DRAGON 1/350 USS Independence CVL22 Aircraft Carrier DML1024. New in the box. Commissioned on January 14 1943, the USS Independence (CVL-22) actually began life as a light cruiser before being converted into a light aircraft carrier during its construction. USS Independence was the first of a new class of such converted carriers, and its first combat operations in WWII took place in a raid against Marcus and Wake Islands in the Pacific. Later in 1943, the carrier took part in campaigns against the Gilbert Islands and Tarawa, during which it was hit by a Japanese air-launched torpedo. The 14,751-ton combat-loaded carrier was a pioneer in night operations, and it proceeded to fight in the Philippines, the Battle of Leyte Gulf and Okinawa. After the war, USS Independence was used as a target for Bikini Atoll atomic bomb tests in 1946, before the radioactive hull was eventually sunk near the San Francisco coast. Bonus: 6 SBD in transparent plastic. 10 newly tooled 1/350 scale aviators. 8 newly tooled 1/350 scale ground crewmen. Intricate bridge is newly produced w/finest details. Detailed crane is newly produced. Finely detailed and newly designed quadruple 40mm Mk4 mount. One-piece slide-molded upper hull w/undercut details realistically presented. Slide-molded upper and lower hull accurately produced. Delicated bilge keels w/sonar dome are represented on lower hull by slide-mold technology. Waterline or full-hull version can be assembled. 2 delicated 1/4 ton 4 x 4 trucks are included. Open mount 5-inch gun realistically produced. 4 delicated tractor tugs included. 6 TBF and 6 F6F are conveniently constructed in transparent plastic. Wings of TBF and F6F can be folded. Canopy of SBD can be assembled open/closed. Hangar bay walls w/great detail. Hangar interior w/fine frames. Flight deck elevators can be posed in either raised or lowered position. Delicate funnel w/great details. Photo-etched railings below island are authentically produced. Rear of CVL-22 w/finest details. Extra-thin shield wall reproduced for accurate 1/350 scale appearance. True-to-scale ultra-thin propellers. Rudder can be easily assembled. Finest pattern on flight deck of CVL-22. Finest tread patterns on CVL-22 flight deck elevators. Accurately shaped flight deck side w/slide-mold technology. Delicate tower structure is accurately produced. Radars on tower structure w/delicate details are realistically produced. Radars on flight deck side are truly reproduced. Detailed island is finely produced via slide-mold technology. Slide-molded crane boom w/details. Slide-molded radar array reproduced. Delicate paravane is realistically produced. Rectangular liferafts look authentic. Delicate whaleboat w/fine details. Photo-etched safely net is produced. Optional antenna on deck side can be folded. Twin 40mm Mk4 guns reproduced w/delicate detail. Finely represented Mk51 gun director. Engineered for modeling enjoyment. Plastic parts with enhanced detail. Ready for immediate assembly! Box Size: 28.7″ x 10.6″ x 4.7. Please look at the estimated time which is below price.