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jorge rivas krause
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Deutsche Kriesgmarine Zerstörer Z30, 1942. Trumpeter 1/350 + Scratch

April 25, 2013 · in Ships · · 12 · 6.9K

The Z30 Zerstörer is part of the 1936A-class destroyers, or Narvik-class destroyers as they were known to the Allies, were a class of German destroyers of the Second World War. In common with other German destroyers launched after the start of the war, the Narviks were unnamed, known only by their hull numbers - Z23 to Z39.

In terms of armament, the German Zerstörers were closer to light cruisers than the typical destroyer. The use of 15 cm (5.9 inch) guns was atypical of destroyers which tended to have guns around 120 - 127 mm (4.7 to 5 inch) in calibre. They were intended to carry two forward guns in a twin turret, but as the twin turrets were not ready in time, early class 1936As carried a single mounted gun forward.

Despite being powerful the ships were not without their flaws. There were problems with the reliability of the high pressure steam engines and seakeeping in rough seas due to the newly designed bow and heavy forward artillery.
The Z30 was launched on 8 December 1940 and entered service November 15, 1941. Deployed in Norway, took part in the Battle of the Barents Sea at the end of 1942. Since May 1944 it worked in missions on patrol off the coast of Jutland, where it suffered heavy damage in October following the collision with a mine. Repaired in the port of Oslo, was laid up May 14, 1945. Captured by the Norwegians, was transferred to the Royal Navy, where she worked as a ship-target, and was finally scrapped in 1949.

I've replaced the kit's plastic masts for soldered brass rods and added some metal gun barrels as well. The base is a block of Styrofoam of about 3cm, and with a cylindrical object I've applied some pressure to form the waves.Then I've wrapped a watercolour paper to the styrofoam to add a sea water texture. I finish it with a coat of clear gloss. For the bow waves I've used tissue paper soaked in clear gloss and then a bit of acrylic gel.

This built represents the configuration at the end of 1942, during the Battle of the Barents Sea, commanded by Captain Heinrich Kaiser
Hope you like it!

Reader reactions:
10  Awesome

16 additional images. Click to enlarge.


12 responses

  1. NICE! Good to see someone else building a ship!

  2. Very well done, Jorge...a true "modeler". I like it.

  3. Better not seen! Magnificent imitation of the water surface!
    Colleague - could you write a short article with pictures - how do you make the water?

  4. I'll second that. You give us a prime example of how the "right" base can turn an already good model to an art piece. So realistic! One could have this pic as a computer wallpaper:
    http://static.imodeler.com/uploads/2013/04/51.jpg

  5. Thank you all for the comments!..
    I'm modelling at the moment another ship this time in 1/700 and I'm planing to do another water base. I promise this time I'll take some shots of the water process...

  6. Profile Photo
    said on April 26, 2013

    Superbly detailed model, beautifully presented.

  7. very beautiful...i too look forward to your water process...the ship is so incredibly detailed...the rails the rust the rigging...superb

  8. Very nice work! I'd also like to hear about your water process.

  9. Oye pero que fantástico. I love it.

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