Eric Xu
Shrewsbury, Massachusetts
Eric, 16, built this Very Fire 1/700 scale USS Des Moines (CA-134) heavy cruiser as it appeared in 1946. He improved the basic kit with aftermarket decks and anchor chains, and employed the photo-etched metal and resin parts supplied in the kit. He painted the ship in stages, starting with hull red, flat black for the waterline, and neutral gray for the remainder. He picked out details with Tamiya Panel Line Accent Color and dry-brushed salt streaking.