Ideal Aeroplane & Supply 1/330 SS America Ocean Liner / Troop Ship USS West Point / S.S. Australis - Wooden Ship Kit, 605

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Ideal Aeroplane & Supply 1/330 SS America Ocean Liner / Troop Ship USS West Point / S.S. Australis - Wooden Ship Kit, 605 plastic model kit

1/330 605 Ideal Aeroplane & Supply SS America Ocean Liner / Troop Ship USS West Point / S.S. Australis - Wooden Ship Kit

Wood and Metal Model Kit,   Box Condition: VG+

Very rare and an excellent example. Large wooden and metal kit builds to just over 26 inches long. This model is of the SS America Ocean Liner, which was designed by the famous naval architect William Francis Gibbs. She was laid down in 1938 and entered service on August 22 1940 as the flagship of the United States Lines. World War II interrupted her passenger service. The ship was active through the war. She narrowly escaped being sunk off Singapore during the Japanese invasion. After the war she resumed her North Atlantic route. The liner was the pride of the US Merchant fleet before the USS United States was commissioned. When the 'Big U' entered service, the two liners were stable mates and often appeared in the same travel agency posters and prints. By 1964 aircraft had taken a large section of the ocean liner travelers away, and the America was sold to Chandris Group and was renamed the Australis. She sailed for 14 years in a very successful career and was the last liner to sail from Southampton to Australia/New Zealand. She was laid up in 1977. She changed owners several times, but was never again successful. While being towed to Thailand, the lines broke and she ran aground in the Canary Islands, where the wreck broke up after time - but not before the locals rescued many items from the ship. The model box is very good and the kit inside is in as-new condition. Features pre-carved hull, metal fittings, very large full size plans, print wood and heavy cardstock, clear material for windows, color flag sheet, building instructions with perspective views and rigging material and diagrams. Never started. I believe that I was the first one to remove the parts from the box when I performed the inventory. All of the fittings are either still in factory sealed bags or inventoried complete. The parts that were never sealed are 100% complete including plans. You can convert it to the USS West Point if you have photos of the ship (which are on the internet) - the main difference is the addition of lifeboats and different paint. Photos of the S.S. Australis will provide the needed data to convert her to that ship, but this conversion will require more work than the West Point. Please NOTE: this kit must be shipped insured. The travel agency poster does NOT come with the kit and is used for illustrative purposes only.

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