Customer Reviews

Dragon Models 1/350 German Battleship Scharnhorst 1943 Smart Kit

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Dragon is one of about four GREAT Model Ship (and other genre) makers! Hasegawa, Trumpeter and Fujimi also come to mind, with Hasegawa hulls being the absolute BEST (all plates, etc. are engraved in relief. Tamiya was one of the very best, but these four companies have surpassed them (in my humble opinion!) The most exciting aspect is that GREAT Photo-ethching afer market items are available for these models, that will turn them into Show Winners! Dragon's instructions are followable, but the least clear of the "big four" (at least to my aging eyes.) All the parts go together very well, hardly ANY flashing, all sprues are clearly marked, etc. Most of these models are Full Hull / Waterline so that you can construct each ship either way, with, of course, the waterline versions perfect for dioramas. The largest scale is the 1/350 scale, as these models average between 20 and 30 inches in length. My personal choice is to not use the included polymer stands, but make a better one (I only use full hull models) out of a good piece of wood, and get some brass pedestals from a company like <[...]>, and many others! As good as the gun turrets are in these kits, there are also aftermarket companies that will make turrets so real you think that they were shrunken from the real thing! One can also get actual brass propellers and aluminum gun barrels that are drilled out. And, this particular model, KM Scharnhorst, has the very interesting 1943 Eastern paint/camo scheme, that should make a very fine finished model. YOu simply CANNOT go wrong with this kit, or others like it from those four companies, and Tamiya is also to be considered, as aftermarket companies have many products to upgrade their fine models, too!