The Ship Model Forum

[quote="D-Boy"]BigBlueBoy is releasing a waterlined resin hull/superstructure with their PE kit. If you want to build a waterline version of this ship, this kit appears to far exceed Cyber Hobby's version in plastic.

[url]http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=159495[/url][/quote]

After a lost summer of packing and moving to Connecticut from Upstate NY, I've begun to set up the modeling work area and get back in the game. Just ordered the resin Zumwalt, referenced above and will report in when it arrives.

- D-Boy

Just started the 1/700 Zum. Looks to be an excellent kit. The superstructure detail looks to be a little heavy, so I purchased the blue boy pe set.

Looks awesome... 1/700 pe gun barrels :cool_2:

BigBlueBoy is releasing a waterlined resin hull/superstructure with their PE kit. If you want to build a waterline version of this ship, this kit appears to far exceed Cyber Hobby's version in plastic.

[url]http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=159495[/url]

[quote="maxim"]The PE set appears not to be addressing any problem of the kit (except perhaps of the 15.5 cm gun barrels) - and is adding the problem that on the too thick tiles PE parts have to be glued, which would make that part even thicker and would produce a very prominent step on the superstructure there...[/quote]

Here's a closer look: [url]http://www.bigblueboy.net/201412/70004.html[/url]

Upgrades would appear to require sanding superstructure tiles off/flush, and then applying PE.

Kit appears to provide gun barrels and hatch covers for main armament and secondary armament, new VLS (also requiring existing detail in plastic to be sanded flush) at bow and stern, new tile detail at hanger entrance and tiles on hanger sides, landing deck detail, and related netting.

Here's a build of the Zumwalt using the initial release of the BigBoyBlue PE accessories: [url]http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=159404&hilit=Zumwalt[/url]

The PE set appears not to be addressing any problem of the kit (except perhaps of the 15.5 cm gun barrels) - and is adding the problem that on the too thick tiles PE parts have to be glued, which would make that part even thicker and would produce a very prominent step on the superstructure there...

Big Blue Boy releasing a PE kit for the Cyber Hobby release in 1:700: [url]http://www.freetimehobbies.com/1-700-big-blue-boy-uss-zumwalt-ddg-1000-photo-etch-set/[/url]

Here's a closer look: [url]http://www.bigblueboy.net/201412/70004.html[/url]

Ah I see what you mean. I thought you were talking about two separate issues, but see now that you were only talking about the coating on the SPY-4 slots.

The real ship will not get the SPY-4 antenna. Therefore anti-radar tiles were added at the positions, where the antenna would have gone. These are recessed areas with tiles, whereas those places, in which antenna are (SPY-3 plus ?) are no tiles (and also appear to have a different colour).

The kit depicts all recessed areas at the superstructure as there would be radar antennas, i.e. there are no tiles. Perhaps it was not known at the time, when the kit was designed, that Zumwalt will not get the SPY-4 radar.

Anti-radar tiles are on the kit, see this: http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=157043

Though I'd have prefer they be left off, since they are quite overscale.

As to the SPY-4 slots, what's wrong with them?

I think that the positions, where the SPY-4 radar antenna would have gone (if they would have been fitted), are wrongly depicted. These anti-radar tiles are also there on the real ship, but not on the kit.

Those were the pics I used to make my assessment, and agree that they got the dips and hatches and such correct (if somewhat overscaled). You'll note that photo series is where I found the pic of the twisted rudder, which Dragon also got correct.

This photo essay on the Zumwalt at current stage of construction offers a chance to assess how well Dragon designed the model.

[url]http://intercepts.defensenews.com/2014/06/zumwalt-ddg-1000-the-future-is-nearly-here/[/url]

I see no dramatic errors in terms of sensor placement, exhaust, or other superstructure apertures. What do others think?

Yes! But we have to wait for the real ship to be finished and to get high resolution photos of the finished ship, e.g. showing also the decks, the upper part of the superstructure etc.

The photos I have found do not show any details from above.

And there are some unknowns, e.g. where exactly will the 30 mm guns go, will she really get this "mast" on the top of superstructure etc.

On the other hand, a lot of advanced modelers (way more advanced than myself!) love accuritizing models. : D

This was the point of my earlier posting - this kit is sort of a "what-if" model. "What if" it looks like this when finished. There is even some conjecture on armaments above, as well. And then there is the issue of DML's designs accuracy lately on new-tooled kits. In the past, Dragon has released fantastic kits, but recently they are increasingly suspect, and subject to very close scrutiny for accuracy and dimensional flaws. DML does not have a record of correcting mistakes (their first Cyber-Hobby SAS Jeep; their more recent M103, and M6 tanks); they simply discontinue the production run and move on to their next subject. Buying this USS Zumwalt by DML may prove to be premature. :wave_1:

[quote="biggles2"]$35 is a bit steep for a 1/700 destroyer with so few parts and very limited included PE. Are there no deck railings on the real ship, or did Dragon just decide to not include them? Of course, this is the trend for all of the Black Label line. :wave_1:[/quote]

We don't know yet. :cool_2: There's been a mix of heavy and light construction fencing on the ship, but I can't imagine what we see in photos is in any way permanent.

[url]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6c/131028-O-ZZ999-103.JPG[/url]

[url]http://intercepts.defensenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/DDG1000-131015-b.jpg[/url]

[url]http://aviationintel.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/zumwalt-01.jpg[/url]

[url]http://www.jeffhead.com/usn21/zumwalt-ddg1000-08.jpg[/url]

[url]http://intercepts.defensenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Z012-DDG10001310_I6Z7950-cu-gun11.jpg[/url]

This rendering shows a portion of the bow with deck railings (and netting on the helicopter landing pad as well (also not included)). Note no railing on deck above hanger at stern.

$35 is a bit steep for a 1/700 destroyer with so few parts and very limited included PE. Are there no deck railings on the real ship, or did Dragon just decide to not include them? Of course, this is the trend for all of the Black Label line. :wave_1:

Here is Tim Dike's review, posted on this forum as of 8/1/2014: [url]http://www.modelwarships.com/reviews/ships/ddg/ddg-1000/700-dr/dragon-review.html[/url]

In that case, it may be better to wait a year or two for Hobby Boss, or Trumpeter to release a more accurate one. Dragon may be jumping the gun a bit here. :wave_1:

[quote="biggles2"]Dragon's "Black Label" series (1/35 armor kits) so far has had a very bad reputation with severe inaccuracy issues and high pricing. :mad_1: :mad_2: .[/quote]

In this case, the buyer should both understand that Dragon has released a kit of a first-in-class and as yet incomplete ship. I was fully prepared as a buyer for some conjecture and inaccuracies. For the most part, we are noting minor inaccuracies that can be addressed during a build or parts that can be swapped out from other kits.

The anechoic tiles sand down nicely, imo. Trying to get pictures up, but camera and laptop not enjoying their conversation at the moment.