Cyber-hobby 1/700 USS Long Beach (CGN-9) 1980

USS Longbeach (CGN 9) is a unique ship, principally because it was the only vessel in her class. She was a nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser commissioned on September 9 1961. She also had the distinction of being the USA’s first all-new cruiser design since WWII, and since cruisers built after the Long Beach have generally been based simply on up-scaled destroyer hulls, her crew aptly described her as “The Only Real Cruiser.” USS Longbeach had a pair of 5-inch 38-calibre guns mounted amidships, and at the time of her decommissioning in July 1994, the upgraded cruiser had two Standard Missile launchers, two Tomahawk cruise missile launchers, two Phalanx CIWS and Harpoon missile launchers. The cruiser’s service was concentrated in the Atlantic Fleet from 1961-66, before transferring to the Californian coast. She saw combat in the Gulf of Tonkin during the Vietnam War, and also endured long enough to provide support during the 1991 Gulf War. USS Longbeach, this unique naval vessel, served for 33 years before settling into its current resting place in Puget Sound, Washington.

Two years from producing the initial version of the Long Beach, Cyber-hobby has come out with a kit of the ship after its first major modification. One thing about ships is that, as long as they are not sunk shortly after entering service, they are in a near constant state of upgrading. So it was with the Long Beach and this one represents its 1980 fit. From what I can see, there is an additional sprue for the addition of Tomahawk launchers and there are parts that are no longer used. Despite the new number of the photo etch fret, the parts are the same, but this time the antennas atop the midships guns are being used.

Here is what Dragon USA had to say about the original boxing and since the sprues are the same (save the additional one mentioned earlier), this still applies:

- Flight deck molded w/intricate details
- True-to-scale propellers reproduced
- One-piece slide-molded upper hull w/undercut details realistically represented
- Sponson are represented on lower hull by slide-mold technology
- Waterline or full-hull version can be assembled
- Intricate whaleboat is presented
- True-to-scale ASRoc launcher is presented
- Ladders in photo-etched parts
- Superstructure presented in details including hoses and windows
- Antenna and ladders are newly presented by photo-etched parts
- Talos launchers accurately produced w/fine details
- AN/SPG-49 Talos illuminators are presented in details
- Detailed MK 56 gun directors are accurately presented
- Optional barrels w/blast bags provided for gun turrets
- Turret w/realistic detail
- Lower mount 5-inch guns realistically produced w/extra knuckle
- Authentic gun barrels are slide-molded w/hollow ends
- Terrier launchers MK 10 w.accurate details
- AN/SP-44 Terrier illuminators are authentically produced
- Engineered for modeling enjoyment

Instructions are typical of the Dragon family of kits with nicely done construction drawings, showing all the options choices. Colors by Gunze and though the back of the instructions shows two different ships, the only difference in colors is the shade of the planar radar antennas.

Modern ship fans will be very pleased to see this one released. It looks to make a superb model and is detailed enough to satisfy most with what comes in the box.