1:350 Tirpitz part 1

Eduard photo-etched set 1:350 Tirpitz, part 1

A set of photo-etched parts for detailing a plastic model of the German battleship Tirpitz in 1:350 scale. It is not a kit of the ship but an accessory to one. Photo-etch for a large surface ship is always extensive, which is why Eduard split it into two separately sold parts. This is the first of them. The two parts complement each other and a good many modelers use them together.

Where it goes on the model

On ship models at this scale the greatest difference is made by what cannot be produced in plastic at all: railings, steps and ladders, platforms, gratings, radar aerials, cranes and the fine structures of the superstructures. Thick plastic equivalents of these items give a model away at first glance, while thin metal moves it closer to the real thing. What exactly each of the two parts covers is given in the instructions supplied with the set; when planning the build, allow for the fact that they have different contents and do not stand in for one another.

Building tips

Ship photo-etch is work for long evenings. Glue the railings on only once the deck is painted, along their length and in one piece, so that no visible joints appear. Use thin cyanoacrylate in spots, applied with a toothpick; on long parts a glue with a longer setting time helps, as it gives time to line things up. Degrease the metal before painting and spray it with a primer, otherwise the coat will rub off while the model is handled. A model with finished photo-etch is fragile, so count on a display case or a cover.

Who the set is for

• Modelers building the Tirpitz in 1:350 scale
• Ship builders who want scale-correct railings and platforms
• More experienced modelers with experience of long photo-etched parts
• Those planning to obtain both parts of the photo-etch and build the model in detail

The set is an accessory to a plastic model. The model itself, paints and glue are not included in the package.