by Frank Spahr
1/350 Knyaz Suvorov and the Orel (Zvezda)
I have built the Zvezda 1/350 kits of the Knyaz Suvorov and the Orel pre-dreadnoughts.
The former was built as a full hull model, using the GMM PE set. The GMM set was especially useful for Suvorov, as it contains parts for the various deckhouses, amongst them Suvorovīs longer and rounded wheelhouse. Moreover, the GMM set has PE propellers in both the three- and four-bladed configuration, which the plastic kit lacks. In this kit, I used brass tubing and syringes for the barrels. Portholes were drilled open, rigoles added from .4 mm brass wire which was wrapped around a small drill bit, annealed and cut to size. I also annealed the more complicated PE railing parts to ease handling, such as those around the fighting tops. Some railing parts had to be added, such as those on the turret tops and some of the walkways. I used Saemann and WEM parts. Masts and yardarms were replaced by steel wire. The steam pinnaces were detailed with funnels made from brass tubing and PE railings. The kit funnels were used, but their excessive recessed details were softened using Mr Surfacer. The model was painted with enamels and acrylics of various brands, and only lightly weathered. Rigging was added from stretched sprue.
Orel was built as a waterline model, using the more delicate WEM PE set. Gun barrels of main and secondary armament were replaced by BMKīs brass parts, which I consider excellent both in quality and in value for money. I strongly recommend using them as they do make a lot of a difference to the modelīs looks. I also used brass funnels of the correct height by BMK, even though we learned later on that they should have been the same diameter along the entire length. I did not use WEMīs porthole rings, but made rigoles the same way I did for Suvorov. Apart from that, the model was built and painted roughly the same way as Suvorov. The hull was painted a dark grey which was irregularly lightened, the wooden decks were painted JPS acrylic IJN Deck Tan, the linoleum decks were painted WEM Russian red, the funnels were painted Revell Lufthansa Yellow.
The base was made from plaster which was poured against finely crumpled aluminum foil into a picture frame, carved and then painted. I had one of the tropical islands in mind where the Russian squadron stopped to replenish supplies, hence the greenish hue. The paint was then heavily sealed with gloss clear lacquer from a spray can. The models were mounted to the base using acrylic gel.
Those with very serious ambitions will probably use both PE sets, plus machined barrels and other goodies. To the many of us whose pockets are of limited depth, both PE sets have their merits, and both help a long way into improving the plastic kit.
References used:
My thanks to Darius Przezdziecki, Lars Scharff, Burkhardt Masch and always Jim Baumann!
