resin Parts

Hull Casting

The instructions are done on an oversized 17x11, and are both clearly written and easy to follow. They include a parts list, drawings of the individual parts, and profile/plan views to assist in placement. Also included are detailed drawings explaining deck structure assemblies, some of which can be confusing. I especially appreciated the inclusion of assembly tips for making assembly go more smoothly.

If there is a downside to this kit, it is the lack of photoetched brass. Conversations with Mike Czibovic of Corsair Armada revealed that many of his other kits include brass supplied by Tom's Modelworks. But don't fret, because Tom's Modelworks has a set specifically for this kit. Set number 718 includes catapults, searchlight and signal platforms, funnel caps, cranes, and lots of detail parts. Two other requirements are Tom's Modelworks set number 704, 3-bar rails, and 706, US radars. The addition of these 3 sets provides you with all the brass you'll need to complete this model. You should also consider replacing of the 20mm guns with brass parts also available from Tom's.

This is the third Corsair Armada Productions kit I've purchased, and to date no other resin kit manufacturer has so impressed me in overall quality. When one considers the resources of a company like Waveline, Corsair Armada can take justifiable pride that even though they're a small operation, their kits are among the best available. This kit is highly recommended, and I personally will continue to purchase Corsair’s new kits without reservation.

Archival Photos of USS Detroit
USS Richmond			USS Detroit 1944