Arma Hobby 70060 - 1:72 US Navy Escort Carrier Deck - diorama display base

US Navy Escort Carrier Deck plastic diorama display base — escort carrier flight deck in 1:72 scale

A carrier aircraft looks best where it actually served. Arma Hobby 70060 reproduces a section of the flight deck of an Allied escort carrier of the Second World War: wooden planking divided by metal strips carrying aircraft tie-down fittings. The base is sized to take a single 1:72 model of the Wildcat, Avenger or Swordfish class.

The plate is a single plastic moulding on a raised plinth measuring 152 x 152 mm. It is supplied unpainted, which leaves the modeller complete freedom — the same base can be finished in the colours of different periods of the war and of both navies, American and British.

The manufacturer additionally provides files for home 3D printing, accessible via a QR code included with the set. They cover arrester wire fittings, wheel chocks in British and American versions and a bomb trolley. This is an option for modellers with a 3D printer who want to expand the scene with deck equipment. The base was released in 2024.

What's in the box:

• Single plastic plate on a raised plinth measuring 152 x 152 mm
• Reproduced flight deck section: wooden planking, metal strips and aircraft tie-down fittings

Specifications:

• Scale: 1:72
• Catalogue number: 70060
• Manufacturer: Arma Hobby
• Base dimensions: 152 x 152 mm
• Construction: single plastic plate on a raised plinth, unpainted
• Intended use: display and diorama base for a single 1:72 carrier aircraft model (Wildcat, Avenger or Swordfish class)
• Year of release: 2024

Painting and use:

The base requires painting, and it is the painting that decides its character. Escort carrier decks were planked in wood, coated during the war with various protective finishes — from shades close to natural timber to dark greys and blues. We suggest starting with a primer and a base coat, then varying individual planks with light glazes, which gives the naturally uneven look of a real deck. A wash will bring out the gaps between planks and the fittings in the metal strips, while subtle wear and tyre marks in the aircraft movement area complete the effect.

Because the base is supplied unpainted, it can be finished as the deck of either a US Navy or a British Royal Navy ship — and its size means it sits well with a single carrier aircraft model. An aircraft model is not included in the set and must be purchased separately. The 3D files provided by the manufacturer — arrester wire fittings, wheel chocks and a bomb trolley — are not in the box; they are intended for home printing.

About escort carriers:

Escort carriers were born of urgent necessity: Atlantic convoys were being lost in the so-called air gap, the area beyond the reach of land-based aircraft, where German submarines operated almost with impunity. The answer was to build small carriers on merchant ship hulls — cheaply, quickly and in numbers.

These ships were slower and less well protected than fleet carriers, and their air groups usually numbered between a dozen and thirty aircraft — most often Wildcat fighters and Avenger torpedo bombers. They nevertheless proved decisive: it was they that closed the Atlantic air gap and, together with the escort vessels, tipped the Battle of the Atlantic in the Allies' favour.

In the Pacific, escort carriers provided air cover for landings and support for ground forces, freeing the fleet carriers for offensive operations. A substantial share of the ships built in the United States went to the British Royal Navy under Lend-Lease, where they served with air groups that also included older types such as the Fairey Swordfish.

About the manufacturer – Arma Hobby:

Arma Hobby has been active since 2016 and is based in Warsaw. The company grew out of the Attack Squadron brand, known to aircraft modellers for its resin accessories. The whole process — from computer design to tooling — is carried out in Poland, often starting from scans of preserved aircraft. Kits from this brand can be recognised by their very fine surface texture, thin trailing edges, carefully rendered transparencies and well-printed decals. The range covers 1:72 and 1:48 scales with a strong emphasis on Polish aviation — the PZL P.7a, PZL P.11c and TS-11 Iskra — and on Allied aircraft of the Second World War. Besides the kits, the company also prepares products that complete a display, such as diorama bases and weapon sets. Arma Hobby models have won industry awards, including the Model of the Year title at the Nuremberg toy fair. The manufacturer consistently develops both 3D-printed parts and downloadable files for home printing.