More detail please! It’s the cry of many a model fan, and it’s fair to say that over the years the manufacturers have done us proud, regularly achieving levels of quality that were unheard of in times past. And Dragon’s 1:700 scale USS Hancock aircraft carrier is a case in point - it’s packed with useful innovations that allow the keen builder to produce a model with that ‘little bit extra’.
For a start, the 387 mm (15.2 in) long USS Hancock can be built as a waterline or full-hull vessel, making it equally usable as a diorama or display piece. Many fine details have been captured in photo-etched metal form for that extra touch of quality. A transparent flight deck option allows you to see into the hangar deck below. A full-hull or waterline tugboat is included as an attractive come-on to anyone wanting to add nautical interest. There’s also a flight deck crew included, though at just 2.6 mm (.10 in) tall, these are tweezer-only humans! The list goes on, with aircraft that are moulded in transparent plastic, so that even at this scale, you can opt for see-through canopies.
So the answer to the question “can we ever have too much detail?” is probably not, provided it’s well done and doesn’t overwhelm the practical aspects of model building. This particular kit is a fine effort from Dragon and is becoming available through model stores and online suppliers, including eBay here.
The pictures show, top to bottom:
1 Attractive box art.
2 Transparent deck options.
3 Tug boat option.