1/350 Kriegsmarine Zerstörer Z31 (Dragon)

Dragon’s model of the German Destroyer Z31 is showing the ship in its original guise: Four 150mm guns and a very modest AA. Like Z39, the Z31 is a class 1936A(Mob) destroyer, the first in its class.
She was commissioned in 1942, survived the war and was turned over to the French.

Originally the destroyer had four 150mm guns. This was later changed as a new double 150mm turret was installed in the A-position. During a battle off the Norwegian coast, this turret was so damaged that it had to be removed at a shipyard in Oslo. In its place was installed a modest 105 single. Two b/w photos show Z31 after this battle at the Oslo-yard with its damaged gun and bow-area. Note that a shell is stuck in the left gun!

Dragon suggest a camouflage consisting of (Kriegsmarine) 50 Hellgrau and 51 Dunkelgrau. I believe the 51 is far too light, so having studied photos, I went along with  Dunkelgrau 2 (52). The patterns of German warships was frequently changed and/or modified. My photos show a somewhat different pattern, so I decided to use that one (the changes can be seen in the last two photos: an original picture and the model with changes compared to Dragon’s pattern marked with circles).

During the build-process a serious mishap occurred; I tried to remove dusty paint from the forward funnel using white-spirit. I forgot the parts in the solution overnight, and as I removed them, I realized that the plastic had turned soft and has changed its shape!!! It took over a week to harden, and during this week I dragged and reshaped whatever I could. What was too damaged was cut off and to rebuilt, so I hope you are unable to spot any of this disaster…

My Z31 is built out of the box with smaller scratch-built additions and changes here and there. In addition to the original PE, I used PE left over from other models. Colors are White Ensign and Revell, rigging is stretched sprue.
 

Gallery updated 2013

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