Introduction

This 'first-look" style review is of a new and quite unique kit from OKB Grigorov Models, Bulgaria, "Fort Drum, Concrete Battleship of the Philippines".

Fort Drum was located on El Fraile Island, about 7500 yards south of Caballo Island and by virtue of its peculiar character, a static battleship in the southern approaches to Manila Bay, it was the most unique of the Harbor Defense forts. The island itself had been leveled and a reinforced concrete battleship-shaped structure measuring 350 feet long by 144 feet wide had been built upon it.

The top deck of the 'battleship' was 40 feet above the mean low water and 20 feet thick, and housed 4 case-mated 6in guns and a 60ft fire control cage mast. Its exterior walls ranged between approximately 25 feet and 36 feet thick, making it virtually impregnable to enemy naval attack.

The kit

This kit represents a purpose made concrete “fort”, built on an island off Manila Bay to protect the harbor entrance. The kit represents the fort in 1941, and includes the main armament of 2 sets of 14in guns together with a cage mast and platform.

The resin casting is error-less, and clean and the photo-etch certainly is an essential component to produce the perfect model of this unusual structure.

The instructions are clear and simple, and the photographic work included is also a good help.

They are priced at £49.99/55 Euros, and available off the Retrokit site.

Needless to say, I bought one and will be building it soon!

Click HERE for more information on this piece of history!