|
1/350 USN "Birdbath" Gun Tub
|
|||||||||
|
November 2020 |
|||||||||
| Out of the "Great Northwest", a new player has arrived on the 3D printed modeling scene. Long-time Modelwarships vendor Kraken Hobbies has gone from selling others products, to designing, making and selling their own 3D printed products. Their website says that their "initial offering will be USN, focused in the Guadalcanal era, however no subject is necessarily out of the question". True to their word, another of the initial products received at Modelwarships review HQ is 1/350 USN "Birdbath" Gun Tub, which is a 3D printed anti-aircraft tub found on many US Standard Battleships, such as Texas, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Arizona. This 'birdbath' AA tub usually sat atop the aft spotting top, and held four .50 caliber machine guns. | |||||||||
Click to enlarge images |
|||||||||
| OKLAHOMA FUNNEL | |||||||||
| The packaging is in a large plastic
clamshell container, with the small 3D printed runner holding the funnel
secured to the bottom of the packaging with thick double sided tape.
This prevents the runner from moving during shipping. The label
states the birdbath is applicable to multiple USN standard battleships.
There is one birdbath included in the package. Everything is attached to a small 3D printed wafer. The splinter shielding is nice and thin, with subdued ribbing detail. The deck of the tub has an access attach and attachment points for the .50 caliber machine guns (not included). The post that supports the 'birdbath' - and mounts on the spotting top - is printed as part of the tub. I know this was scaled from actual plans, but to the eye, the post looks slightly over scale. The outline matches plans of Oklahoma. |
|||||||||
|
|||||||||
| CONCLUSIONS | |||||||||
| This is a really useful upgrade
part. It can be used on the injection molded 1/350 Texas or Arizona,
or any of the resin versions of BB-35, 37, 38 and 39. It's
sharply printed with nice details. Again, I'm not sure if the
support post isn't a bit over scale, but that doesn't detract from the
printing quality.
This is Kraken Hobbies 1/350 USN "Birdbath" Gun Tub. It retails for $7.99 USD, and is available directly from Kraken Hobbies, who I'd like to thank for this review sample. Recommended. |
 |
||||||||
