Scharnhorst and Gneisenau operated together for much of the early portion of World War II, including sorties into the Atlantic to raid British merchant shipping. During her first operation, Scharnhorst sank the auxiliary cruiser HMS Rawalpindi in a short engagement in November 1939. The twins participated in Operation Weserübung, the German invasion of Norway in the spring of 1940. During operations off Norway, the two ships engaged the battlecruiser HMS Renown and - in separate engagements - sank the aircraft carrier HMS Glorious as well as her escort destroyers Acasta and Ardent. In that engagement, Scharnhorst achieved one of the longest-range naval gunfire hits in history, but also suffered a torpedo hit by one of the British destroyers. 

Post-repairs, the pair sortied on a commerce-raiding cruise into the Atlantic, Operation Berlin. From late January through March 1941, the raiders hunted British shipping in the North Atlantic, culminating in Scharnhorst sinking nine merchant ships over several days mid-month. Narrowly avoiding a clash with the British battleships King George V and Rodney, Scharnhorst and Gneisenau sailed for Occupied France, arriving in the port of Brest on March 22, 1941. 

Scharnhorst was severely damaged during an RAF raid on July 24, 1941 while docked in La Pallice, Occupied France.  As a result, she returned to Brest for dry-docking and repairs. 

In early 1942, after repeated British bombing raids, the two ships – joined by the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen - made an audacious daylight dash up the English Channel from occupied France to Germany, during Operation Cerebus. Scharnhorst twice struck mines during the Channel Dash, being disabled for short periods after each mining. 

Post-Cerebus repairs in Kiel last until July 1942, but the ship was in and out of the shipyard for various issues until early 1943.   In March 1943, Scharnhorst joined Tirpitz in Norway to interdict Allied convoys to the Soviet Union. The two battleships sailed together to attack the island of Spitzbergen in September 1943. 

Sailing to interdict an Allied convoy bound for Russia, Scharnhorst and her escorting destroyers sortied from their lair on Christmas Day, 1943. Unfortunately, the British were aware of the German intentions – Scharnhorst was sailing into a trap. During the ensuing Battle of the North Cape on December 26, 1943, the Royal Navy battleship HMS Duke of York overwhelmed and sank Scharnhorst. Only 36 men were rescued, out of a crew of 1,968.

For more on Scharnhorst, visit her Wikipedia page here, which is where this abridged history was pulled from.

Flyhawk’s 1/700 Scharnhorst comes in the familiar Flyhawk box with an evocative painting of Scharnhorst illuminated by star shells during the Battle of the North Cape. Inside the box, there is - along with hull and all the sprues - a separate painting of the box art, instructions, decals, a very small fret of photo-etch (this is the regular version of the kit) and a mask to help paint the aerial recognition markings Scharnhorst carried on her deck forward and aft. 

The last page of the instructions has shows both plan and profile (both port and starboard) of Scharnhorst, and plan and profile of the Arados, all in color.   The instructions reference both "WEM" Colourcoats (Flyhawk hasn't gotten that memo yet, apparently) and Mr Hobby paints.  The bottom of page 3 also has colors and/or mix formulas for Tamiya paints. 

This is Flyhawk’s 1/700 HMS Scharnhorst, kit number FH1148.  The kit appears to retail for around  $38.00.  Remember, this is the basic version, and contains only a small bit of photo-etch.  There is a "Special Accessory Box" for this model available separately.  Highly Recommended!! 

Thanks to Flyhawk for the review sample. This is an in box review, your mileage may vary once you start assembly.