An historic ship, we give you a little background on the HMS Belfast, as well as unbox the model and show some detailed part photos.

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If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

Ah... another great release from Trumpeter!

At last a British cruiser in plastic in 1/350th, This kit has been knocked on a couple of forums, I am reserving judgement until I have seen one built up out of the box and paid the real thing another visit to get some more photos.

I am a bit disappointed I have not been inspired from the reviews to rush out and buy one.

Si

I know what you mean Si. It's great to have a RN cruiser at last in plastic at 1/350, but how much compromise on accuracy should we make?

Having just bought the Trumpy Eskimo kit and finding that I need to spend a whole lot more on after market parts to correct the errors, one wonders if my money would be better spent on a better kit of another vessel.

This is not to Trumpy bash either, as it applies to all the kit makers equally.

There's a big dust-up on other forums over sprue shots of the funnels. Apparently (maybe) Trumpeter made the forward funnel too small in diameter.

I think WEM are already planning resin replacements for the funnels and compass platform...

https://www.whiteensignmodels.com/p/WEM1350+HMS+Belfast+Compass+PlatformFunnels+Set+Pro+3536/21406/

Definitely no Trumpeter bash intended (Currently building their Type 23 HMS Kent, and no complaints on that one), just a bit of frustration, I am sorry but there is no excuse for some of the errors (All three gun trunions in a line) when the real thing still exists.

Also I am not convinced about the shape of the hangers, the external sides should according to all the drawings and period pics I have seen be parallel.

Please Trumpeter, you have produced some great kits, looking forward to the Russian Pre Dread, but these silly errors.... (And you aren't the only manufacturer that does it)

Si

Agreed Si. I'm just starting out on Trumpy's Prinz Eugen & all the reviews I've seen are positive. So how can it be so hit n miss?

Good question Russell,

Also built 4 USS England's as various Captain Class Frigates, great little kit.

Add to that the fact that they went to great lengths, (If you will pardon the the Pun) not to just partially rebox the Prinz Eugen and call it the Admiral Hipper, the Errors on the Belfast are not really excusable.

Si

Not too surprising since they screwed up Eskimo from hull shape to armament to motor launches. For those who don't already know, the bow sheer line should have been increased by 3mm at the prow; should have had quad 2 lb'er pom-pom's, not 8 barrel; and the motor launches look like they have just come off Trumpeter's Graf Spee or Prinz Eugen sprue! It should (or could) also have had a twin 4" HA turret in X turret position, and main gun barrels look pretty inaccurate. But I'm not Trumpeter-bashing, just saying what's wrong!

Before anyone goes all ballistic on me, I will admit, in Trumpeter's defense, that the parts fit (on Eskimo), before any modifications, is very good and didn't require any filling. And raised surface detail such as doors and hatches are well defined. So, in some areas, they are improving.

Further to Jim's excellent review, I received the WEM PE Set on Saturday for this kit and when I get permissions from WEM I will be posting a full review of the set then starting the build of the kit with the WEM set.