1/700 German BB Bismarck

2004 is the Year of the Bismarck, as three major hobby firms -- Dragon, Pit-Road and Aoshima -- all plan to release kits of this famed German warship. After years of suffering through Aoshima's miserable old 1/700 kit, it's nice to have the biggest worry be "which one to build?"

If you want to get started now, or if you want to build a full-hull kit, Dragon's new kit is your answer. While we cannot speak for the kit's accuracy, the detail looks pretty good (though it could be crisper), but key areas of the superstructure have been upgraded by the presence of photo-etched detail parts (railings, port details, etc.). Perhaps to make those easier to use (?), the main smoke stack and other parts of the superstructure are molded in semi-soft PVC-like material rather than styrene. Main gun turrets and barrels move after assembly. Includes decals by Cartograf (flags and aircraft insignia).