New MSW crew-mate Scott Espin [ SPIFF ] gives us his thoughts and views on Tamiya Models, 1/700 scale Waterline Series Z Class Destroyer (Z37-39) Project Barbara kit in this inbox review...check it out!

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If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!
~Gunny

Thanks for getting the review up Gunny. I've started up a build log for those who might be interested.

Tamiya 1/700 Z Class Destroyer Z-37-39 Build Log

Scott,

Nice review. Like I had said I have been eyeing this kit for a while and wasn't sure if I should get one or not. I might just wait a while and see if anyone steps up to make a new one.

It's a nice kit, too bad about the turrets. I'm going to have to figure out how I can make them look more like the real thing. hmmm.....

Hi Scott

Good review, with the problems identified - now, all we need is... solutions!


Cheers,
Rui

Stay tuned in the Build Log.... hopefully I'll figure something out.

Great review Scott, and welcome to the "light side"
Look forward to your build.
Jim (JMart in FSM)

Thanks for the comments and the interest gentlemen, it's much appreciated! I'm surprised more people aren't into 1/700 scale ships, they're really fun!

Thanks for the info on the turrets. That answers the question I had about the accuracy of the kit. It still looks like a neat kit, though, and I like the fact that there are two ships, which means you can build an early and late version from the same kit.

ya, that's one of the things that drew me to this kit, it's cool that there are two of them and that you can do two different configurations and schemes.

I picked up this kit today. Very nice.

Here are some photos to illustrate the inaccuracies of the main single mounts. Note on the photo of the real thing how flat and agled the front plate is. There is a bulge perpendicular to the barrel the top of the turret near the front. When you look at the kit parts see how off the turrets are? The kit parts have the barrel lay in a groove on the top, when the guns should be sticking out of the face. Also the bulge is at the rear of the turret top parallel with the guns. Not even close to the real thing.

Hio Scott

Nice work on the review and a warm welcome to the dark and "salty " side of modelling.

Looking forward to the build as well.

Cheers


Sean

Thanks Sean. I'm still "patiently" waiting for the arrival of the PE radars, Flak guns and rails. LOL This is the longest it's ever taken for a shipment from Hong Kong to make it to my front door.

I was wondering if you would post a few more pics of the armament
as my research material is lacking. Any photos would be greatly
appreciated.
Thanks mate,
Scott Steinbrecher

Sure thing Scott

It can be a bit tricky finding the right photos as depending on the class.

Z39 was a Type 1936A MOB Destroyer which featured 5 x 15cm guns, 3 single turrets and 1 twin mount in the front.


The Osprey Book German Destroyers 1939-45 has some nice photos and decent info on these ships.



This page has some good info and a schematic of the 15cm twin turret.

15 cm/48 (5.9") TBK SK C/36




Here are some great pics of Z-39's main armament from after the war when it was under American control as DD 939. I hope these help.

On the second to the last photo, note the backside of the single 15cm mount. It is open and simply covered by a tarp. The conditions were brutal for the gunners especially in inclement weather during operations around Norway and further north... not my idea of a good time.

Great pics and an informative link,thanks for posting!