Hi All, I was reading M. J. Whitley's German Capital Ships last week, and looking at the photos it appears Scheer and Spee were quite similar before Scheer was refitted with the pole type bridge structure and had her bows rebuilt at the start of the war. (there's a photo of Scheer's bridge on page 27 which at first glance I took as Spee's until I checked the various platform spacings and sizes comparison photo available onpage 88) They were both built to virtually the same design except Spee got thicker deck and side armour and completed with 10.5cm secondary guns instead of 8.8cm TTFN Tom EDIT: How hard would it be to lengthen the bows and alter the bridge for a later Scheer does anyone think?

Now for a 1:350 Exeter and Ajax/Achilles! --Karl

The secondaries were 15cm, the 8.8/10.5 are AAA. But there's a bit more to it, Spee was somewhat wider than Scheer, also the positions of the masts, cranes and, as you mentioned, the platforms were a bit different. The Spee also had a FuMo 22 radar installed, the Scheer did not. I think the different beams would make a Scheer Speed interchange quite difficult, the rest is still a lot of work.

Sorry, I should have said 'heavy AA' not 'secondary' but would the difference in beam (300mm) scaled down be visible at 1/350? Tom

Well, maybe. I think they also had a slightly differently shaped hull cross section (more than just a few cm of beam, for instance bulges). It is notable that on Scheer the armor belt was not very visible, but on Spee it was. There are many details that are different. It depends on the individual if they are important, or not. Personally I consider them important enough. Sure enough, I'd be happy to have all three of the class in 1/350 and for this, I'd like them to look as different and as original as possible. There are some good pictures of these ships on the web, just start at wiki and follow the links.

Great news With the PE and Graf Spee I'll have to get 2 of these and modify one to the Scheer now someone needs to produce the twins in 350 I have the commanders series resin 350 Scharnhost but it would be nice in plastic.

I too would like to kit-bash the Scheer, but I'd like a later war depiction, and, frankly I don't think my scratching skills are up to altering the bows! cranes and boat positions etc. I think I could cope with...But the bows TTFN Tom

Looks like the kit is for real. It's now appeared on their website as kit no 05316. She'll be done as she appeared in 1939. Some CAD photos too. No release date though.

Thanks Dave. Yip Dave she is for real and it has already taken the ship kitset world by storm cant wait for its release. Cheers Sean