Reviewed by Jim Baumann
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This 1/700 scale model is of the British Hunt Class Escort Destroyer used during World War II by the Polish Navy under the name of ORP "Krakoviak". She was built at the Samuel White shipyard in Cowes UK, launched on 4th December 1940 as HMS Silverton and was the first Royal Navy warship to carry that name; that of a foxhunt in Devonshire. The ship was transferred to Poland along with sister ship HMS OAKLEY (ORP Ktyawiah) on 3rd April 1941 and was renamed ORP KRAKOWIAK. During the war she was intensively used; initially based at Plymouth from where she engaged with German light surface vessels and raiding the German occupied Lofoten islands. Later transferred to Gibraltar, she partook in invasion convoys targeting Sicily as well as supporting the landings of Operation Husky. Until 1943 she was based at Alexandria and operated in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea. From 1944 Krakoviak was based back on the south coast of the UK and took part in the preparations for the Normandy landings. The kit and the paint schemes depict the vessel at this period. She
engaged both enemy aircraft as well as targets ashore and led mine clearance
operations.
Poland returned the ship to the Royal Navy on 28 September 1946. She
was finally scrapped in 1959
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This kit is the first offering by the Polish company Modelbud; previously well- known for esoteric aircraft kits. It is a joint venture by Modelbud, JB.Models EU, Masterbarrels and modelship magazine publisher MODELARSTWO OKRETOWE. The kits consist of 103 resin parts, 116 photo-etched Pieces and 35 separate metal items. Because of the number of quite complex PE assemblies I would rate this kit for intermediate to advanced modellers, although some of the above mentioned PE structures could be simplified or substituted by less fastidious or experienced builders. |
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| HULL | |||||||||
| The hull features some fine detailing; external plating detail has been cast in fine relief. The deck is equally impressive, with neat gusseting around the fwd gunshield and plenty of surface detail. |
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| SUPERSTRUCTURE AND MAIN GUNS | |||||||||
| The superstructure parts are cast separately and feature a high level of detailing for their diminutive size, the bridge level having a raised grating and flag lockers cast in. |  |
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The 4 in gunshields are cast hollow and have separate breech
and internal structure, as well as very fine 4in turned brass barrels (by
Masterbarrels)
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| DECALS | |||||||||
| A small decal sheet with hull numbers and flags completes this well packaged offering. |  |
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| METAL PARTS | |||||||||
| There are lengths of metal rod and wire enclosed from which to fabricate the masts and spars. A neat touch is some – what appears to be- plaited wire lengths to simulate the anchor cables. |  |
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| PHOTO ETCH | |||||||||
| The kit is completed by the aforementioned comprehensive high-quality PE fret, which feature some commendably fine handrails of the correct pattern. |  |
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| INSTRUCTIONS | |||||||||
The instructions take the form of a large exploded
diagram with the resin, metal and PE parts colour coded, as well as drawings
of the more complex PE mulipart-sub assemblies. The camouflage scheme is
well illustrated for both sides of the ship and is aligned Humbrol enamel
paint numbers.
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| CONCLUSIONS | |||||||||
| An interesting ship with an attractive camouflage scheme, this new player in the resin modelship-kit field has created a kit that needs only paint and adhesive to build from the box a very fine replica of this esoteric and plucky member of the Polish navy of WW2; albeit with some degree of skill required ! | |||||||||
