Features:
- Finely scaled radar provided by photo-etched parts
- Photo-etched railings to enhance details
- Superstructure relistically reproduced
- New Cartograft decal
Dragon has launched a new 1/700 scale kit in its Sea Power series.
The subject is HMS Invincible (R05), a light aircraft carrier of
the Invincible class. As a Premium Edition release, the ship has
been completely overhauled to meet the very highest standards
expected of a modern-day kit. The 20,600-tonne carrier was launched
in 1977 and was commissioned in 1980. The carrier’s runway is 170m
long, including the “ski jump”, and the vessel itself is 194m long.
It has had an interesting life, originally being slated for sale to
the Royal Australian Navy in 1982. However, the sale was scuttled
when Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands on April 2 1982, and
three days later a naval task including HMS Invincible was steaming
towards the South Atlantic. During the short but brutal conflict to
reclaim the Falklands, Argentina claimed it damaged the vessel, but
this assertion was categorically denied by the UK.
Dragon’s Premium Edition release is designed to coincide with the
25th anniversary of the Falklands conflict, and the kit shows HMS
Invincible as it appeared at that time. There is a lavish inclusion
of photo-etched parts for components like the radar and railings.
The superstructure is finely detailed, and the overall look
perfectly captures this carrier’s appearance while deployed on
operational duty at this time. The sale of HMS Invincible to
Australia was revoked and it was eventually decommissioned on
August 3 2005, but it could be reactivated any time before 2010 if
necessary. In the meantime, Dragon has reactivated the carrier with
this stunning 1/700 scale kit, an ideal companion for the
previously released HMS Sheffield!
