The Ship Model Forum

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

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

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

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.

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De quoi s'agit-il?

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.

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Anti-radar tiles are on the kit, see this: 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?

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De quoi s'agit-il?

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.

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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.

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De quoi s'agit-il?

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

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

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...

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

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: http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=159404&hilit=Zumwalt

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.

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

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

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In Drydock:

1/700 USS Maine ACR-1 (Combrig)

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