U.S.S. Buchanan DD-484 Gleaves Class Destroyer 1942

The USS Buchanan (DD-484) had an eventful career in WWII. This Gleaves-class destroyer, named after a Confederate Navy admiral, was commissioned on March 21, 1942. The vessel served in the Pacific, taking part in such battles as Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. This destroyer holds the honour of having shuttled General MacArthur to and from the USS Missouri to accept the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay on August 30, 1945. As well as this, the ship endured such misfortunes as being hit by friendly fire, running aground and colliding with another destroyer during its combat tours! Such a colourful ship requires an equally outstanding model, so Dragon has carefully developed this innovative model of the USS Buchanan as it appeared in 1942.

This Smart Kit represents a milestone in 1/350 warship kits, raising and establishing the bar in one bold presentation. Employing brand new thinking, design and engineering, this model represents a whole series of technological breakthroughs. A one-piece upper hull made from slide moulds, sponsors expertly made with hitherto untried techniques, and use of photo-etched components, are just a few examples of the innovation found within its keel. New types of multimedia materials have been especially developed for this kit, from the pliant paper fibre used to represent flags, to the decals representing the deck walkway texture. There are even miniature figures included to populate this impressive model. This destroyer may possess an unprecedented level of detail, but Dragon’s clever engineering means it remains easy and pleasurable to assemble. The real USS Buchanan was turned over to the Turkish Navy in 1949, but it’s this new model from Dragon that’s turning heads amongst ship modellers all around the world!