¹⁄700

This just in. Dragon Models announces the November release of the 1/700 HMS Sheffield Premium Edition. Honoring the 25th anniversary of the Falklands War, Dragon brings the modeler a very nice upgraded kit of the first ship lost in combat in 40 years, at that time. Retail cost has yet to be announced.

Honoring the 25th anniversary of the Falklands War, Dragon will re-launched the HMS Sheffield as a 1/700 scale Premium Edition kit. Commemorating the ship that was the first Royal Navy ship lost in combat since World War II, the model represents the Sheffield exactly as she appeared during that conflict. As usual for a Premium Edition release, the model has been upgraded with a range of new parts to enhance detail. There are numerous photo-etched parts to improve detail and add realism e.g. antennas, handrails, helicopter rotor blades. While HMS Sheffield may have been taken by surprise by two Argentine Super Étendard fighters, this new model from Dragon offers a much more pleasant surprise for model ship fans. This vessel has been brought up to the most modern kit standards, plus it remembers an important event in recent Royal Navy history.

This kit includes:

• Optional photo-etched rotor blades for on-board helicopter
  
• Photo-etched handrails add extra refinement
  
• Antenna and radar reproduced with photo-etched parts
  
• 4.5-inch L/45 Vickers Mark 8 gun with crisp detail
  
• Cartograf Decal offers accurate marking
  

History
The Falklands War was fought between April 2 and June 14 1982, as the UK sought to wrest its South Atlantic islands from the control of occupying Argentine troops. Victory didn’t come cheaply, with 258 British servicemen killed and another 777 wounded, while Argentina suffered 649 killed and 1068 wounded. One of the worst British losses was that of HMS Sheffield (D80). This Type 42 guided missile destroyer was part of the UK task force sent to the Falkland Islands, and was hit by an Exocet missile fired from an Argentine jet fighter on May 4. The ship was set ablaze and it eventually foundered on May 10, the first Royal Navy ship to be sunk in action for almost 40 years. Twenty crewmen were lost in the missile attack.