by ted0330 » Wed Dec 26, 2012 8:47 am
This is the second ISW kit I have built, the first being their Seydlitz.
ISW covers a nice selection of first generation dreadnoughts and, until Combrig started making their kits in 1:350, was one of the largest sources for subjects of this period in 1:350.
The Queen Mary comes in what I identify as their 'standard' box, a sturdy cardboard rectangle that fits the hull. The hull is in a single piece, with multiple superstructure elements cast with it. The torpedo net shelf is also cast with it.
The hull casting was excellent- no warping, plug marks or casting holes. Based on my experience with numerous other resin kits I had expected to do substantial hull cleanup, and required almost none.
The kit's other cast parts include the turrets, superstructure elements and numerous small parts. These latter included the anchors, mast elements, torpedo net booms, propellers,shafts and their supports, two vents, coaling booms and multiple ships' boats.
Also included was a generous amount of brass rod in three sizes for making mast elements. There was not enough to replace the propeller shafts.
The casting quality of the small parts was excellent. Dimensions and sharpness were first rate. There was a great deal of flash which required delicate attention to remove. Once cleaned up the parts fit well. There was predictable warpage on the mast and boom elements. Some of this could be corrected by careful heating and gluing, while other parts are best replaced with brass rod.
The larger parts had more casting problems, most especially the turrets. The gun ports on these were not centered, or else the resin did not symmetrically fill the mold. Regardless of the reason, the turrets appeared notably assymetric. Fortunately, as noted below, 6 turrets were supplied for a 4 turret ship, and between a judicious selection of turret and careful sanding I was able to get 4 turrets that were approximately centered.
Assembly was straightforward. The instructions are by no means step by step, but appear to be intended for a modeler experienced both with resin kits and the ship's plan. I think this is a fair expectation for modelers attempting a subject of this size; however, for less experienced modelers it would be wise to obtain a set of plans and photos for the placement of many details. The instructions do include a scaled drawing of the main mast, allowing brass parts to be cut to length very easily.
The photoetch is detailed and extensive. Some parts, like the boat cradles, were cast on the deck, but I have always felt doing these in PE is redundant since they are not seen. The railings are carefully fitted to various parts of the hull and superstructure. Unfortunately the instructions do not tell where these parts are to go except for the main deck railings, leaving the modeler to guess based on size of part.
A strongpoint of the kit were its secondary guns. These were assembled out of two resin pieces and then given a PE gun shield. They were beautifully detailed and easy to place correctly.
I do wish that fewer of the kit's superstructure elements had been cast with the hull. The kit felt half assembled before being touched. The advantage of this is that extensive detail and time can be given to the masts, boats and photo etch. The disadvantage is that painting is harder.
A remarkable oddity of the kit was the variation in part numbers provided. 6 anchors were provided, 6 propellers, 6 turrets and two complete sets of mainmast parts. Despite this the kit had no main battery gun barrels nor did it have torpedo netting. Crane bases were provided but no other crane parts. As noted above, the extra turrets were handy. The other parts made for a bit of confusion tallying the parts against the parts list.
I contacted IWS by email about the missing main battery and received a prompt reply, but never received main battery guns. I ultimately used brass after market guns, correcting some of the turret symmetry problems by scratch building blast bags out of Tamiya putty. I scratch built the crane elements from brass and made torpedo nets from tulle fabric.
Ultimately assembled this kit makes an impressive display. Its assembly requires a non-trivial amount of scratch building (mast elements, guns, torpedo nets, cranes). For the inexperienced the instructions, parts redundancies and scratch building will be daunting. For an experienced modeler who is willing to accept the premise that a kit might require significant scratch building and other skills, this is a rewarding project with an impressive visual payoff.
Ted Tsaltas
This is the second ISW kit I have built, the first being their Seydlitz.
ISW covers a nice selection of first generation dreadnoughts and, until Combrig started making their kits in 1:350, was one of the largest sources for subjects of this period in 1:350.
The Queen Mary comes in what I identify as their 'standard' box, a sturdy cardboard rectangle that fits the hull. The hull is in a single piece, with multiple superstructure elements cast with it. The torpedo net shelf is also cast with it.
The hull casting was excellent- no warping, plug marks or casting holes. Based on my experience with numerous other resin kits I had expected to do substantial hull cleanup, and required almost none.
The kit's other cast parts include the turrets, superstructure elements and numerous small parts. These latter included the anchors, mast elements, torpedo net booms, propellers,shafts and their supports, two vents, coaling booms and multiple ships' boats.
Also included was a generous amount of brass rod in three sizes for making mast elements. There was not enough to replace the propeller shafts.
The casting quality of the small parts was excellent. Dimensions and sharpness were first rate. There was a great deal of flash which required delicate attention to remove. Once cleaned up the parts fit well. There was predictable warpage on the mast and boom elements. Some of this could be corrected by careful heating and gluing, while other parts are best replaced with brass rod.
The larger parts had more casting problems, most especially the turrets. The gun ports on these were not centered, or else the resin did not symmetrically fill the mold. Regardless of the reason, the turrets appeared notably assymetric. Fortunately, as noted below, 6 turrets were supplied for a 4 turret ship, and between a judicious selection of turret and careful sanding I was able to get 4 turrets that were approximately centered.
Assembly was straightforward. The instructions are by no means step by step, but appear to be intended for a modeler experienced both with resin kits and the ship's plan. I think this is a fair expectation for modelers attempting a subject of this size; however, for less experienced modelers it would be wise to obtain a set of plans and photos for the placement of many details. The instructions do include a scaled drawing of the main mast, allowing brass parts to be cut to length very easily.
The photoetch is detailed and extensive. Some parts, like the boat cradles, were cast on the deck, but I have always felt doing these in PE is redundant since they are not seen. The railings are carefully fitted to various parts of the hull and superstructure. Unfortunately the instructions do not tell where these parts are to go except for the main deck railings, leaving the modeler to guess based on size of part.
A strongpoint of the kit were its secondary guns. These were assembled out of two resin pieces and then given a PE gun shield. They were beautifully detailed and easy to place correctly.
I do wish that fewer of the kit's superstructure elements had been cast with the hull. The kit felt half assembled before being touched. The advantage of this is that extensive detail and time can be given to the masts, boats and photo etch. The disadvantage is that painting is harder.
A remarkable oddity of the kit was the variation in part numbers provided. 6 anchors were provided, 6 propellers, 6 turrets and two complete sets of mainmast parts. Despite this the kit had no main battery gun barrels nor did it have torpedo netting. Crane bases were provided but no other crane parts. As noted above, the extra turrets were handy. The other parts made for a bit of confusion tallying the parts against the parts list.
I contacted IWS by email about the missing main battery and received a prompt reply, but never received main battery guns. I ultimately used brass after market guns, correcting some of the turret symmetry problems by scratch building blast bags out of Tamiya putty. I scratch built the crane elements from brass and made torpedo nets from tulle fabric.
Ultimately assembled this kit makes an impressive display. Its assembly requires a non-trivial amount of scratch building (mast elements, guns, torpedo nets, cranes). For the inexperienced the instructions, parts redundancies and scratch building will be daunting. For an experienced modeler who is willing to accept the premise that a kit might require significant scratch building and other skills, this is a rewarding project with an impressive visual payoff.
Ted Tsaltas