1:350 SMS Szent Istvan (Trumpeter 05365)

Flyhawk 1:350 wooden deck, SMS Szent Istvan

An accessory for modelers of ships in 1:350 scale from the brand Flyhawk. It is a deck of thin wooden veneer, cut to the shape of the decks of the Austro-Hungarian battleship Szent Istvan. The deck is prepared for one particular kit of this ship in 1:350 scale, so it need not fit other models. The ship kit is not included in the package, and the set is not assembled but only stuck onto the finished plastic deck. The veneer carries the grain of real planks, so once stuck down it gives a depth that cannot be achieved by painting plastic.

The real subject

Szent Istvan was the only battleship of the Tegetthoff class built in a Hungarian yard at Fiume and at the same time the only one the Austro-Hungarian Navy lost while under way. In June 1918 an Italian fast torpedo boat torpedoed her off the island of Premuda and the ship capsized within a few hours. A film cameraman captured the sinking, so this is one of the few losses of a large warship documented in that way.

Use

• strip the engraved detail off the plastic deck and level it flat
• lay the veneer on dry and check that it lines up with the superstructure and the openings
• glue it part by part from the middle toward the edges and press it down with a flat tool
• once stuck down, the wood only needs evening out with a matte varnish and does not have to be painted
• work the edges around the perimeter with a fine point so that nothing stands proud anywhere

The set is intended for more experienced modelers. The kit, glue and paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.