Maritime reviews
VOLUNTEER LIFE-SAVERS
Despite only being released in 2007, Airfix’s RNLI Severn-class lifeboat seems to have been around for much longer, and always proves popular with modellers.
RIVER PLATE PANZERSCHIFF
Airfix’s 1/600 Graf Spee might be an older offering (first released in 1971) but it is regarded as one of the better kits in this scale.
BLOOMING AFLOAT
Black Cat’s first foray into Royal Navy subjects features HMS Begonia, one of the earlier shortfoc’sle Flower-class corvettes that had the mast directly located directly in front of the bridge.
TRAWLING THE SEAS
Who says model subjects must be mighty leviathans? SSN Modellbau thinks otherwise, as evidenced by this delightful 1/350 Kriegsfischkutter (war trawler) auxiliary warship.
GLOBAL CARRIER
After an absence of more than a decade, Airfix’s 1/600 HMS Victorious is back in Vintage Classics packaging.
A DARING AFLOAT
The Type 45, or Daring-class destroyer, was Airfix’s third 1/350 ship kit and returns after an absence of eight years: it is a straightforward re-release with unchanged parts and decals.
IMPERIAL GLORY
The Vintage Classics range has been a boon for fans of Airfix’s sailing ship kits, and the latest to join the ‘armada’ is the 1/144 Swedish warship Wasa.
D-DAY BOMBARDIER
Airfix’s HMS Belfast is undergoing something of a recent renaissance, with a Vintage Classics release (A04212V, see Reviews, AMW114 May 2020) and now as a Gift Set package.
SOUTHERN TRAVELLER
After an absence of more than a decade from Airfix’s catalogue, its 1962-vintage HM Bark Endeavour sailing ship kit has been re-released to commemorate 250 years since Capt James Cook became the first European to map Australia’s eastern shoreline.
CONVOY PROTECTOR
IBG’s collection of G-, H-and I-class destroyer subjects is popular with maritime modellers thanks to its well-designed parts breakdown and incorporation of photo-etched components for railings, davits, ladders and radar housings.