The Z-39 was a Type 1936A (Mob) destroyer that was commissioned
in August 1943 and became operational in January 1944. After working up,
she was transferred to Reval on the Gulf of Finland and took part in mining
operations in company with Z-25 and Z-35. Later while in route to
Baltisch Port in Estonia on June 23, 1944 she came under air attack and
was damaged by bombs. Escorted by Z-28 she headed for Swinemünde by
way of Libau. Further repairs were planned in Copenhagen, but without
sufficient fuel, Z-39 repairs were instead made in Swinemünde and
were completed in late March 1945.
Z-39 was back in action escorting transports to Bay of Danzig and providing
gun support for the German forces ashore. She was lightly damaged by air
attack again while escorting Z-43 to Warrnemünde. In early May she
joined the old German Battleship Schlesien in bombarding Soviet units and
covering the bridge over Peene River. Z-39 was called upon to tow the Schlesien
to safety when that ship struck a mine. They made it all the way to Swinemünde
where the old battleship was left grounded in a position where the guns
could cover the roads leading into the city. Z-39 resumed bombardment until
German forces were forced to withdraw from the area. From the Z-39 along
with Z-38, torpedo boat T-33, and tender Jagd escorted five steamers loaded
with 35,000 refugees and wounded soldiers. Z-39 made another rescue trip
before sailing to Kiel where she was decommissioned on May 10th.
After the war Z-39 was sailed to Plymouth in the UK and on to Boston
Navy Yard where she was turned over to the US Navy as a war prize. In September
her Anglo-German crew was demobilized and Z-39 was commissioned into the
US Navy as DD-939. After extensive study of the German design, Z-39 was
turned over to the French Navy in 1947, where she was eventually cannibalized
for spare parts. Plans to upgrade her were never acted on and in 1953 she
was broken up for scrap.
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Dragon has continued their Smart Kit line with this important German
Destroyer. A nice followup to their Scharnhorst
kit. This kit is typical of later Type 1936A (Mob) destroyers with
the forward twin turret replacing the two single 5" gun houses. No two
ships of this class were exactly alike, but it would be pretty easy to
modify this kit into the other ships in this group which include Z31, Z
32, Z 33, Z 34, Z 37, and Z 38. The ship is in her final German fit and
can also be built to represent DD-939 in US service.
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| SPRUE A |
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| The upper hull is molded waterline style with a sharp and distinct
bow. The kit is packed with a plastic protector to prevent damage in shipping. |
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| Portholes are deeply recessed into the hull with rain gutters
commonly called eyebrows molded on. The shape appears to match the drawings
of the ship very precisely.
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| SPRUE B |
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| The lower hull includes slide molded bilge keels and even a sonar dome.
Fit with the upper hull is almost exact and the modeler will have very
little work to do to join the two parts for full hull display. The upper
deck fits nicely into the upper hull and has some nice surface detail.
Mine rails are molded onto the deck and include the cross ties. |
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| Recessed sockets are included for the superstructure assemblies
to plug into making for a smart fit that will allow you to pre-paint them
for easier assembly. Also on the sprue are the rudders, props and breakwater
for the bow. All are sharply molded.
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| SPRUE C |
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| This sprue includes much of the upper decks and superstructure parts.
Two of the deckhouses are molded using three slides so that open doors
and surface detail can be included on a single part with no seams. The
funnel caps include grills on the top and one piece hollow bodies tanks
to more slides in the mold. The other end of the sprue also features a
slide that allows for one piece prop shafts and an open door on a superstructure
part. |
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| Bridge wings have detail on both sides and include molded
supports. The funnel air intakes feature some stunning detailing and when
combined with the included PE shown below will make for a most realistic
assembly.
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| SPRUE D x2 |
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| This sprue has the mast and yardarm parts and features some really
thin molding. These parts are delicate so use a sharp knife to remove them,
but they are nice enough that you will not have to replace them with aftermarket
parts. A crows nest and even little weather vanes and antenna are included.
Some of those parts may seem a little extreme as they are very tiny, but
you don't have to add them if you don't want to and it is so much easier
to leave them off than to cut off overscale blobs like those found in some
kits. |
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| SPRUE E |
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| The bridge face and other parts are included on this sprue with yet
another slide molded deckhouse. The detail is very fine and I was surprised
at how nicely these part went together with barely a trace of a seam. interior
and exterior detail is molded onto the open bridge walls. |
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| SPRUE F x2 |
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| There are two of these weapons sprues with the best looking torpedo
launchers I have ever seen in this scale. These have very fine detailing
with air cylinders and piping being distinctly molded. But the real plus
is the use of slides in the mold to give the tubes and open appearance.
The range finders, searchlights, and other fittings are molded to the same
level of detail that we have come to expect from the Smart Kits. |
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| Check out the mine winch assembly molded in one piece yet
with exceptional detail. Cable reel assemblies, and individual Marx floats
are also very well done.
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| SPRUE G x2 |
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| Two sprues featuring the ships boats are provided. The large launches
are almost separate kits in themselves with really cool detail. The separate
roof allows for an open cabin and a slide allows for a one pieced hull
with a molded on rudder and room for a propeller if you propeller if your
really good with tweezers. An open decked boat is also included. Fine wheels
are included to mount on the capstans on the bow. |
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| SPRUE H x2 |
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| Two of these weapons sprues are included with the light anti aircraft
guns included. Like those on the larger Scharnhorst kit, these are also
incredibly detailed. The ends of the barrels feature hollowed out tips
thanks to slides in the mold. I hope to see these weapons offered separately
someday as they are the best on the market and could be used to upgrade
other kits. |
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| Weapons include are the 127mm single, twin Flak 38 LM43,
20mm Naval-vierling, and 3.7 twin anti-aircraft guns.
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| SPRUE J |
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| The twin 5" gun turret is molded in one piece with a separate bottom,
barrels, and Marx float holders. Thanks to the 3 slide mold the body of
the turret will have only one small sprue attachment point to sand off.
The bottom fits neatly under so no seam will be visible. I tested fitted
the assembly and when competed it looks amazing. The gun barrels are scale
size, and have hollowed out ends. |
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| SPRUE K x2 |
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| There are two sprues of the single 5" mounts. These also feature one
piece 3 slide molded shields with the only seam being on the underside
where it will not be seen. Footrails for the base of the gun are included
to mount to the deck This mount has some really nice rivet detailing
on the surface. The only thing that I can complain about here is the racks
for the Marx floats as they look a little thick. |
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| SPRUE P |
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| A new base for this kit has been designed based on how most modelers
like to display their ships in full hull mode. The stands which resemble
lamp finales are even slide molded so they can be done without seams. |
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| PHOTOETCH |
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Fret MA features grills with shutter assemblies for the funnel intakes.
These can be opened up or displayed closed. Footrails for the funnel will
also help dress up the kit. Radar antenna give you an option in case you
don't want to use the plastic ones.
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Fret MB provides the shields for the light anti aircraft guns. Handwheels
and seats are also included if you wish to add extra detail. You don't
have to use all these parts but they are there if you do.
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Fret MC includes the watertight doors relief etched in two different styles.
You will need to supply the majority of railings. But there are many photo
etch companies that sell these. Dragon wanted to keep the cost down on
this kit for those who don't typically add extra photo etch. |
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| DECALS |
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| Two decal sheets are provided. One includes the German
and US flags. The US flags are in case you wish to model this ship in USN
service as DD-939.
The second sheet includes hull numbers, draft markings, and other nicely
rendered markings. Only the number 39 is included so you will have to supply
your own numbers if you use this kit to do a sistership. |
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| INSTRUCTIONS |
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| Instructions are ten pages showing bill of materials, sub-assembly
views, and painting guides. These have been expanded by two pages over
previous destroyer kits and hopefully will give you a better view of all
the parts and their locations. The assembly is also changed a bit to reflect
the steps typically followed by modelers. I am glad to see Dragon listening
to modelers and putting the extra time and effort into their instructions.
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| BONUS CREW MEMBERS |
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| Dragon has included some stunning bonus figures. These figures are
not CAD designed but are mastered using the same sculptures that are responsible
for Dragons well known figure line. These are provided in realistic lifelike
poses and will add a nice touch. The detail on these figure is almost insane.
You can make our their facial features, and the wrinkles in their clothing. |
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| My only complaint is that you only get a few. One of these
sprues was also included in the Scharnhorst kit, but the other is new just
for this kit.
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| BUILDUP PHOTOS |
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| Some photos of this kit built up using only the supplied
parts are shown below.
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| CONCLUSIONS |
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| This is Dragon's second German ship in
the Smart Kit line. A nice follow-up to the Scharnhorst. Rob McCune the
same 3D Designer who created the CAD for that kit, is at it again with
his first destroyer. Dragon has taken his work and produced this stunning
recreation of this large destroyer. The molding is first rate, and test
fitting shows that this kit will go together with a minimum of fuss.
This is kit number DRA-1037 with a suggested list price of $49.95. It
is a tremendous value for the modeler when you consider the detail, and
hours of enjoyment you will have building it. These ships should be showing
up in your hobby shops soon or order your direct from Dragon
USA. |
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