Ver. 6.7 - 1 October 2007
This list was created by Rajendra Datta (rajen@acm.org). Other people have since contributed to it, and it is now being maintained by Joseph Poutre (joseph.poutre@verizon.net) Comments, additions, and corrections should be sent to him. This list is intended to include all plastic and resin model ship kits.
From the beginning, this list was intended to be a non-commercial site, in the tradition of the pre-commercialized internet. There is no advertising, and it is available to modellers for free. It is written by and intended for ship modellers. Our goal is to improve the hobby of ship modelling, by making it easier to select good kits, and to provide information on how to fix some of the problematical ones.
While this is a non-commercial site, we are not anti-commercial. Most of us actually like the model industry, and we're happy that they support our hobby. We would even encourage the model companies to read our reviews, so that they can make better kits. Wholesalers and retailers could also benefit from this site by buying more of the highly rated kits. This will benefit modellers as well, by getting more good kits into the hobby shops.
Because this is a non-commercial site, we cannot accept reviews from kit manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers, or importers. We do accept other information (kit lists, basic kit data, etc.) from manufacturers, retailers, etc.
Because this is an independent, non-commercial website, we cannot accept reviews from kit manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers, or importers.
All kits are in 1/700 scale unless noted otherwise
This material should be considered copyright by the authors. This material may be redistributed for non-commercial use without explicit permission of the author(s) as long as the text is used exactly as is (except for reformatting) and the author is given full written credit for the material. Hobby retailers may display this information as a consumer guide, but may not sell it. Commercial use requires explicit permission of the authors.
| 5.0 | 22 March 2002 |
| 6.3 | 1 March 2004 |
| 6.4 | 1 March 2005 |
| 6.5 | 1 September 2005 |
| 6.6 | 1 April 2006 |
| 6.7 | 1 October 2007 |
This section shows a sample of the format we use for kit reviews.
Rating. Review Text.
Frank is our resident expert on HMS Hood. Make sure that you check out his website at HMSHood.com. (DRW)
Yes, that Larry Bond. Creator of the Harpoon gaming system. Co-author of Red Storm Rising (DRW)
Rajen is a fellow escapee from Bell Labs. We started the list over pizza and root beer while we were still both employed there. Rajen has become busy with business and family in recent years (as of 2004) so he hasn't been doing much ship modelling lately. A good fellow, though. (DRW)
Rod is another "good guy" who has helped me in numerous ways. His modelling tastes seem to be ecclectic, like my own, and he has reviewed a wide variety of kits. (DRW)
Tom Dougherty is our resident submarine guru. When I have a sub question, I go to him. He's simply amazing. (DRW)
Michael is a net.friend of long standing. He is a pragmatic modeller, and quite fond of scratchbuilding and conversions. Make sure you check out his web page at www.german-navy.de, which has pictures of his models, and many other articles and images on Kriegsmarine and Hochseeflotte subjects. (DRW)
Gernot is another early contributor to the list. He was the first to add reviews of Japanese 1/700 kits. He knows IJN subjects extremely well. He has high standards, and from the pictures I've seen on the net, he produces excellent work. (DRW)
Graeme is a newcomer to the list as of late 2005, but he's no newcomer to the world of ship modeling. He's a professional. Check out his site: http://www.shipmodels.co.nz. (DRW)
Bill is our resident expert on US Coast Guard subjects, and also very well versed on the subject of sailing ships. Make sure you check out Bill's USCG Model Kit list. (DRW)
Peter is another helpful fellow. He seems to be most interested in Kriegsmarine subjects, and he favors 1/400 Heller kits. Peter also deserves credit for persuading WEM to produce an aircraft set for the Revell 1/720 Graf Zeppelin kit. (DRW)
Jodie Peeler never fails to impress. Her knowledge of liners and aircraft carriers (especially Essex class) is truly amazing, but don't think she's limited to just those. She knows destroyers as well, and also is very familiar with the N/S Savannah. If that weren't enough, she's also a fan of turbine cars and airliners. Make sure you check out Jodie's Shrine to Ecclecticism. (DRW)
Allan was one of my first ship modelling friends on the internet. We virutally met back in the early 1990s on the newsgroup rec.models.scale. He was one of the first contributors to this list, and still gets a few words in now and then. (DRW)
Joe Poutre is a good friend, a fellow New Jerseyan, and my co-conspirator on numerous projects. I have watched his modelling skills steadily improve, and he's probably better than me by now. He shares my sense of the bizzare, and it's always fun making up "hypothetical" ships with him. (DRW)
Brooks has been enormously helpful to us in researching old kits from long-gone manufacturers. His tastes are often similar to my own. (DRW)
Leif is another early contributor to the list. He gave us his list of Airfix kits, and this became the basis for our Airfix section. (DRW)
Matt Stein started writing reviews for the List in 2004. He's a fellow 1/500 fan, so I have to like him! He started a resin casting business, Matt Stein Models in July 2006. All of his reviews were written prior to that date. (DRW)
Floridian Bill Swan is a newcomer as of 2006, but he provided an incredible number of resin ship kit reviews for Version 6.6. He has impressed me with his knowledge of Steel era and WW1 era battleships. I might have a few differences of opinion with him on the waterline vs. full hull debate. I really want to see his "team of trained spiders"!(DRW)
Doug is another newcomer as of 2006. He tells me that he's a member of the Washington Ship Model Society, and that he's working on a history of the USS Wolverine (IX-64) and USS Sable (IX-81) (DRW)
Editor's Note:OK, so I build kits out of the box. Sue me. ;-) DRW.
My advice is to buy Skywave armament sets to replace the often 1960's era kit parts, and use aftermarket PE sets for the particular type of ship to get an overall increase in quality without waiting for someone to retool the kit. Note that the newer releases of the Aoshima/Fujimi/Hasegawa/Tamiya1/700 waterline series come with the new Leviathan armament sets. Saves much trouble.
My opinion of FAIR would be GOOD if not for the replacement masts etc I consider necessary to produce a good kit.
A Note on kit numbering: The last three digits are unique to a ship in the Waterline 1/700 scale series, regardless of manufacturer (see above listing of manufacturers). The first two digits identify the company, and the issue batch among other things. Recently, new series numbers have been give, advertised on the box top as "NO.xx", where xx does not necessarily correspond to the old two-digit code. Where there is a new series, it is noted.
Gernot has a point, I do tend to build out of the box, and I usually only fix gross, obvious errors. I prefer to modify the plastic parts from the kit than to scratchbuild or add PEB. I admit that there is a point, though, beyond which kit parts aren't worth fixing, and parts substitution becomes more practical.
My main area of interest is the Kreigsmarine and I am knowledgeable of modern warships having served 21 years in the United States Navy and retired as a Master Chief Petty Officer.
I had heard rumors that Academy had obtained the Tamiya molds for the Bismarck. After picking up the kit, I feel comfortable assuring anyone that this is not the case. I do wish though, that I could have had access to a Tamiya kit to make the comparison up close. The first thing you will notice about the box are the words "Static Model" in the lower left corner of the box lid -- more on this later, and the fact that the box art is rather poorly done.
On to the inside! The kit's deck is molded in three sections. The middle section is designed to be removed for access to the battery box and electric motor mounts. That, apparently, is why the words static model show up on the lid. The multi piece deck leaves two very distinct seems running from beam to beam on the model. Filling and sanding them will destroy some of the deck planking, represented by raised detail. The larger cable reels are molded separately from the deck, while the smaller ones are part of the deck, as is the anchor chain. The anchor chain looks to be too small for what it is supposed to represent.
The Arado seaplane's struts are molded in one piece, similar to the float-equipped British Spitfire, and the Iron Cross insignia are molded into the wings, ala Aurora. The catapult is simply a blank plastic strip, with no detail on it at all.
The flag sheet is frankly, pathetic. The swastika on the battle flag looks like a pinwheel; an aftermarket flag is a must here.
The remainder of the kit appears to be well done. As a footnote, I purchased Gold Medal Models 1/350 photoetched detail kit for this model. Comparing some of the brass parts to the plastic ones in the kit left me with the impression that Academy did a pretty good job on the majority of this model. Of particular note are the photoetched radar antenna and the struts and props for the Arado. They make a real difference. This will be my first experience with photoetch detail of this magnitude, and it looks like it will really compliment the model. (JRO)
Editor's Note: For comparison, check out these kits:
FAIR.
First of all, the kits for Bismarck and Tirpitz are the same and both resemble rather Tirpitz than Bismarck. Box pictures show Bismarck in baltic camouflage in both cases. The drawing on Tirpitz box is signed "N. Sataku" or "N. Sataker". The kit is motorized with one electric motor which is fed by one AA battery. Machinery supplied with the kit looks fine. There is the only shaft and the only rudder. Shaft holder grease is supplied with the kit as well as the cement. Hull consists of two parts - underwater (red plastic) and everything else (grey). So, you may build waterline model if you like.
Armor belt is about 20 % higher than normal shape. Belt transition into forecastle and stern is somehow coarse. One could try and fix both issues it with careful cutting and sanding. Deck plancking and details are ok except wavebreakers which are too bold. Carefull cutting may be of use here. Anchor racks are missing (anchors are molded right on the deck level) which requires gentle fixing. Material thickness in the bow part of a hull is hopefully enough to apply cutting and deeping in the right place. Bow anchor rake and bow anchor itself are missing, yet bow anchor chain is molded on the deck. Same regarding aft.
There are no torpedo tubes supplied or molded. No floatplanes are supplied as well. Catapult details are poor. Turrets are of slightly strange shape but still resemble the real ones.
Model has one major feature which may be considered as a big disadvantage or as real fun. Indeed, second port 5.9" turret and forward port 4.1" turret are missing completely with their basements. Instead, room is made for motor switch which comes as a gear leaning out of the hull right in place of turrets mentioned. No wonder that the assembly instructions show the model viewed from starboard, not from the port! Carefull tweaking and applying extra turrets of proper scale may fix the problem. One might configure motor switch leaning through the funnel. I plan to abandon the switch at all, and to circuit the battery to the motor directly. I should take care for proper balancing the model in this case and to compensate the switch absence. That is just an idea anyway. (AS), Review dated 25 May 2006.
Editor's Note: Re-issue of the Pyro Cutty Sark.
Editor's Notes: See Nimitz-class. Said to have been issued around 1989. (DRW)
Editor's Note: Seems to be a 30cm "box scale" (DRW)
Editor's Note: I have not built this kit, or even seen it out of the box, but from the dimensions and the photo on the box, it looks suspiciously like the Monogram kit with a different stand. (DRW)
Editor's Note: For comparison, check out the Monogram Kennedy (1/789)
Editor's Notes: I have no idea what relationship, if any, this kit has with the Otaki/Arii kit. This kit has been issued at various times as:
For comparison, check out these kits:
Editor's Notes: May be related to the Minicraft Spruance kit.
For comparison, check out these kits:
Editor's Note: May be related to the Minicraft Ticonderoga kit. (DRW)
For comparison, check out these kits:
Editor's Note: Presumably, this is a close relative of the Academy Bismarck kit. (DRW)
Editor's Note: For comparison, check out these kits:
POOR. The box art isn't bad at all but it quickly goes down hill from there. I cannot and would not recommend this kit to anyone! This is another example of a company that has not properly researched the ship, submarine, that they have put on the market. This kit is nothing more than a "toy" that needs assemblyrather than a scale model. On the side of thebox it has this statement:
"FEATURES: Contains optional parts to build as a static display model or a motorized diving submarine".
As a "static display model", it fails miserably because of the lack of attention to simple detail in all areas - hull, deck, and conning tower. The only way that this kit should be built as a static display model is in a waterline configuration. Even as a waterline model it will require extensive work to get it even close to what a Type IXB should look like. I am not even sure that it would be worth the man-hours. Include the motor, add batteries and give it to a 5 year old. Paint optional. Kit rates a "blech". (DK)
Editor's Notes: See Nimitz-class.
Thanks to Jodie Peeler for her help with the history of Adams. (DRW)
Editor's Note: See Jodie Peeler's review of the Life Like re-issue of this kit. Originally issued by Adams circa 1958. (DRW)
I have an Advent BONHOMME RICHARD which is clearly the Revell Essex-Class SCB-125. I am wondering if it is true that the Advent TICONDEROGA is the Renwal instead. (The Advent kit has Revell copyright on sprues and also on the instruction sheet).
(Brooks), comment dated 20 February 2006.
Editor's Note: I'm pretty sure that the Advent Ticonderoga is indeed the old Renwal kit. (DRW)
Editor's Note: Same as Revell Buckley. (DRW)
Editor's Note: Apparently, the same as Revell's Eastwind kit, though some have suggested that the kit is incorrect for the Burton Island. (DRW)
Editor's Note: Same as Revell Ward. (DRW)
Editor's Note: Same as Revell Eagle. (DRW)
Editor's Note: Same as Revell Intrepid. (DRW)
Editor's Note: Same as Revell Flying Cloud. (DRW)
Editor's Note: Same as Revell Montrose. (DRW)
Editor's Note: Same as Renwal North Carolina. Issued circa 1979. (DRW)
Editor's Note: Same as Revell Olympia. (DRW)
Editor's Note: Same as Revell Pine Island. (DRW)
Editor's Note: Same as Revell Queen Mary. (reviewed by Jodie Peeler) Issued circa 1979. (DRW)
Editor's Note: Same as Revell Ranger . (DRW)
Editor's Note: Same as Renwal Essex-Class SCB-125. (DRW)
EXCELLENT. Comes with decals for both US and ROC Knox-class frigates. Nice detail, no sink holes. While I have never seen a Skywave Knox-can, this kit sure looks like a Skywave mold. I adapted mine to full hull by widening a DML Perry lower hull and adding a SQS-53 sonar dome from an ARII Spruance. Bilge keels will have to be scratchbuilt for this conversion. (DRW)
I don't think this is a Skywave derivative; there are multiple differences in parts. The ASROC launcher, 5" gun, and Phalanx are all moulded differently than their Skywave equivalents. Plus, they include a (correct) SH-2 helo, which Skywave doesn't even produce, even in those ships that are supposed to carry it. (JP)
(RWS), Review dated 5 August 2007.
Editor's Note: Presumably the same kit as the Boston.(DRW)
Editor's Note: Same kit as Forrest Sherman.
Editor's Note: Reissue of the Revell Hope. (DRW)
Editor's Note: Reissue of the Revell Long Beach. (DRW)
Editor's Note: Reissue of the Revell Mission Capistrano. (DRW)
Editor's Note: Reissue of the Revell PT-207. (DRW)
FAIR. I built the AHM version of this kit many years ago, which was a reissue of Revell's PT-212 with different decals. The model was one of Revell's very first nautical releases, dating originally from 1953. It has been reissued may times over the years as PT-207, PT-211, PT 212, as part of the "Admiral's Fleet" and "Victory at Sea" combination kits, and by AHM as PT-207. The model depicts a Higgins 78 foot PT, definitely not a Vosper as some have thought. Often listed as 1/72 scale (including by AHM), the kit is actually closer to 1/98. The difference is apparent compared with my 1/72 scale 80 foot Elco PT-109, which is significantly more than two scale feet longer.
It is a very old kit, but parts fit and details are fairly good. The full hull is a single piece molding. Designed during Revell's infamous "flat bottom boats" era, this kit actually has a nicely rendered hull with an accurate chine, perhaps to aid operation (one version issued in the 1960s came with a motor). The deck and deckhouse come molded as a single unit, with other details either separate small parts or molded directly to the deck. Some of the surface detail looks good, but the dinghy is molded to the forecastle as is a coiled mooring line-not very convincing in this relatively large scale. Weapons are ok. Torpedoes and 20mm Oerlikons are separate pieces, but the latter have gunner figures cast directly to them, which is a real problem if you don't want to include figures! Actually, the most notable aspect of the kit is those three very nicely sculpted crew figures. A very innovative feature for the time, they were created by master sculptor Anthony D. Bulone, best known as the sculptor of the original Mattel Barbie doll. Not one of Revell's best, it is still an attractive, simple kit good for a quick, fun build.
(TR) Review dated 20 April 2007.
Airfix was founded in 1939 as a toy company. Their first model ship was apparently the Golden Hind, first produced in the early 1950s. Airfix was purchased by Humbrol (parent company of Heller) in 1986. Humbrol was purchased in 1995 by Alan McGuire & Partners of Dublin, Ireland, who seemed to want to put some money into the company, but they never invested in new ship molds. They mostly concentrated their efforts on 1/48 aircraft. They did, however re-issue some of their older ships kits. By August 2006, the company fell into grave financial problems again. In November 2006, Airfix was sold to model train manufacturer Hornby, who announced their intention to move production to China.
Airfix ships are characterized by their consistent 1/600 scale, their two piece hulls, and pretty-good overall quality. Prices are usually reasonable.
A few of their early battleship models, (Iron Duke and Warspite) have an odd problem with their main guns. They have flared tips, like the flash suppressors on some AA guns. These flares should not be there, and they should be sanded down so that the barrels taper normally.
A long time ago, (early 1960s?) Airfix had a US office in Philadelphia.
Check out their web site (DRW)
All warships are made in light gray plastic. All passenger ships are made in white plastic except QE 2 which is made in a very light grey plastic. (LS)
Series 1 Historical Ships (not to scale) (white plastic).
These kits are from the 1950's. These are some of the oldest and most primitive Airfix kits. The first five (Golden Hind, Santa Maria, Shannon, Victory, Cutty Sark) of them seems to have existed in two variants, an early waterline model with a "modelled sea" base and a later full-hull model with cradle, the last three were all full models with cradle. (LS)
Classic Historical Ships (brown or black plastic)
Several of these have been re-released lately as "Special Editions". In these kits the preformed shrouds/ratlines have been replaced by a Heller style ratline machine. (LS)
Series 3, 1967; No of parts: 91; Guns elevate: no; 1 aircraft included.
Detail is low to medium; Appearance: slightly clumsy/ok.
GOOD. Like Devonshire. (LS)
GOOD. I think it's reasonably good. (DRW)
Editor's Note: Re-issued by:
No of parts: 71; Guns elevate: yes; Decals for Amazon, Active and Arrow included; 1 helicopter included. Detail is medium, Appearance: good.
FAIR. Needs some slight mods at the stern, but otherwise, the hull is nice. Missile launchers (Exocet & Sea Cat) are too small. 4.5" gun lacks detail, but it does elevate & rotate! (DRW)
Series 4, 1967; No of parts: 171; Guns elevate: no; Detail is medium; Appearance: good. The kit includes 12 aircraft, cable deck & quarter deck.
GOOD. A little lacking in detail, but none too shabby. (DRW)
GOOD/FAIR. My second kit bought a few years ago was in slightly worse shape than my first, but still recommended. (LS)
GOOD. This ship makes a presentable model built OOB. Options include placement of antenna cranes and aircraft elevators. Details are decent. Carley floats are separate parts, 4.5" turrets look good. Aircraft are Swordfish and Fulmers, wings of which appear a bit thick. Could use some better painting instructions, but research is part of the fun.
(LDF), review dated 26 February 2006.
Editor's Note: Re-issued by:
Series 2, 1975.
EXCELLENT. Series 2, first issued in 1974. This was one of Airfix's 1/1200 "Naval History Series" clip-together ships intended for wargaming. This series set the standard for injection molded "wargame scale" models back in the 1970s, and the Ark Royal is among the best of them. The model consists of 42 medium gray plastic parts, all cleanly molded with almost no flash. The above water hullform is accurate with the distinctive knuckle forward and large flight deck overhang aft credibly depicted. There aren't any decals, but six very nice Fairy Fulmars are provided. The 8 inch long Ark scales dead on at 1/1200.
This little kit is in some ways resembles Airfix's 1/600 scale Ark Royal issued seven years previously, retaining some of its better features. One of the things I had liked about that larger version was the open boat decks molded as separate parts fixed to the inside of the hull. I also liked the open sides on the anchor and quarter decks fore and aft which created a realistic see-through effect. Despite its size, Airfix included these features on their diminutive 1/1200 Ark as well. Not only that, they managed effectively to engineer the whole thing as a clip-together! Very cool. This is better than Revell's larger 1/720 Ark Royal which represented these structures simply as deep depressions on the hull sides.
The control island comes as a nine part assembly. Though only 3/4 of an inch in length, the layering of the parts one above the other goes far to make it a convincing representation of that multi-deck structure.
Throughout the model surface detailing is discreet yet effective. On the flight deck the lifts, arrestor gear, and a barrier are represented as subtly raised detail, and the forward catapults are recessed. The dozens of portholes on the hull sides are represented by tiny raised discs with dimpled centers. I would have preferred holes, but at least the disks are consistent and sharp. They actually look pretty good once painted. Liferafts and anchors are molded directly to the hull sides, but they are well done and are convincing in this small scale. The eight separately molded 4.5 inch mounts, though less than perfect in shape, are adequate. The smaller weapons are molded directly to the galleries; fortunately the six 2 pounder pom-pom mounts and eight .50 calibre mounts are in scale and crisply molded. They look quite good. The four rangefinders, molded with their mounts as separate pieces, are first-rate. Similarly with the other small details; the boat cranes and antennas, although molded solid, have delicate raised detail suggesting their lattice structures. Six Fairey Fulmar aircraft are included, and, unlike most aircraft included in 1/1200 scale kits, they are excellent. If only Airfix had chosen to include some Swordfish as well...
I have always liked the 1/1200 "Naval History Series" kits. Airfix released only a few of them before abandoning the scale in the early 1970s, but they remain among the finest ships that company ever produced. The Ark Royal is a first-rate little model-if you can find one, build it!
(TR) Review dated 16 June 2006.
Series 4, 1973; No of parts: 250; Guns elevate: no; Camouflage scheme; 2 aircraft included.
Detail is high; Appearance: very good.
EXCELLENT. A real winner. It is very detailed, and it builds up very nicely (except for one piece of the forward superstructure).
This kit represents the ship in World War II, not in her current configuration.
This kit also makes an excellent source of parts for other British cruisers. It can be kitbashed with an Airfix Tiger to make various Colony class cruisers, or you can cut it down a bit to make earlier City class cruisers. Buy it if you can find it. (DRW)
EXCELLENT. An excellent model. Sadly they left the water line out so you will have do some extra work when masking for painting. Otherwise it competes with Repulse as Airfix's best ship model. (LS)
GOOD. This kit is the best I have seen from Airfix. The details are more crisply molded than in any of the many Airfix ship kits I have built.
The kit represents the ship as she appeared in WWII, not in the modernized appearance she now has as a museum ship. I painted my model to show the ship as she would have appeared at the time of her best known action, the Battle of North Cape.
This kit has nice detail on turrets, cranes and air intakes. It includes two Walrus aircraft, one on the catapult and one with wings folded, protruding from the hanger. Use of PE will emphasize the overall quality of molded detail on this model.
(LDF), review dated 26 February 2006.
Series 4, 1962; No of parts: 170; Guns elevate: yes; 1 aircraft included.
Detail is low. Appearance: bad.
POOR. This is a real challenge for the one who wants to correct details. The armour belt is too low, the water line is too low, all decks are wrongly shaped, the deck details are missing. The 38 cm turrets are wrongly placed, terrible anchors & rudders and so on. Still a quite impressive kit when you are a kid and don't care about such details. (LS)
Editor's Note: For comparison, check out these kits:
Series 2, 1974. FAIR. Series 2, first issued in 1973. This was one of Airfix's first 1/1200 "Naval History Series" clip-together ships. The boxtop says the model is intended to "...re-enact on any flat surface famous sea actions and battles", so I guess simplifications and accuracy discrepancies are to be expected. At least this Bismarck is better than Airfix's awful 1/600 scale effort released eleven years earlier. The 50 gray plastic parts assemble into a basic but good looking little battleship.
The waterlined hull is a single part with a solid bottom and separate single-piece main deck, so there are none of those annoying mid-deck seams so common on larger scale kits. This is good since the raised deck planking is amazingly delicate; in fact it is some of the best I've seen in any scale. Assorted deck hardware is also well done with bitts, hatches, vents, and other details sharply depicted. Unfortunately, the model doesn't quite capture the graceful yet solid lines of the original. The length/beam dimensions are right, but the hullform is too pudgy fore and aft. Also, the armor belt is too low and the prominent portholes are missing. Worse, the funnel, superstructures and turrets aft are placed too far back. This problem isn't too noticeable until you get to the fantail, which is about 20 scale feet too short.
As one might expect in a clip-together kit designed for wargaming, the superstructure is simplified and lacking in detail. The distinctive spherical hoods of the 4m type SL-8 antiaircraft directors are molded integrally with the superstructure, represented as rounded tops on the mounts rather than as spherical shapes. Not very good. Also, the aft mounts shouldn't have the hoods at all (unless you intend to build the model as the Tirpitz). The two-part funnel is hollow with an open grating nicely represented on the top. Main turrets are ok, except that the barrels are about 6 scale feet too long and the rangefinder hoods extend too far down the sides-but they are fixable. The 150mm secondary turrets have simplified shapes and the barrels are also too long, but they're useable too. Smaller parts vary in quality from fair to excellent. The tiny Arado floatplane is only mediocre with no floats and an overlarge canopy, but the aircraft/boat handling cranes are fairly good. The 10.5m rangefinders atop the superstructures are delicately rendered, as are the masts. The best parts are the ship's boats, 37mm, and 105mm antiaircraft guns. These are outstanding, rivaling comparable parts in many 1/700 and even 1/400 scale kits. If this kit were more readily available I would be tempted to raid the parts to outfit a Revell 1/1200 scale Scharnhorst or Gneisenau.
Like all of Airfix's 1/1200 "Naval History Series" kits, this is an attractive little model, noticeably finer and more accurate than the more frequently seen Casadio/Almark/ESCI/MPC/Revell "Miniships". Despite its problems, this Bismarck is superior in all respects to the crude Revell 1/1200 Bismarck/Tirpitz. Too bad Airfix hasn't reissued it since the 1970s!
(TR) Review dated 16 June 2006.
Editor's Note: For comparison, check out these kits:
Series 9, Classic Historical Ships
Series 1, 1962; No of parts: 51; Guns elevate: no
FAIR. Detail: low; Appearance: slightly clumsy/ok. Appearence destroyed by clumsy davits. (LS)
It's tough to do a ship this small in 1/600. The tiny details are too heavy. (DRW)
Series 5, pre-1962; No of parts: 86; Decals included. Detail: low - Appearance: slightly clumsy/ok. Participated in the Falkland war.
FAIR. A typical Airfix liner, comparable to the quality of the Queen Elizabeth and possibly a bit better. Fit is fine to me, although stacking all those decks can be an adventure! Nice kit. (JMP)
GOOD. This kit represents the liner in her as-built appearance, with First-Class game deck open. Ship soon had this deck opening covered over and short extentions added to the twin funnels.
Major item that needed changing on kit was mast structure, which was a little undersized and oversimplified. Will still make a nice-looking model built OOB. Great decal sheet with deck markings and nice bow herald.
(LDF), review dated 26 February 2006.
Pre 1961, series 1; No of parts: 42/41 Guns elevate: no; Decals included.
Detail: low - Appearance: clumsy
OK. The first Airfix ship. First kits had a special base cradle, later kits had standard base cradles. (LS)
POOR. I seem to recall that the hull is several scale feet too shallow (keel to deck). (Brooks), comment dated 20 February 2006.
OK. Actually, my measurements say quite the opposite. It's several feet too deep. I compared the kit to some Admiralty drawings on one of my reference books. The kit measures about .75 inches (19mm) from keel to forecastle near the bow. The drawings suggest that it should be about .60 inches (15mm).
Series 1, Historical Ships
Series 9, Classic Historical Ships (1969)
Pre 1962, series 1; No of parts: 60; Guns elevate: no; Decals included.
Detail: low - Appearance: slightly clumsy.
FAIR. I think there were some fitting problems with this model. There is an excellent guide to detailing in Airfix magazine guide 7 (PSL 1975) (LS)
Series 3, 1964; No of parts: 80; Guns elevate: no; Decals included; 1 helicopter included.
Detail: low/medium - Appearance: slightly clumsy.
OK. A bit "plastic". Guide to detailing in Airfix magazine April 1976. Someone on Internet informed that the superstructure was incorrectly positioned, I have not checked that myself. (LS)
With a little work, it can be accurate. According to legend, the forward superstructure should be pushed slightly more forward. The Sea Slug isn't that good, but it would be hard to do better. A photoetch Sea Slug launcher is called for, but I don't really expect to ever see one. Up until recently,I didn't realize how bad the Sea Cat launchers were. I didn't even recognize them as Sea Cat launchers!
In addition to the 1976 article, Airfix Magazine had another article on detailing this kit in their October/November 1993 issue, on pg 381. (DRW)
Series 9, Classic Historical Ships (1970)
Series 10, 1975
POOR: The Airfix 1/72 E-Boat is a poor kit. The superstructure, deck and armaments are acceptable for an early war boat. There are some problems, but they can be fixed. For example, the vastly oversized depth charge racks should be discarded. The hull, however, is incorrect in profile and cross section. Most obviously, it is missing the pronounced bow knuckle that was a feature of all but the early experimental boats. There are other problems of proportion and shape that will become immediately evident upon comparison to technical drawings. If you use the hull directly from the kit, your model will not show off the sleek lines that made the Schnellboot an elegant and powerful small combatant. (DK)
Series 7, Classic Historical Ships (pre 1963)
Editor's Note: A collection of three Airfix destroyer/frigate kits, portraying ships of the 1982 Falklands Islands war.:
I wonder why they didn't include the Fearless? It makes you wish that Airfix made an Invincible, or a Hermes, or a Type 42, or a Type 22 or........
Issued circa 2004. (DRW)
Series 3, 1968-69; 2 helicopters, 2 landing craft included; No of parts: 119; Guns elevate: no; Decals included.
GOOD. Detail: medium/high - Appearance: good. A slightly uneven model, in some places the details are really great, in some just ok but you won't be disappointed if you buy this kit. (LS)
GOOD. Pretty nice. It even has decent detail in the landing craft as well. The Sea Cat launchers aren't that great, but otherwise OK. I wonder why they never issued this kit with the decals for Intrepid.....(DRW)
GOOD. Send in the (Royal) Marines! This ship, made famous in Operation Corporate, was one of the more fun to build models in my collection. In the USN, it would be classed as a "Landing Ship Dock". The ship has a well deck in the stern that can accomodate landing barges. Normally dry, this well can be flooded and a stern gate lowered to launch these craft. In addition to this, there is a large flightdeck just aft of the superstructure with five helispots. This can be used by either helicopters or Harrier fighters, giving the ship the capability of a small aircraft carrier. The ship is further armed with two single 40mm guns on the bridge wings, and short-range AA missles.
A friend of mine served on the USS Nashville, and seeing my model under construction, opined that it was very close to his old ship in layout.
Quality of detail on this model is inconsistent. The landing barges are pretty good, the two helicopters are so-so, and the 40mm guns are pretty poorly modeled. Overall, it makes a nice model, especially when some PE railings are added.
(LDF), review dated 26 February 2006.
Editor's Note: Re-issued by:
Series 10, 1978; Reissued as a Heller kit in 1990; No of parts: 195; Guns elevate: no; Decals included for CVG-1 "AB"; 20 aircraft, 1 helicopter, 1 crane, 4 tractors included.
Detail: medium/high - Appearance: good.
GOOD. Guide to detailing in Airfix magazine Sep 1979. Can be built as a waterline model. This is a good kit. The hull above water is made of starboard and port parts with a flat bottom. Two pins extruding from the bottom can either be cut off or put into holes in the separate underwater part. The flightdeck is in one giant part. Everything fits together wonderfully well. Minor error: the aircraft decals are for 1957 but, the funnel is of the rectangular post-1959 type. (LS)
GOOD. Building mine was a dream. Call me crazy, but I prefer it to the old Revell 1/542 kit - the Airfix/Heller version just looks a bit better proportioned to me. (JMP)
Editor's Note: For comparison, check out these kits:
Series 6, 1963-64; No of parts: 148; Decals included;
Detail: medium - Appearance: ok/good. The kit includes transparent parts for swimming pool roof and sports roof. (LS)
Series 2, 1966-67; Decals included.
Series 4, 1970; No of parts: 124; Guns elevate: yes; 1 aircraft included.
OK. Detail: medium/high - Appearance: ok/clumsy. To me, a large disappointment. Due to some error in design the front gun turret had not even room to turn. The kit is quite detailed but somehow it just don't look like the other Airfix kits and for example the masts are the thickest found in an Airfix kit. (LS)
OK. This model was a disappointment to me. I felt that the Aurora kit was basically better overall because most of its flaws could be corrected easilier. This is not the case with the Airfix model. First off while the main turrets are very well shaped and detailed they are a little too small and there still is not enough room for them to turn. Unlike the Aurora kit, you can't simply replace them with two from a Revell Scharnhorst or Gneisenau because as mentioned there isn't even enough room. I also was extremely disappointed with the single 5.9 guns. I expected the same level of detail as the mounts on the Narvik DD, which are beautiful. Same goes for the 4.1 inch twins. They are a little better, but again, not as good at similar mounts in the Airfix Prinz Eugen. I do not know if the 4.1 guns are any better on the Airfix Bismarck as I have never seen this kit.
The superstructure was very detailed but the armored tower seemed too short. None of the range finders seemed right compared to pictures I have studied. I do not believe they could be replaced with parts salvaged from other models due to size difference.
The armor belt seems to be incorrect. I believe it was slightly higher on the ship.
Overall, I believe the engraved detail in very good but the layout out and scale problems however lower the overall quality. The smaller Testors Graf Spee is a far better kit, if not the best. (RDF), review dated 10 April 2007.
Editor's Note: For comparison, check out the Aurora Graf Spee (1/600)
Series 1, Historical Ships
Golden Hind [1/72] (sail)
Series 9, Classic Historical Ships (1977) Editor's Note: Said to portray the ship in 1578.
(approx 1967)
Editor's Note: Said to be about 18 inches long.
FAIR. Detail: low/medium - Appearance: ok. It's a sound kit but it needs a lot of work to be perfect, the hawse pipes and breakwater needs to be completely rebuilt and lots of derrick and deck details need to be added but I can assure you that the end result is worth all the work. (LS)
FAIR.
Kit Background : This is the oldest injection-moulded plastic model of Hood. Since its release in 1960, it has been periodically reissued a number of times. The kit contains 131 pieces and is a full-hull representation of Hood as she appeared in the mid 1930s. Being 1/600 scale, it builds into a fairly large model of 17"/430mm in length.
Moulding & Detail: The kit is of poor quality when compared to the Tamiya 1/700 scale kit or the Italeri 1/720 scale kit. It suffers from a lack of detail and from large, bulky features. As for the quality of he moulding, it is generally crisp, with a small amount of flash. No sink holes were noted, but a few ejector marks were present.
Hull: Correct in overall shape, taper and shear, with the exception of the torpedo bulges. These are present, but do not correctly conform to the true shape of the ship's bulges. The hull also lacks an armour belt. Another odd feature are the open torpedo mantlets. Fortunately, most of these problems can be fixed with a combination of plastic strip stock, putty and a good deal of sanding.
The deck planking is far too wide for the scale. The deck machinery and features (ventilators, capstans, winches, hatches) are all moulded into the deck and are somewhat bulky for the scale. On the other hand, some items which were prominent on the real ship are not-so-prominent here. One such example is the forward break water. Another deck planking problem is the forward Shelter Deck- on this model, there are planks. On the real ship, however, this area was painted metal.
Guns:
Superstructure: Mostly accurate in general shape and layout. It does suffer, however, from an extreme lack of detail, plus the parts are a bit bulky/thick. There are a few notable errors: Both funnels are completely missing their base structures. They have venting around them, but are missing the small rectangular structures that the funnels were situated upon. Another problem area are the batteries situated on each side of the ship. These areas are completely lacking in detail and accuracy. Instead of a planked deck with undulating/curved walls, each side is moulded with smooth decks and straight walls. This can be corrected, but it will take a lot of work.
Masts: Very thick and bulky. The starfish platforms are poorly done. These can be replaced with ultra-detailed photo-etch starfish by White Ensign Models.
Other: Boats are largely accurate. They could be a bit more detailed though. The same applies to the various rangefinders and sighting devices. These are mostly correct, but all are somewhat lacking in detail. One major problem to note here are the kit's painting instructions. Complete rubbish. Hood never had green bridge decks. Please be sure to throw them away and use our detailed Hood painting instructions instead.
Summary: A good kit for its day (1960), but it looks its age. Fortunately, it can be built-up into a good respresentation of Hood with some aftermarket parts and a good deal of scratchbuilding. This kit can be found in man stores, or ordered from any of several online model retailers. It is also available directly from the Airfix website.
(FWA), review dated 7 December 2003, updated 26 March 2006
GOOD. I have a fair amount of sympathy for this kit, since it was the first kit that won me a prize in a model contest, many ages ago. It represents the Hood somewhere between 1931 and 1937. The hull is quite nice, but the bilge keels are missing. The level of detail is pretty decent for its day. The planking on the deck was pretty impressive for its time. The main turrets aren't too bad, but they need a bit of reshaping at the front. Unlike Airfix's Warspite & Iron Duke kits, the main gun barrels are not flared.
I don't like the way the lower parts of the superstructure are implemented. The bulkheads are attached to the deck. This can make both the deck and the bulkheads difficult to paint.
Overall, I'd say it is pretty good for its age, and it can be fixed up pretty easily. (DRW)
GOOD. If built OOB, this kit will represent Hood as pre-1939 refit. Ship still has its 4.5" secondary turrets and single, open 4" AA guns. A little extra effort goes a long way on this model. Addition of side platforms on X turret, extra detailing on primary and secondary turrets are easy to add. Addition of PE a big help as always, but model will still look good with detailing and rigging.
(LDF), review dated 26 February 2006.
GOOD/EXCELLENT. Series 2, issued in 1973. This was, I believe, the first of Airfix's 1/1200 "Naval History Series" clip-together ships, released about the same time as their 1/1200 Bismarck. The boxtop says the models are intended to "...re-enact on any flat surface famous sea actions and battles", so I expected to see a fairly basic Hood, perhaps similar to their somewhat disappointing small scale Bismarck.
Happily, this was not the case! The kit consists two sprues containing 64 well molded grey plastic parts depicting the ship as she appeared at the time of her loss in May 1941. The model, though measuring a mere eight and one half inches in length, is accurately proportioned and packed with detail. The hull, waterlined with a solid bottom, is correct in overall shape, taper and shear. The single-piece main deck is provided as a separate piece. Detail on the deck is excellent, including a multitude of hatches, bitts, vents, breakwaters, petite ground tackle, and some amazingly delicate deck planking. The raised planking is especially notable, some of the finest I've seen in any scale. The planking is also evident on the shelter deck, but correctly shows this on only the after portion (Airfix missed this on their 1/600 scale Hood). Superstructures and funnels, tiny in 1/1200 scale, are predictably a bit simplified, but they are convincing and basically accurate. However, there is an odd discrepancy with the inclusion of torpedo lookout and searchlight platforms on the foremast. Although the fit of the model is correct for the 1941 Battle of the Denmark Strait, both these platforms had been removed before 1941. Thus the model is incorrect as is, although you could still use them if you make a few modifications to depict the ship earlier in her career. Another inaccuracy is the shelter deck , depicted as a straight line rather than with the angular notches the structure actually had. This can be easily fixed, though. Armament is mixed. Main turrets are good, except that the barrels look too thin; I replaced them with hypodermic needles. The four inch twins are simplified shapes and the barrels are also too long, but they're useable. The 8-barrelled 2pdr pom-poms and UP projectors are very good, but the 0.5 inch Vickers quad machine guns look like single barrel cannons (those on Airfix's 1/1200 Ark Royal, which appeared the following year, were much improved). Other parts vary in quality from good to excellent; masts and cranes are proportional and accurate, and the fire control directors are first-rate. My favorite parts are the ship's boats, which are the best injection molded boats I have seen in 1/1200 scale. In fact, they are better than those found in Airfix's 1/600 scale Hood or even in Heller's 1/400 scale kit!
Minor flubs notwithstanding, Airfix's 1/1200 Hood is one of the better units of their 1/1200 "Naval History Series". Given the perennial popularity of the Hood in all scales, it is surprising that Airfix never reissued it... so now who's your little Revell Bismarck gonna chase?
(TR) Review dated 8 June 2007.
Series 1, 1964; No of parts: 72; Guns elevate: no; Decals included Detail: low - Appearance: ok.
Series 4, 1968-69; No of parts: 183; Guns elevate: yes.
Detail: medium - Appearance: good. Was clearly the best Airfix ship when it appeared. Lots of very small parts. Side scuttles a bit ugly. (LS)
GOOD. Some of the portholes are a bit large, (drill them out with a constant sized bit) it has the "flash suppressors" on the main guns, (should be sanded down) and the bilge keels are too long, (easily trimmed down) but otherwise, a nice kit. (DRW)
Note that this kit depicts Iron Duke in 1915, not post-war. (AP)
Series 6, 1982(?); No of parts: 167; Guns elevate: yes; Camouflage scheme; 1 aircraft included.
Detail: high - Appearance: very good.
EXCELLENT. A very nice kit with more deck details than any other Airfix ship. The model represents KGV in 1941 with her UP batteries. The camouflage scheme is from the first months of KGV's career. (LS)
EXCELLENT. A real winner. Very detailed. It portrays the ship more or less "as built", with UP launchers on B and Y turrets, and the aircraft catapult amidships. The de-gaussing cable on the hull (specific to the KGV herself) is well done, but it must be removed if you want to convert the kit to portray another ship in the class. My real only criticism is that the 5.25" guns are a little off (Revell did them better). The deck details might be a little overdone, and they are difficult to paint. The kit dates back to the mid 1970s. (DRW)
Editor's Notes: Re-issued by:
For comparison, check out these kits:
The Airfix-labelled Kriegmarine set includes 11 separate vessels of the WW2 German navy in 1/400 scale:
All of these were previously sold as individual kits except for the E-boats which I think were sold as a pair. There is an instruction booklet containing all the assembly instructions and colour schemes detailed below. The painting instructions are fuller and more detailed than previously, and offer several variants, and are referenced to Humbrol paints. Each type of ship has a descriptive text longer than that in the original kits, and there is an overview of the KM at the front. Decals are provided on quite a lavish scale but all feature the swastika-less version of the ensign.
Overall: an interesting idea (and a bit of a cheap gamble for Airfix, given that they are all old kits), but they have made an effort to provide better instructions and more variety. It will be interesting to see if anyone has the space to make the obvious diorama of a Channel port. It's only a shame that Heller never made the older destroyers and torpedo boats, to make the set really complete. (JRC), review dated 15 October, 2005
Series 1, 1968-69; No of parts: 73; Guns elevate: ?; Decals included; Detail: medium - Appearance: good.
GOOD. Later editions have Exocet lauchers included. Guide to detailing in Airfix magazine guide 7. (LS)
FAIR. It's not bad. It's got a decent level of detail, and comes with a choice of 4.5" guns, or those same too-small Exocet launchers from the Type 21. No Ikara launchers or Sea Wolf launchers, though. (DRW)
Series 2, 1970; No of parts: 86; Guns elevate: no.
Detail: medium/high - Appearance: ok/good.
GOOD/EXCELLENT. Scores over the Matchbox Ariadne in every way, except for the lack of mine doors in the stern. Those are easy enough to cut into the plastic. (DRW)
Lots of very small parts. (LS)
Series 4, 1964-65; No of parts: 139, Decals included; Detail: medium
GOOD. Troop transport & hospital ship during WWI. I consider this to be the best of the passenger ship kits. (LS)
Editor's Note: Series 1, Historical Ships. (LS)
Editor's Note: 24 parts.(DRW)
Editor's Note: Series 8 : Classic Historical Ships (1971) (LS)
Editor's Note: Series 5, 1973; (LS)
GOOD. It's not the same kit as the 1/600 Aurora, but it is comparable, and much more available. (DRW)
FAIR. The forward missile launcher should be different from the other two. It is an SUW-N-1 launcher for an ASROC type weapon, not an SA-N-3 SAM launcher like the others.
(Brooks), review dated 7 January 2003.
Series 3, 1975
Series 2, 1974 (on box) No of parts: 92; Guns elevate: yes. Detail: high - appearance: good (LS)
GOOD/EXCELLENT. Much like the Manxman kit and a good companion to the other highly detailed Airfix kits like Prinz Eugen and Repulse. Detail on mine rails, gun shields, deck , bridge structures and torpedo tubes is excellent. Light AA weapons are poor and there some ejector pin marks in hard to fix places. This model is of the flotilla leader Z 28. (IW)
This is a kit of a German Narvik class destroyer (Z28) of WW2. Quality is comparable to Airfix HMS Belfast; very good for this scale/material. This kit is also excellent for conversion, as this class had different configuration/arnament from unit to unit and as the war progressed. Z28 was unique among the Narviks in having two superfiring main guns forward (others had only one single - and later on most units a double turret) and a large deckhouse and two superfiring guns aft (all others had three guns aft, with two on the after deckhouse). Number of AA guns increased during the war. An interesting kit indeed. (EA)
EXCELLENT. This kit is a joy to build. The seams are very nice and the engraved detail is nothing short of awesome. This model is of the flotilla leader Z 28. The detail rivals that of the Repulse. This model is almost perfect to display with any of Revell's 1/570-size German ships. The detail of the single 5.9in mounts (Why they were not used in the Graf Spee and Scharnhorst kits amazes me) excellent. With some research and scratch building you could easily build a complete (and very accurate) flotilla using this kit.
Editor's Note: For comparison, check out these kits:
Editor's Note: A collection of four Airfix destroyer kits:
(DRW)Series 4, 1962; No of parts: 134; Guns elevate: no.
OK. Detail: low - Appearance: slightly clumsy/ok. Generally sound but needs a lot of detailing. Guns are clumsier than the Hood's. The kit represents Nelson as she was in 1945 but sadly all the light AA batteries are missing! The latest one I bought (in 1995) was actually in better shape than the one I bought some 15 years ago but the mold is now so old that some of the (few) details were lost. There is a article how to convert the kit to a pre-war variant in "Scale Model International" March 96. (LS)
FAIR. A bit lacking in detail, and the main turrets are the wrong shape, but you can make a decent model out of it. I suspect that they meant to portray the Nelson in 1946, which could explain the lack of 20mm AA guns. The 40mm Bofors and 2 pounder "pom pom" AA guns are present. (DRW)
OK. This Nelson is about average for the Airfix kits I've seen, with a rather waxy plastic and crude details. There are some exceptions, e.g. Repulse. Not as crisp as Repulse. (AP)
OK. Note that on some versions a confusing line on the instructions seems to indicate the platform with 2 x 40mm quads should be placed cantilevered from the top of the superstructure instead of on top of the conning tower. Scale Modeler magazine actually built theirs that way!
(Brooks), review dated 7 January 2003.
Series 9, Classic Historical Ships (1970)
Series 5, 1974; No of parts: 151; Guns elevate: yes; Camouflage scheme; 1 aircraft included.
GOOD. Detail: medium/high - Appearance: good. A nice kit. (LS)
EXCELLENT. (based on in-box review) So far, it looks nicely detailed, and correctly shaped. (DRW)
EXCELLENT. The detail is great and the fit is quite nice except at the stern where a gap is left.
It seems the kit represents the Prinz Eugen in the '41 time frame. So if a later time is desired additional light AA guns must be added.
The detail put into the 4.1in guns and the 8in turrets is very welcomed when compared to the Moounts on the Revell kits. (This is the only small scale with elevating 8" guns! Revell take note!!!!) The 4.1in guns are absolutely the best, second to none. The superstructure very accurately scaled and while the Revell kits does a good job or accurately displaying the overall super structure, I personally believe this kit is superior to Revell's version.
First the flaws. The stern anchor chain is only a strip of styrene about 1/2 " in long on the aft port quarter. Removing it is not the problem. It is the repair afterwards. I messed mine up on my first attempt. After you remove the molded on plastic. Cut a 1/16 inch stick of .005 styrene (I had to use 1/8 due to a gouge I made). In photos of the ship, it appears a metal plate was actually mounted on the deck as a chain slip, so this corrects two errors.
The side armor is wrong. First it is to narrow, to long and does not blend in correctly. Fixing this is a real challenge. I left mine in hopes nobody smart enough would notice. Cutting it off and fabricating a new one would require thinning the sides dangerously.
Bilge Keels. Way to thick. Sanding them off will penetrate the hull a little. Applying a thin piece of styrene strip to the inside of the hull covering the indention. After I sanded away the keel, putty and sanded it to shape. Just add thin styrene strip to replace the molded on keel.
As mentioned earlier, the fit at the stern is not good. The deck is to short and leaves a gap about a full millimeter wide. The bow fits a little better. Filling will be required to fix the stern.
Now the good! Because of the scale it can be displayed with Revell's 1/570 scale German ships. It seems the kit represents the Prinz Eugen in the '41 time frame. So if a later time is desired light AA guns must be added. I really like the effort put into the 4.1in guns and the 8in turrets. (This is the only small scale with elevating guns! Revell take note!!!!). The superstructure seems very accurate. I personally believe this kit to far superior to Revell's version.
I emailed Airfix and there are apparently on plans to re-release this kit. Because of the detail of this model and the after market products available you have the options of numerous variants. First you can build any of the three commissioned cruisers (Hipper [requires bow & hangar modification], Blücher, or Prinz Eugen) or the two unfinished CAs (Seydlitz [CVL conversion or CL with 12 x 5.9 guns], or the Lützow [as a CA, CL or in her final Russian configuration - a very interesting endeavor])
I discovered that the twin 5.9 cm turrets in the Revell Scharnhorst are basically the correct shape and only a hair small. First you have to cut off the barrels. I added .005 styrene strip to all surfaces. I cut three gun ports and drill 1/16 holes. A little putty and sanding was required to finish the shape. A friend has a great vacuum forming machine and in a jiffy I had ten (other projects to) triple 5.9 turrets. Other than this the ships structure is unchanged. Since the triple 6in turrets are a little lighter than the twin 8in ones the AA armament is a little heavier. Use the previous book reference.
Editor's Note: Re-issued by:
Series 2, 1977
GOOD/EXCELLENT. Series 2, issued in 1976. Part of Airfix's 1/1200 scale "Naval History Series" which also included the Bismarck, Hood, Ark Royal, Suffolk, and a Tribal class destroyer. Issued between 1973 and 1976, the series was apparently not very successful as it was soon discontinued and none of the ships was ever reissued. That's a shame, because they were nicely done.
The Prinz Eugen consists of 56 grey styrene plastic parts which build into a model just under 7 inches in length and less than 3/4" in beam, portraying the ship as during the Operation Rheinübung sortie with the Bismarck. Though designed as a clip-together wargaming model, it is finely detailed and compares favorably with with many larger scale kits. Hull, superstructure, and funnel shapes are correct and capture the ship's elegant lines well. The waterlined hull particularly is well done, accurate in shape, taper and shear; better, in fact, than the earlier Hood or Bismarck units of the series. There is even a degaussing cable! The separate single piece main deck is also well done with tiny hatches, vents, bitts, a breakwater, ground tackle...even paravanes. Torpedo launchers are molded integrally with the deck, but in this small scale they look good. My only gripe with the deck is the total lack of planking detail, which is strange considering that the earlier Hood and Bismarck kits in the series had excellent planking. Even stranger is that planking is present on some of the superstructure decks! Fortunately all this is not that visible once painted. Other odd design choices are evident with the armament. The main turrets are good, but the 105mm antiaircraft guns are just ok, resembling scaled down versions of those found on Revell's 1/570 Bismarck/Tirpitz. What is baffling is that the same 105mm mounts on their previously issued 1/1200 Bismarck kit were outstanding... why didn't Airfix simply reuse those? The same with the 37mm twins: outstanding on the Bismarck, mediocre on the Prinz Eugen. Go figure. Other parts are good to excellent. Masts, cranes, searchlights, and boats are good (although there should be more boats), as are the spherical hooded 4m antiaircraft directors. The delicately rendered10.5m rangefinders atop the superstructures are excellent, and the Arado 196 floatplane, poorly done on the Bismarck kit, is outstanding with accurate shape, floats and, amazingly, visible aileron and elevator detail!
Even with some less than stellar design choices with the decks and armament, Airfix's little Prinz Eugen builds into an appealing, accurate rendition of that most graceful ship.
(TR) Review dated 8 June 2007.
Series 6, pre-1962; No of parts: 131; Decals included.
Detail: low - Appearance: slightly clumsy/ok.
FAIR. The only injection-molded model of this ship we're likely to see, so you have to work with it. Fortunately, you don't have to take it too far. The shapes look very good to me (and the assembled hull looks positively huge), and there are no solid lifelines to remove. Ship is in later configuration with stabilizer fins. Most of the windows on the superstructure are represented by simple raised squares; sand them off and make decals instead. The davits do not line up properly with the promenade windows, so fill the locator holes and place them manually (boats should hang above prom deck window sections, with davits mounted in between window sections). The boats look marvelous and are molded as open boats - consider making resin copies for your Revell Queen Mary. (Indeed, one is tempted to build a forced-perspective diorama featuring the 1/600 Queen Elizabeth and the 1/568 Queen Mary!) Throw away the kit decals, especially on the 2000 re-issue; the typeface for the name on the bow is way off. Not a bad kit by any means, and looks easy to improve. (JMP)
Series 6, 1969; No of parts: 145; Decals included. Detail: low/medium -Appearance: ok. Participiated in the Falkland war. The model represents the ship in her original appearance, with the white funnel and without the later additions on Signal Deck. (LS)
GOOD. (based on in-box review) I thought that the detail was actually pretty good on this kit. The problem is fit. There are many small, but annoying gaps that must be filled. The two hull halves do not align well. It's not that hard to correct, but I've seen better. Still, it looks like this will be a very impressive model when completed. (DRW)
Editor's Note: New mold, 2004. Said to have 239 parts.
Series 6, 1978.
Series 6, 1982?; No of parts: 147; Guns elevate: yes; Camouflage scheme. Detail: high - Appearance: very good.
EXCELLENT!! Portrays the ship in her final configuration. A real beauty. Wonderfully detailed. I did not have the fit problems that Leif had. This is arguably Airfix's best ship kit ever. Now all we need is a Renown to go with her... (differences in the hull bulges make it nearly impossible to convert this kit into a Renown) (DRW)
GOOD. Well, it's not perfect but almost. There are minor fitting problems with the deck and some of the scuttles on the superstructure are missing, but otherwise it is just wonderful. The detailing of the side armour can't be described, it has to be seen. And the deck has even the deck camber curvature! The model and camouflage represents Repulse as she was when she sunk Dec 1941. (LS)
EXCELLENT. Really an excellent kit. If all Airfix kits were of this level of quality, I'd agree with David and go all 1/600. (AP)
Editor's Notes: Re-issued by:
Series 1, Historical Ships
Editor's Note: Presumably Drake's 1588 flagship. Said to be 17 inches long.
Series 8 : Classic Historical Ships (approx 1964-65)
Series 2, 1970; No of parts: 79; Guns elevate: yes; Decals included.
Detail: low/medium - Appearance: clumsy.
OK Terrible superstructure. The deck houses including the platforms are in two parts, the boundary goes right in the middle of the platforms. Clumsy masts. Guide to detailing in Airfix magazine May 1976. (LS)
OK/FAIR. The ASROC launcher is bogus, assembled as if it was two layers of tubes instead of boxes. Put plastic card on top and sides to represent box shape; etch the cell divisions. (Or steal an ASROC from a scrapped Aurora BAINBRIDGE).
(Brooks), review dated 7 January 2003.
OK. This kit was so close to being good. The SPG-51C/D antennas distract. The SPG-51C/D antennas are wrong. I know it is only 1/600 scale, but there is room to improve as the antennas are just round disc. The SPS-52C 3D antenna is incorrect as is the SPS 38 or SPS 40 (depending which time frame is chosen). As mentioned the ASROC pepperbox is awful. The rest of the ship is not bad.
Possible variants:
The ship is missing all it's Whip antennas. This may seem trivia, but think. First there are the easiest things to add to almost any kit. Second, they are pretty easy to research and last; when you see a picture of any ship you can't help but notice all the antennas everywhere!
No SLQ-32 V2 antennas (or V3, only installed on three US ships).
I believe GGM makes a SPS-52C. If not a 1/700 SPS-48E might work, just be sure to make a correct IFF Dipole. Can Be display with Revell 1/542 carriers, just do not put if too close (RDF), review updated 10 April 2007.
FAIR I'm a bit more forgiving of the deck houses than Leif is. It's only a minor nuissance. I do like the hull. Bilge keels are nicely molded in. The separate propeller guards look nice. If you're looking to do conversions, the hull's got the later bow-mounted SQS-23 sonar dome (as opposed to the earlier keel mounted style) That's fine for the Rommel, or the other Bundesmarine Adams class, but if you're going to try to convert it to a USN Adams class, then you'll have to either do DDG-20 through 24, or perform some major surgery on the bow. Brooks is right about the ASROC launcher. I missed that one! The ASROC launcher in the kit looks like eight individual tubes rather than a segmented box. As Randy points out above, this kit has lots of conversion potential. (DRW)
Series 9, Classic Historical Ships (approx 1964-65)
Editor's Note: portrays the 1635-1696 Royal Sovereign, possibly as she appeared in 1637. (DRW)
Series 1, Historical Ships
FAIR. Santa Maria was the second unit of Airfix's Series 1 "Historical Ship" kits. Released in 1954, it was among the first injection molded plastic model ships ever marketed. The initial Airfix issue was a waterline model molded in white with a small plastic sea base and separate shrouds/ratlines printed on a piece of clear acetate. Later issues were revised with a full hull and stand without the sea base and acetate. This later version has also been produced more recently by Heller (kit 79705) in brown plastic. The less than three inch long hull scales out to about 1/350...so you can display it with your Tamiya battleships!
The exact appearance of the Santa Maria ("Holy Mary") remains a matter of conjecture and debate. Some experts believe the Mariagalante ("Party-Girl Mary", the ship's original name before Columbus sanitized it) was a Portuguese style nao, others that it was a carabela (caravel). Airfix seems to have based their kit on Julio Guillén Y Tato's 1927 Santa Maria reconstruction built in Cadiz as a carabela de armada (armed caravel). The hull shape matches that reconstruction fairly well.
For a kit this old and this small, the Airfix Santa Maria is not too bad. The full hull is split down the keel, with heavy but surprisingly believable plank/strake detail. The separate one-piece deck has delicate raised plank markings, stairs, and a hatch. The hull and deck are simplified, but the details present are well rendered and the unit is so tiny that the effect is good. Unfortunately, everything above the deck is out of scale. The mainmast, for example, is some 25 scale feet too high. The too tall, too thick masts support massive wind-filled sails that overpower the little hull. The flags printed on a separate sheet of paper are also too large.
Still, the whole thing snaps together in a few minutes or, if you want to do some scratchbuilding, the hull/deck could be a good basis for a more detailed build of Columbus' famous flagship.
(TR) Review dated 9 June 2006.
Series 4, 1964-65; No of parts: 159; Guns elevate: yes; 1 aircraft included.
Detail: medium Appearance: good. Guns elevate: Yes.
GOOD. If you want an early (pre-Atlantic bow) Scharnhorst, this is the one. Kit dates back to about 1963. (DRW)
This is Scharnhorst as built, not in WW2 shape. I bought a new one three years ago and converted it to Gneisenau-1939. The kit was in the same good shape as my first in 1965 or 1966. The bilge keel is missing like in most old Airfix kits. (LS)
FAIR. I have two of these and in both cases I was not particularly pleased. My problem probably stems from my earlier exposure to the Airfix Repulse, Narvik and Prinz Eugen models. The last being my stimulus for purchasing the Scharnhorst. I expected this model to have all the excellent products (gun mounts) of the previous two German models. That of course was not the case. So lets start there.
All the secondary and AA gun calibers are way below Airfix standards. How this happened has to be a mystery. On the other hand the main guns are very nice. A little void of detail but nice depending on the source, maybe even better than the Revell kit. The 4.1in guns, while disappointing are still a little better that the Revell kit for sure.
The 01 level seems to have an excessive amount of overhang. From the photos I have seen, this feature seems to be exaggerated. The deck engraving here seems a bit crude as well.
The entire superstructure seems to have suffered the exact same fate during development at that of the Graf Spee. It seems squat and out of proportion to the rest of the ship. The Scharnhorst class was a sleek and beautiful design, this is not evident in this kit the, to the degree of the Revell model.
Over all the kit may actually fall into the poor category with the Bismarck.
(RDF), review dated 3 August 2007.
Editor's Note: For comparison, check out these kits:
Series 1, Historical Ships
Series 9, Classic Historical Ships (1973)
Series 3, 1964-65; 1 aircraft included; No of parts: 128; Guns elevate: yes.
Detail: low/medium - Appearance: ok.
GOOD. Not the most detailed thing I've ever seen, but essentially right.
There's a good article on building and converting this kit in the June 1978 issue of Airfix Magazine, pg 554. (DRW)
OK. Portrays the cruiser after her 1935 conversion. (LS)
Editor's Note: Re-issued by:
Series 1, 1977; Clip together kit for wargaming.
Series 3, pre-1962; No of parts: 74; Guns elevate: no; Decals included.
Detail: low - Appearance: slightly clumsy.
GOOD I like this one. It's pretty good for its day. It's not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but the basics are all there.
The kit portrays the ship as built, before her helicopter conversion.
The bilge keels are missing, as are two of the four propellers. Superstructure levels are molded into the decks below them, which can make painting difficult. Lattice masts are not that great, (photo-etch would be better) but OK for their day. 6 inch and 3 inch guns look nice.
This ship also has some excellent modification potential. Airfix Magazine's March 1978 issue has a good article on conversions. The hull is perfect for making Fiji-class (AKA Colony-class) cruisers. Guns and many superstructure parts can be obtained from an Airfix Belfast.(DRW)
Like the H.M.S. Daring. This is a model of Tiger before the 1968-72 conversion. Lines of rafts included. (LS)
Series 4, 1967; No of parts: 170+2; Guns elevate: yes; 1 aircraft included.
Detail: low - Appearance: bad.
POOR. This is the Bismarck model with two torpedo-tubes added, no other changes. (LS)
Series 1, 1974.
Editor's Note: I've only seen it in pictures, but it must be REALLY tiny in 1/1200! At least sometimes, packages came with two ships. (DRW)
GOOD. Series 1, 1974. This was one of Airfix's 1/1200 "Naval History Series" clip-together ships intended for wargaming. Issued as a pair, each Tribal consists of 20 cleanly molded gray plastic parts. They scale perfectly at 1/1200, and these things are tiny: their hulls measure a mere 3.75 inches in length!
As with others in the series, the waterlined hull is a single part with a solid bottom and separate single-piece main deck. The hullform and dimensions are accurate, but the ship rides about 1/16 inch (12 scale feet) too high. There is even part of the undercut below the stern, as if the pattern maker had begun to produce a full hull model and then abandoned the effort part way through. This odd choice by Airfix could actually be a plus since it allows for partial exposure of the lower hull if you want to put the model in a rough scale sea, but for calmer conditions you have to sand off the bottom 1/16 inch. Otherwise things look good. There are simplifications one would expect in this scale (such as the molded to the deck torpedo tubes and solid open bridge), but there are no basic accuracy problems. Surface detailing is delicate and restrained. The four 4.7 inch gun mounts aren't bad, and the miniscule ship's boats (the smallest is 1/8 inch long!) are excellent.
This is a nice little kit, and one of the very few injection plastic destroyers ever issued in this scale.
(TR) Review dated 16 June 2006.
Series 5, 1972
Pre-1962, series 4; No of parts: 94; Guns elevate: no; Decals included; 14 aircraft included.
Detail: low - Appearance: slightly clumsy.
The first big Airfix ship. The kit is sound, but low in detail. Needs a lot of detailing to look good. The mast and the guns are clumsy. (LS)
FAIR/GOOD. Detail is decidedly lacking. No bilge keels. Good painting instructions would have helped. (DRW)
Series 1, Historical Ships
This kit is said to be about 22 inches long when complete. It is said to portray the ship in 1765.
Series 9, Classic Historical Ships (approx 1967)
Series 4, 1963; No of parts: 135; Guns elevate: yes; 2 Swordfish aircraft included.
Detail: medium - Appearance: good.
FAIR. This kit represents the Warspite after her 1934-37 refit. The biggest problems are the bow, (kit has a bulb bow instead of a ram bow) and the quarterdeck. (wrong shape) Both can be corrected with some effort. Once again, there is the problem of the "flash suppressors" on the main guns. Sand them off. Superstructure is decent, gun turrets are nice, and the casemate 6" guns are fragile, but nice. (DRW)
A very good model for its time. No errors, just less deck details than later kits like KGV, Repulse & Belfast. (LS)
Series 9, Classic Historical Ships (1972) . Said to portray the ship in 1628.
OO/HO Armoured vehicles: (Series 3)
The polythene ready assembled is a low quality toy, but Airfix did make and still makes from what I know, a regular polystyrene kit version in 1/72, to go together with his tanks. I have one half built, it's not too bad, needs some filling etc. Includes a Sherman tank from the regular Airfix line. (PauloB)
OO/HO Attack Force - (Ready assembled polythene kits for wargamers)
Their web site is at http://www.alanger.ru (DRW)
Editor's Note: NATO code name "Akula", Russian code name "Shchuka-B". (DRW)
Editor's Note: NATO code name "Delta IV". (DRW)