¹⁄700

Dragon Models have released detailed information on the impending release of their 1/700 German Battleship "Tirpitz". This is a Premium Edition of the earlier kit and the dramatic box art portrays the Tirpitz participating in Operation Sizilien, the German raid on Spitsbergen, Norway, in September 1943.
The most exciting news is that this kit will be released in February 2009. The retail price has yet to be announced.

In reality this kit is based on the Dragon earlier release, however it has now received a number of improvements. For example, it has benefited from a completely new command bridge and funnel to replace the vinyl items in the previous kit. Some parts are slide moulded, while a generous selection of photo-etched parts such as masts, radars and railings add a higher level of finesse. This kit can be built as a waterline or full-hull version.

Kit features:

• Newly tooled command bridge made from slide moulds;
  
• Photo-etched parts to update mast and radar details;
  
• Funnel is new tooling with greater detail;
  
• Turrets with rivet details;
  
• Auxiliary boats and aircraft made from clear parts;
  
• Photo-etched parts to update railings and superstructure details;
  
• Options to build waterline or display model with a full hull.
  

Ship History
The Tirpitz was the second largest battleship ever built in Europe, although it did not achieve the same fame as its sister ship, the Bismarck. Named after Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz, this battleship that was commissioned in 1941 never actually fired its guns against an enemy vessel.. The Tirpitz and Scharnhorst bombarded Allied defenders on the island of Spitsbergen as a battalion of German troops landed in a temporary occupation. In fact, this was the only time in her career that the Tirpitz fired her guns in anger. After this operation the battleship moved south to Tromsø where it lurked in German bases.

At this time the Tirpitz was dubbed the ‘Lonely Queen of the North’ until it was sunk by Tallboy bombs dropped from Lancaster bombers on November 12, 1944.

Images courtesy of Dragon Models.