1/96 USS Cleveland (CL-55) Scale Model Build Guide & Detail Sets

A Legend of the Pacific: USS Cleveland (CL-55)

USS Cleveland (CL-55) was the lead ship of the Cleveland class of light cruisers - the most numerous cruiser class ever built for the United States Navy. Commissioned on June 15, 1942, she served throughout World War II in the Pacific Theater, earning 13 battle stars for her service. Fast, well-armed, and versatile, the Cleveland class became the backbone of American cruiser operations from Guadalcanal to the final campaigns against Japan.

At 1/96 scale, the Cleveland presents a rewarding build with her distinctive silhouette, complex superstructure, and rich camouflage history - making her an ideal subject for both display and diorama work.

Kit Overview

The 1/96 scale is a popular choice for large-format ship models, offering excellent detail potential while remaining manageable in size. Before starting your build, research available base kits and verify the accuracy of the hull form, deck fittings, and turret placement against primary reference sources such as the NAVSEA blueprints and NHHC (Naval History and Heritage Command) photo archives.

Key areas to evaluate in any base kit:

Hull accuracy - waterline vs. full hull options
Main battery turrets (6-inch/47 caliber triple mounts)
Secondary and AA battery placement
Superstructure complexity and mast configuration
Deck planking and anchor chain detail

Detail Sets & Aftermarket Parts

Elevating a 1/96 Cleveland to competition or display standard requires careful selection of aftermarket detail parts. Our 3D-printed components are designed from original schematics and NHHC reference photographs to ensure historical accuracy.

Recommended upgrades for this build:

Railings & lifelines - replace kit railings with scale-accurate 3D-printed alternatives. Start with the Aft Deck 1, Aft Deck 2, Aft Deck 3, Aft Deck 4, Forward Deck 1, Forward Deck 2, Forward Deck 3, Forward Deck 4, and Forward Deck 5 detail sets.
Gun barrels - turned or printed barrels for the 6-inch main battery and 5-inch secondary mounts. See our 1/96 USN 6-inch/47 Mark 16 Gun Set and 1/96 USN 5-inch (127 mm)/38 Cal. Gun Mount Set.
Radar and fire control — SK and Mk 37 director details are critical for the wartime configuration. Our 1/96 US SK Air Search Radar and 1/96 USN SK-2 Radar Antenna are researched from primary sources.
Anchors and deck fittings - capstans, cleats, and fairleads at 1/96 benefit greatly from resin or printed replacements. The 1/96 USS Cleveland Doors Set (43pcs) covers the superstructure fittings in one go.
Masts - our Forward Mast and Aft Mast are printed to scale from NHHC reference drawings.
Funnels - replace kit funnels with our Forward Funnel and Aft Funnel for crisp, scale-accurate detail.
Boat complement — whaleboats and motor launches carried amidships. See our 1/96 USS Cleveland Boat Crane for the amidships crane detail.

Camouflage & Painting

USS Cleveland wore several camouflage schemes during her wartime service. The most visually striking and historically documented include:

Measure 21 - Navy Blue overall, applied in the early Pacific campaign period
Measure 22 - Navy Blue hull with Haze Gray topsides, a common mid-war scheme
Measure 32 - Multi-color dazzle camouflage, applied to some Cleveland-class ships in 1944–45

Cross-reference your chosen scheme against NHHC photographs dated to the specific period you are modeling. Deck colors, boot topping, and waterline treatment varied by refit period.

Build Tips

Build the hull and superstructure sub-assemblies separately and paint before joining - the Cleveland's complex superstructure makes post-assembly painting very difficult.
Rig the masts and antenna wires last, using stretched sprue or EZ Line for scale appearance.
Mask and paint the camouflage scheme before adding railings and small fittings to avoid masking damage.
Use a photo reference timeline - Cleveland's appearance changed significantly between 1942 and 1945 with radar upgrades and AA battery additions.

Reference Sources

Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) photo archive - nhhc.navy.mil
NavSource Online - navsource.org (extensive wartime photography)
NAVSEA original blueprints (available through NHHC research requests)
The Cleveland Class Cruisers - Norman Friedman, U.S. Cruisers: An Illustrated Design History

Shop the Parts in This Guide

All components below are 3D-printed from primary source schematics and NHHC reference photographs. Browse the full range or pick the parts you need:

→ Browse the full USS Cleveland (CL-55) collection

1/96 USS Cleveland (CL-55) Scale Model Build Guide & Detail Set Overview