Good day fellow Battlers. This thread will be to review the StrikeModel's USS NORTH CAROLINA COMPLETE SHIP KIT. I just unpacked the large box and will be taking pictures and reviewing the items. The USS NORTH CAROLINA is a class of ship that has been at the forefront of the hobby since it's inception. Indeed it is the one feared by the Axis due to the high speed and fantastic maneuverability and of course the firepower. The Axis have been able to match it with the Nagato Class ship. The model in the hobby in all formats is a respected and feared model for combat. There are so many examples of how it's built would require a new thread. It is very popular in wood frame construction and a blessing for those who like fiberglass to get kits. The first kit was from Swampworks Mfg so it will be interesting to see how this kit has improved over the former. Personally I have fought North Carolinas and in the right hands they are difficult to defeat. Worse yet pair up a NC with a South Dakota class and you got your work cut out for you as an Axis Captain. So right now I will be disecting the kit and post photos here. Many of you are already familiar with this class of ship so those who have not seen a kit of this I hope this will help you in your decision making if your new to the hobby or are a veteran and are looking for a new build.
Ok I went through everything and took pics of all the stuff that came in. Just need to post them. Meantime I'll give you what I found so far. 1. Packaging- I can't stress the importance of good packaging particularly for orders that have to travel transcontinental. Everything was secured and packaged exceptionally well. Nothing out of order or damaged. In fact it took a bit of effort just to get my stuff which was taped inside the other end of the box. Kudos on the people from Strike that packaged everything up. 2. Hull - The hull is not too thin or too thick. However I was pleased to see that the bow stem itself is thicker than what I seen when it was Swampworks. That area was easily chipped by BBS and a good chunk would be sheared off. This hull shows good thickness in this area. The hull itself is clean and the matting laid out very nicely. I am getting used to the pink interior. I like it. The armor belt looks accurate and straight and crisp. The Torpedoe bulges look well down. The keel below the stern is well contoured. Quality is excellent and consistent with what I have been experiencing in getting hulls from Strike so far. Well done. 3. Deck Kits- Excellent quality. The wood is gorgeous, thick and strong. I love the perforated deck hatches nicely cut and laid out for you. Saves a lot of work there for newbies or novices with little equipment. I like the fact the Barbette localtions are already marked and basicaly precut for you. Best is the recessed sections of the deck for hatch fitting. Excellent workmanship here. I long for a trip back in time and take these deck kits with me so I could rework all the previous ships I built. The IOWA deck kit wasn't available when I started my Iowa class model and boy my timing sucks. I almost feel like just ripping mine out and getting one of these but hey... there is always a MONTANA ..... 4. Superstructure - The orignial high denisity foam superstructure is a welcomed site and packed very well. I really enjoy working with this stuff. The best is it's so light it aids in stability and now with the termite armor you can protect that foam from being penetrated and make the overal structure look really good. All the parts were there for both NC and the IOWA. It also comes with various wood pieces for funnels and large sections of the superstructure. 5. Drive and Rudder Kits. : All parts accounted for and everything looks great. The Drive system is the Traaxis motor mounts . They are seperate mounts but are connected to a common heat sink plate. This should help in lining up both mounts nicely to the shafts. Incidentally I have the other style where each mount as it's own heat sink but I don't think they make them like that anymore. Bottom line it's a very reliable motor mount system and easy to work with. The motors are the standard 600s 6-12 v I think. 6. Pump kit: Looks great. I haven't assembled it yet but the impellor looks different than what I been accustomed to so I can't wait to try this baby out. 7.MAIN, Secondaryies , ect. - ALL accounted for with nice detail. This kit is going to look good. 8. Plans- Set of plans from George Goff. I haven't opened them up yet to get a good look but I am sure they are good. 9. Instructions. - Plenty of good instructions to read with lots of diagrams and photos. Some of the literature may be obsolete but still useful. 10. Lots of balsa sheets and silkspan. Excellent to have these. They were all in perfect shape. Overall this is an excellent kit. The only thing bad I noticed was a small chip at the edge of the armor belt and a blemish on the hull but nothing horrendeous as it can be easily fixed. Thumbs up all the way on this one. I will be posting pics later this evening. Have to get the stuff to the ship yard now.
Stokamoto, thanks for the great review, and for writing such a detailed review. I'll make sure Stephen sees it as well. For the instructions, do let us know if you find anything obsolete or that just needs changing. The instructions have been updated since Swampy's time, but we're always looking to improve them, and we do find things that we occasionally forget to update as we change things on our end. Keri
Thanks Keri. Actually the instructions had writing on it such as not reviewed and maybe obsolete. However there is updated information in the instructions regarding the deck kits and other items so I don't think you have any issues there.
Next the Deck kit.. left is the NC hull, middle is the IOWA class deck kit and the right is the NC deck kit
More goodies. The MOTOR MOUNTS AND HEAT SINK AND GEARS This contained the postcards. Along with the package came a IOWA CLASS full superstructure kit, Main and secondary turrets for Iowa class, radars and range fingers for Iowa class, the deck kit for the iowa class, rudder system for the Iowa Class. My order came along also and that contained the Termite 5 in secondaries of which two I ordered, a large pump kit with the new impellor style,and 15 pieces of Termite Allie armor 4 in sections, and a RADAR dish. The kit also came with silkspan and balsa which was packaged between the deck kit pieces.
'This build sponsored in part by Margaret's Mini Mart! Drinks, snacks, and gasoline for your next model warship build!!!' More seriously, though, it looks quite the business! I wonder if Strike has the pretty superstructure platforms for the Iowa class BB's, as well? I'm cutting my own for Baden, but that would have been a nice optional accessory (hint hint for future Baden driver's benefit!).
The styrene decks I have for the Iowa are traced from patterns I got from Swampy. Some of my latest decks are actually laser cut, so I can do much more detail and it is much faster and easier to prepare. As for the baden, I've recently reworked the deck/sub-deck sections so they are compatible with MWCI casemate rules (and the IRCWCC ones coming down, as well). Superstructure will be coming later this year. The decks for the Moltke and Kongo are also done, leaving the Nagato as the last casemate ship to be completed. Now I just need to cut the new decks. Stephen Morgret Strike Models
Hate to thread derail. I have been eyeing the Kongo when will that be available for sale for deck kits? I am on the fence for either the Derfflinger or Kongo as my first axis ship. Now back to your regularly scheduled USS N. Caroline product review.
