Calling all Dunkerque-class fans

[MartinJQuinn]

With the impending release of the Hobby Boss 1/350 Dunkerque, now might be a good time to start a thread for these two handsome ships, Dunkerque and Strasbourg.

An overview of the class can be found here. For more information on Dunkerque, click here. For Strasbourg, click here.

Available kits:
1/700
Samek Dunkerque
Samek Strasbourg
WSW Dunkerque
WSW Strasbourg

1/400
Heller Dunkerque
Heller Strasbourg

1/350
Hobby Boss Dunkerque
Hobby Boss Strasbourg

Gallery Entries:
1/700
Rob Kernaghan�s WSW Strasbourg http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html
Christoph Mentzel�s Samek Dunkerque http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html

1/400
Peter O�Donnell�s Heller Strasbourg http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html
Bernd Villhauer�s Heller Dunkerque http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html
Wes Beatty�s Heller Dunkerque http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html
Ted Bunn�s Heller Dunkerque http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html
Laurent Sciarretti�s Heller Dunkerque http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm

1/350
Robert Apfelzweig's Hobby Boss Dunkerque: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm

Other Scales
Alain Moitrot�s scratch built 1/200 Dunkerque http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html
Jan Stepanek�s scratch built 1/150 Dunkerque http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html

[Caravellarella]

MODERATOR EDIT: CONDENSED THESE TO ONE POST - REFERENCE BOOKS

Then you will need a copy of this:-

ISBN 2-909675-75-0, "Les Cuirass�s Dunkerque-Strasbourg" � Robert Dumas, Marine �ditions, paperback, 2001 (French Language, part of a box set)......

Originally published as a hardback in 1993......

ISBN 978-1-84832-034-5, "French Battleships: 1922 - 1956" � John Jordan & Robert Dumas, Seaforth Publishing Ltd, hardback, 2009......

& most likely you will also need a copy of this:-
ISBN 1-7196-0078-X, "British, Soviet, French & Dutch Battleships of World War II" � William Garzke Jr, Robert O. Dulin Jr & Thomas G. Webb, United States Naval Institute/Jane's Publishing Company Ltd, hardback, 1980......

Terry (Caravellarella)

[Jack G]

In profile they are very 'modern'
Rear aircraft catapult and hangar that could quite easily be a helipad
Small funnel
Tower bridge one could imagine Aegis fitted to
Armament forward, that could be missile launchers (or less dramatically a vertical missile bed)

Kirov class battlecruisers feature a similar layout today.

[conordavid]

Does anyone think there is a chance that Hobbyboss will bring these lovely ships out in 1/700? How do the Samek and WSW kits compare?
Many thanks.

[Ivan]

Good evening. I turn to the experts of the French Navy. None of these books mention these small cannons., But I would like to know more about them "Caliber and Type" and in many photos it is clearly visible that they are also with the butt .... Thanks in advance. Regards, Ivan

[Mr. Church]

Good evening. I turn to the experts of the French Navy. None of these books mention these small cannons., But I would like to know more about them "Caliber and Type" and in many photos it is clearly visible that they are also with the butt .... Thanks in advance. Regards, Ivan

Not sure I qualify as an expert on the Marine Nationale but I do have Robert Dumas' book on the Dunkerque Class:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cuirasses-Dunk ... 2909675750

This contains a plan which lists the guns you refer to as 'Canon de salut de 47' which would translate as 47mm saluting gun. A quick google of that threw up the following:
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canon_de_ ... %A8le_1885
http://www.fortiffsere.fr/artillerie/in ... ge2775.htm

I don't know for a fact that these are the correct guns but it seems plausible that they might be?

[drdoom1337]

Is the Hobby Boss kit worth the price premium over the Heller kit ? I have the opportunity to get the Heller kit for 45$

[Timmy C]

The Heller kit dates from 1991, while the Hobby Boss is from 2017 - so yes, I'd say it's worth it. There aren't much in the way of reviews for either kits, but you can compare the following:

Ted Bunn's Heller kit build with some PE: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html

Hobby Boss (note especially the instructions and compare the bulkhead details with the Heller build): https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10425297

[Captain Morgan]

The Heller kit dates from 1991, while the Hobby Boss is from 2017 - so yes, I'd say it's worth it. There aren't much in the way of reviews for either kits, but you can compare the following:

Ted Bunn's Heller kit build with some PE: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html

Hobby Boss (note especially the instructions and compare the bulkhead details with the Heller build): https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10425297

I think the Heller kit is from the mid 1970's. I remember it on the cover of Squadron magazine way back then. In those days you could order from Squadron Shop on John R or Brookhurst Hobbies if your local hobby shop couldn't get it. I had all the 1/400 German ships along with Dunkerque and Strasbourg while I was still active duty, so for me that means before the summer of 1986.

[Timmy C]

You're probably right - Scalemates lists 1991 but they're not the most reliable when it comes to ship kits.

[Mr. Church]

It may have been re-issued in 1991 but likely dates from before that? Anyway back to the question HobbyBoss 1/350 versus Heller 1/400?

A point to consider here is that you can get dedicated aftermarket detail sets for the 1/350 HobbyBoss kit but not for the Heller 1/400 kit. Depends how detailed do you want to go? Or are you going for 'out of the box'?

Artwox do a wood deck for the Heller 1/400 Dunkerque and BD Barrels do brass main gun barrels for her. Also L'Arsenal do a 1/400 Seaplane and Catapult set which suits Dunkerque or Strasbourg. But there is no dedicated detail set for the whole ship. Which is a pity as the French Watertight Doors are very distinctive. Maybe some day L'Arsenal might do a dedicated detail set for a 1/400 Dunkerque, as they have one for 1/400 Richelieu? Hint hint, please...

I cannot comment on the HobbyBoss version as I do not have one but I do have the 1/400 Heller one. It is standard Heller really, overall profile and shape look very good but not much in the way of finer details. Nothing that can't be added to and improved if required. I do like the Heller kits.

[Mr. Church]

Italian Newsreel footage of Toulon after the scuttling of the French Fleet in November 1942. Some views of Strasbourg submerged up to her stern nameplates:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVe49_BJ8CU

[olive40]

Hello,
I ask a question that must have been asked before but when I see the news announced for 2021 at 1/200 ...
Can we believe in a production of battleships of the Dunkerque class and Richelieu class at 1/200 in the years to come by manufacturers such as Trumpeter or Hobby Boss?
Or is it a dream?

[Mr. Church]

The French Mus�e National de la Marine or National Maritime Museum have some photos online of their collection. Including their model of Dunkerque. Might be a useful reference for someone?

https://mnm.webmuseo.com/ws/musee-natio ... MAAOxGmg$$

The museum is well worth a visit if you are ever in Paris.

[Iceman 29]

The Hobby boss kit of the Dunkerque 1:350 is provided with 4-blade propellers, which is not correct.

https://military-history.fandom.com/wik ... battleship

"In each Engine Room there were two sets of turbines, each driving a three-bladed propeller with a diameter of 4,20 m, on Dunkerque, and a four-bladed propeller with a diameter of 4.045 m on Strasbourg."

My question is where can we get 3 blade propellers to make the model right?

[StevenVD]

Six years ago an announcement was made by L'Arsenal on a French forum, that they were developing an upgrade for the Hobbyboss models and would soon be able to show the product: https://www.laroyale-modelisme.net/t186 ... -hobbyboss .

Recently I acquired both ships with a lot on eBay and one had the Shipyard Dunkerque wood deck with it. I completed this with the Woodhunter Strasbourg deck and twice the Master models barrel set. Only then I found out that the only way to complete this with a PE set, is buying all of these again in one pack from Shipyard or Bigblueboy. But if there was still a set from L'Arsenal in development, that would suit me better. Only it never seems to have substantiated.

[StevenVD]

I eventually bought the Bigblueboy and Shipyard upgrades for these ships. I made a comparative review here: viewtopic.php?f=85&t=378908.

[Mr. Church]

An interesting photo courtesy of the French Ministry of Defence showing Dunkerque as having a grey funnel cowl rather thsn the usual black:

https://imagesdefense.gouv.fr/fr/vue-en ... erque.html

Photo attached for ease of viewing:

The grey cowl is a detail I suspected before from distant and unclear photos. But this looks to confirm it beyond doubt. No exact date that I can see on the photo unfortunately.