Ahoy mates!

It’s one of the most anticipated kit releases of 2011, Zvezda’s 1/350 HMS Dreadnought. We now have photos of the actual kit. Click the link below to see the photos.

Link to Item

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!
Kenny

I have rather mixed feelings seeing the photos of Zvezda's Dreadnought.
For a much anticipated subject the model would seem extraordinarily bland to look at. The moldings would appear to be crisp but rather uninspired, ( and I am not sure what to make of what look like the KIng Kong size Vickers machine guns fitted on top of the waist turrets). It will take a lot of PE to change this into a head turner. At least someone on the design team extended the envelope by designing a sexy base to fit the finished model on. I am absolutely sure that Zvezda can do better than this,
Cheers,
Julian

I see where you are coming from...

That said, I'd rather have a producer who gets the basics right rather than trying to be fancy, not getting the basics right, and needing tons of PE to fix it up anyway, and having a much higher price (see the infamous Hasegawa Excel-sheet which costs US $ 200).

Julian,

Those aren't machine guns. They are QF 12 pounder 18 cwt anti-torpedo boat guns.

It is almost as if those ant-torpedo-boat gun's use is rather limited due to their positioning. Especially since it is almost as if the main gunds would be of as much use (since they seem to block the anti-torpedo boat guns).

Only if the mains are trained the same direction as the torpedo boats; but as they'd be in closer this is doubtful; they'd be too close for the mains to be effective.

Sure... it was meant a bit tongue-in-cheeck. It just seems that one could easily have come up with a better place to put these guns than on top of the turret.

Thanks Kenny, hadn't seen that photo. Have to agree with Harm though, must have been a better location for the twin "buffalo guns"
Julian

A bit harsh Guys.

Doesn't look bad to me, especially taking price into account, £25.00 on Hannant's website.

You ain't going to get something like the quality of the Hasagwa Mikasa, and slightly bigger for less than half the price.

Alright it will need some work, and some etch, and maybe some resin 12 pdrs would be nice.

Bottom line if the shape is good, & it fits ok, (Looks pretty good on both counts from the pics) for the price it is a fair amount of plastic, and that works for me.

I am up for at least one, and a look what it will take to convert into the next couple of follow on vessels.

Si

Hi Simon, that was more or less my point: what is provided by Zvezda is reasonably crisp but not World shocking . It is going to take a lot of work to make it more than mediocre
The Devil will be in the details
Julian

I am rather looking forward to this release. I actually think that the bland look will serve the dedicated modeller to improve to his liking without having to shave off heavy or inaccurate detail. As well, next to railing I think that most missing detail can be made from styrene, brass rod, paper, and streched sprue.
The most important is that basic features, shapes and measurements are correct. I'd rather have a baby-butt-smooth hull than a trench-warfare as commited on Nagato or made up blukhead detail that needs taking off anyway.
I reckon that at the usual price range of Zvesda the money value will be formidable.
Even 5 years ago such as release wouldn't have been possible. These are the golden years of model making!
Cheers,
Guido

Hi Julian,

Sorry If I miss understood your comment slightly

The Devil sure will be in the detail, but that is where the real fun part of ths hobby is.

I am looking forward to seeing what Mr Hall comes up with for this baby, that will be interesting.

More power to Zvezda's elbow, I hope this is a big seller, on the evidence so far it sure should be. Hopefully it may lead to some more early 20th centuary ladies in plastic.

Si

No problem Simon, I will be buying this offering from Zvezda if only for the sake of having the "Mother of all Dreadnoughts" in the collection
Cheers,
Julian

Anyone heard of aftermarket stuff for it?

Hello Magnus,

PE 35155 from White Ensign Models:

https://www.whiteensignmodels.com/c/British+Ships+Aircraft/190/1/

The more pre-orders we receive, the higher it moves up on Peter Hall's design priority list.

What will the price be?
Sea Master 12" barrels? Masts and yards would be nice as well. Maybe resin replacements for the 12-pounders?

We won't know the price until Peter Hall finishes the design and we get a cost quote from the etching company.

Freetime has a video of the parts for the kit.

Dreadnaught




My 2 cents on the kit. It is GREAT to have a plastic model of her. Sure it is not perfect, but we all know that WEM and Peter Hall will make a set to jazz her up.

I am looking forward to her very much.

Me too.

I hope that nice Mr Hall includes the replacements for the clear bridge / wheelhouse bulkheads on fret, along with all the usual goodies.

Si

Hi Simon,

I passed your comment along to Peter. His reply: "Can't comment yet until I see the bits, but I will bear that one in mind." He's currently finishing off our 1/400 Bismarck/Tirpitz PE set, and will have the Dreadnought kit in his hands next week.

Thanks John,

I can see why they Zvezda have moulded those components clear, but I reckon they would look so much better good etched.

Best be putting my money where my mouth is and get a pre-order in

Si

just found this over on steelnavy.

the sprues look a lot better than the built up test shots

http://www.steelnavy.com/ZvezdaDreadnought.htm

Si

Thanks for the link. The review sounds very promising.

Cheers,

Harm

I'm still gonna get 3 of them.

--Karl

Am certainly looking at getting a second & converting her to Bellerphon, that shouldn't be too difficult, second tripod mast and revised secondary armament, plus a few other minor details.

One of the minor details will be getting hold of 16 4" mk vii's in 1/350th, cos scratchbuilding them sure would be fun.

Si