USS Arleigh Burke DDG-51

Trumpeter, 1/350 scale

Reviewed by Al Bowie

Trumpeter's 1/350 scale Arleigh Burke DDG-51 is available online from Squadron.com

This is the second Trumpeter large scale ship kit I have had the pleasure to see and it maintains the high standard set in the other (USS Lassen DDG – 82).

The USS Arleigh Burke is the lead ship of its class (the highly successful Arleigh Burke (AB) DDG family) and considered to be a Flight 1 build standard. She was launched in 1991 and at the time was the most powerful Destroyer ever built for the US Navy and I dare say any Navy. The design benefitted from the Royal Navy’s experience during the Falklands War and saw the return of the all steel warship along with nearly 70 t of Kevlar armour.

The powerful AEGIS combat system was fitted and she was the first US Warship to be fitted with a full air filtration NBC system. Unlike the later ships of the class, the Flight 1 hulls only had the capability to refuel and rearm Helicopters having no hangar space of their own.

The Arleigh Burke is named after famous WWII Admiral Arleigh Burke who had a distinguished career in Destroyers: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/navy/ddg-51.htm

This is not the first kit of an Arleigh Burke class DDG in 350th scale with kits by Panda and later DML also being available. This kit offers the original Flight I configuration like some of the others and is far more detailed than the PANDA/DML offerings.

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The kit is similar to the previously released USS Lassen DDG – 82 and shares a lot of the sprues present in that kit. The Hull is the same two part split at the waterline but has the longer fantail of the Flight 1s.

The Hull of the kit is presented in Trumpeters style of being split on the waterline and the upper is a one piece moulding. The below waterline part is in a wine red plastic and an optional flat piece is providing for those wishing to do a waterline model. This style of hull construction is far preferable to the old two halves split along the keel this author remembers from his early shipbuilding years on the old Airfix 1/600 ships.

Another feature of the kit is the clear styrene moldings although the two 350th SH 60 Seahawks which were in the USS Lassen DDG – 82 kit are not present in this one. The Bridge Window array is presented in crystal clear styrene. A raised lettering Nameplate and stand are also included.

Decals are provided for only the Arleigh Burke and appear to match photos of here earlier service. The standard of moulding is superb and detail is first class. A full set of PE railings and safety nets for the flight deck are included and this kit will build into a very respectable model of the Arleigh Burke.

These kits are expensive but when put side by side with the DML or Panda product you can see why. They are far more detailed and it really stands out.

I highly recommend this kit to anyone wanting a great modern warship kit.

Highly recommended

Further History of Arleigh Burke class including Specifications, Pictures, Ship List, Class Differences and Schematics can be found here:

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/ddg-51.htm

Thanks to J.B. Wholesalers for the sample

Review Text Copyright © 2009 by Al Bowie
Page Created 12 July, 2009
Last updated 13 July, 2009

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