Zeppelin P & Q-Class Night Raiders - 1:720 Mark I Models

[Paul A H]

Zeppelin P & Q-Class Night Intruders

1:720 Mark I Models

 

 

The P and Q Class of airships were the first aircraft of their type produced by Zeppelin Luftschiffbau following the outbreak of the First World War. Twenty two P Class and 12 Q Class airships were produced, mainly for bombing and naval patrol duties. Essentially and enlarged M Class, the P Class featured duralumin construction and an enclosed gondola or the crew. Powered by four Maybach engines, the airships could carry over 2000kg of bombs, depending on the desired range. P Class airships were the first to drop bombs on London. Most of the airships were lost to enemy fire or accidents, with just LZ 46 surviving until June 1919, when it was destroyed by its crew.

 

Mark I announced their intention to produce a series of P Class Zeppelin kits some time ago. Several different boxings later, they have released the kit as a 2 in 1 version, with parts and decals to buid two complete airships. What's more, you have the option to build either two P Class aircraft, two Q class, or one of each. The kits themselves are nicely moulded in caramel coloured plastic, with crisp detail throughout. There is no flash present and the sprue attachment points are reassuringly fine.

 

 

 

As you might expect, construction is fairly straightforward. The main structure of the airship is split vertically down the middle, with various location points for the gondola, engine pods and control surfaces. If you want to build the Q Class version, you will need to be brave and cut the fuselage in half in order to use the extension insert. As these aircraft weren't usually a universal colour, it shouldn't be too difficult to blend the join in by using a slightly different shade of paint. In any case, some of the Q Class aircraft were constructed by lengthening P Class airships.

 

Both gondolas are essentially solid parts, with decals provided for the windows. The twin, two-bladed propellors and the parts that hold them in place are very delicate, so it may be better to fit them first and paint them once they are in place. The rudders and elevators are nicely moulded and feature tiny, seperate control actuators. A stand is included to display the finished model, along with decals to identify your chosen subject.

 

 

Speaking of decals, four options are included in the sheet:

• Zeppelin LZ-43 (P Class), Naval Airship Division, Imperial German Navy, Hage Airship Base, Germany, July 1915;
• Zeppelin LZ-51 (P Class), Airship Troop, Imperial German Flying Corps, Yambol Airship Base, Bulgaria, Summer 1916;
• Zeppelin LZ-59 (Q Class), Naval Airship Division, Imperial German Navy, Tondern Airship Base, Germany, April 1916; and
• Zeppelin LZ-73 (Q Class), Airship Troop, Imperial German Flying Corps, Konigsburg Airship Base, East Prussia, August 1917.

All of the aircraft are finished in a variety of neutral shades.

 

Conclusion

 

Mark I's P/Q Class Zeppelin is a really appealing little kit. It should look just as good on its display stand as it will in a diorama with a simple base and one of the new generation of WWI battleships that are now available. Construction is simple, detail is good and on that basis, this kit can be warmly recommended.

 

Review sample courtesy of

 

[BerndM]

They look really nice and are worth a try out. The choice of the scale is a bit odd too me.

[Graham Boak]

The scale is 1 inch to 60 feet, and was quite a common scale for Revell and Italeri ship kits.  Now 1/700 - that is an odd scale!  But I'm afraid we are stuck with it now.

[Hook]

On 10-6-2017 at 6:55 PM, BerndM said:

The choice of the scale is a bit odd too me.

 

Well, 1/72nd is well established, after all... this is just ten times smaller.  

 

RoG does a 1/720th Hindenburg as well. 

 

Cheers,

 

Andre