The kit comprises 10 sprues, the upper and lower hull, waterline plate, (no weight) small display stad, and one clear sprue with the walrus which is not needed for this version, also a small decal sheet.
Instructions are in booklet form running to 12 pages, there is also a colour chart, box art is ok.
My reference for this kit was primarily a book I've had for many years British Warships of the Second World War by Alan Raven and John Roberts 1971. This is a folio type with pull out drawings. When I had any doubts Iconsulted the internet.
The hull is nice showing full rows of portholes with very delicate rain gutters, the armoured bulge, and scuppers. This caused me some concern as the drawing did not show any of this, and with it representing her in her 44 - 45 time period I went straight to the net and found a photo matching the kit very closley.
The deck pieces do not have a lot of fittings on them which will be great when it comes time to mask, though the plank detail is rather plain, you can't tell where planks start or stop. Deck seams will be hidden by the breakwater and superstructure, anchor chain is very small, and should be replaced.
All of the vertical surfaces of the superstructure feature lots of detail especially doors, and with a wash and some dry brushing these will really pop out.
The only funnel detail is a moulded on ladder. Boat cradles and splintershields are very thing as are tubs and superstructure walls.
The kit features the dreaded aztec stairs, these should be replaced.
Other items that require replacementare: ships motor boats, cranes, type 273 radar lanter on the fore mast and 20mm guns.
I was suprised at the carly floats, they are exceptionally well detailed as are the 8 barrelled pom poms.
Parts R7 are search lights mounted on poles that sit on a platform on either side of the fore funnel. You need to tread carefully here when removing them, I suggest you use a thin razor saw to remove them to avoid damage. Ther are 3 other search lights in the kit and they are great, showing the signal shutters, but they aren't needed for this kit.
The 15 inch turrets look good as do the 4.5's, main barrells are slo good, not having the muzzle flare prominent on the QE.
Pit Road have made a couple of errors with respect to armament arrangements.
First, The instructions call for a 8 barrelled mount to placed atop B turret, when she carried a 4 barrel mount in that position instead.
Quick fix, mount one half of the 8 barrelled pompoms to it's base, but attach a small piece of plastic to the underside to raise it up a bit. Or buy a 4 barrelled version.
Second, there are numerous quad 05 inch machine guns all over the ship, these should be twin 20mm guns in armoured boxes. Going down this path will require the removal of the tubs on the rear structureabreast and behind the rear director.
Recomendations:
Buy this PE set: http://www.bnamodelworld.com/ship-boat/ ... -kit-05764
The kit really would benefit from it and you can use as much or as little as you want.
Buy these barrels: http://www.bnamodelworld.com/shipboat/s ... hms-renown
Cheap and will really lift the appearance.
Consider this deck set: http://www.bnamodelworld.com/index.php? ... s_id=36897
Again this will enhance the plain decks.
This a link to a page with Renown's full service history, really interesting:
http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-02BC-Renown.htm
maybe JB
