Zvezda 1-350 HMS Dreadnought

[USS California BB44]

I recieved my Zvezda Dreadnought from Freetime hobbies last week and I wanted to post a quick review of it here as I do not see any on MWS yet.

Boxart

Box contents

Contents laid out. Yes, the lizard in the background is mine.

The box contains seven sprues, one decal sheet, and one paper Union Jack. Only one sprue has a repeat.

[USS California BB44]

Sprue A is the hull halves. They are nicely detailed but the portholes could be deeper. For you waterline devouts Zvezda has very kindly put a deep groove on the inside of the hull to ease in waterlining. I can not vouch for the complete accuracy of the hull but I must say that for the most part it looks to be very close to the set of plans I have.

Sprue A

[USS California BB44]

Sprue B has many of the main components like funnels and platforms. The detail is good but on the main deck piece, there are a plethora of small marks that dot the deck and would be practically impossible to remove without destroying the fine wood deck paterning. As a result I will definately be waiting for a wooden deck for this kit.

Sprue B

Wierd marks on the main deck

Edit: just learned that "weird marks" are coal scuttles.

[USS California BB44]

More pics of sprue B

[USS California BB44]

Sprue C has a lot of the smaller fittings and one of the main turrets. They are nicely detailed but are in dire need of PE for some of the finer parts.

Sprue C

[SeanF]

I think those marks on the main deck are the coal chute covers and are supposed to be there.

- Sean F.

[USS California BB44]

Sprue D has the other four turrets as well as the secondaries and other fittings.

[USS California BB44]

Sprue E contains clear parts for the bridge windows and other areas. Sprue F is the display stand with a unique rock like texture. The decal and flag sheets are simple but acurate.

[USS California BB44]

I think those marks on the main deck are the coal chute covers and are supposed to be there.

- Sean F.

Ack! Thanks for pointing out the obvious.

[SeanF]

No problem. I had to learn the same thing myself when I saw them on Combrig 1:700 kits.

As for the kit in question... relief-etched covers might be a nice item to include in a PE set, as the little circles on the kit are very plain. I'm sure there must've been a handle or something.

I do wonder about the flag they've included. There's only the Union Jack and no naval ensign, and I thought the jack had diagonal red stripes by the time Dreadnought commissioned. (No big deal, I'll use replacements anyway. Just something I found odd.)

- Sean F.

[RoddersUK]

Just ordered one with brass gun barrels and the wooden deck from Free Time Hobbies.
With my extensive PE collection I'm sure that I will be able to utilise some of it, especially ladders and WT doors.
The kit looks good in your review and I am glad that there is marking to cut off the lower hull as all of my 350th ships are waterline.
Several years ago I had a1:128 hull from Westward Mouldings but shortage of space and a job away forced me to sell it at a small loss. Wish I'd kept it as I am now doing a 1:128 Vanguard. I'll probably get another one and finish them as First and Last.

[RoddersUK]

As for the scuttles not being deep enough, I always drill them out on all of my models and glaze them with Crystal Clear, once the hull has had its final paint of course.

[halleys_trauma]

Thank You USS for that great review. I would be very interested in how the build goes. The good and the not so good. Kit is on my wish list

John A

[interstaterr]

Wow, that stand will be perfect for my model of Costa Concordia

[USS California BB44]

I suppose so if your model is in 1-2400 scale; it's a tiny stand.

[interstaterr]

I only need the rocks sticking out of the hull

[Guest]

I'm not totally up on UK flag etiquette, but that flag shown is the Union Flag that was replaced in 1801 by the current Union Jack.

Also, the decal sheet has the name in Helvetica Bold (or possibly Arial Bold), neither of which existed when the Dreadnaught was a fighting ship. I know it's a minor thing, but accurate is accurate and lazy (on the part of the decal artist) is lazy.

[DAVID ALCOCK]

BEFORE STARTING GET HOLD OF "ANATOMY OF THE SHIP dreadnought JOHN ROBERTS all the detail you want including coal scuttle design

[johnwassell]

The Zvezda kit repeats the starboard scuttle and hull door layout on the port side.
A check of the relevant deck plans and photos in the "Anatomy..." shows that there are numerous differences. An accurate model thus requires alterations to the port hull.