1:500 Scale BATORY and PITSUDSKI
Kit Review by Michael Pell
Note: This review was originally posted on the former DF in 2002. It has been revised to represent present day availability, and cost. Reproduced with permission.
Mirage Models from Poland offers two 'sister ship' ocean liner models for you to consider. The Pitsudski and the Batory. Both are offered in the 1:500 scale and are identical models inside the boxes. The only difference is the decal sheet and references in coloration in the instruction sheet. Our two kits contained instructions ONLY in Polish, but the diagrams are clear enough to not impede construction. The paint guide with the Batory did have an English translation for the paint charts but this was not true for the Pitsudski, which was completely in Polish.
Contact information:
PPHU MIRAGE HOBBY: 02-786 Warszawa, ul. ZWM 20/15BIURO HANDLOWE: 02-604 Warszawa, ul. Olkuska 3
tel./fax: (0-22) 44 02 92fax: (0-22) 641 94 21
POLAND
Scale Size: 1:500
Manufacturer: Mirage
Kit Numbers: 50041 Pilsudski - 50042 Batory
Price: $16 each (U.S. funds - approximate)
Parts List (all parts molded in white and come wrapped in a poly bag): 1 plastic tree part containing main decking, stand, bridge, stern, and funnels1 plastic tree part containing lifeboats, masts, propellers, davits, derricks, forecastle, deck level, vents, hull halves, etc. 1 decal sheet ship names1 Instruction manual.
Flash: While for the most part flash was to a minimum there was some to be found around one of the propellers, along the entire length of the gluing seam on the hull halves, mast edges and one deck level. Some sanding and trimming is definitely in order.
Things we like: One of the things we like is the subject matter itself, that being covering ocean liners of lesser known history and size compared to some of the behemoths that were once afloat. The models are a nice size at 1:500 scale and won't consume or require a large display area. Parts are sufficient to provide a challenge without discouraging novices or boring seasoned modelers. The deck planking is scribed nicely into the parts and detail for the most part is adequate. Decals are crisp and are of the individual water slide type.
Things we would like to see it have: A complete paint guide in the Instructions would be a great benefit. The box art will be of help in determining hull colors. As mentioned at the beginning of this review, the Pitsudski instructions are completely in Polish including the paint charts. Grant you if you follow the letter designations in the assembly phase and compare them to the paint brand chart you can get around it as the letters correspond to name brand numbers. The Batory instructions actually list the colors in English under the Polish titles.
A rigging diagram would be of benefit as well. Instructions in English would help with sales targeted to North America, though as mentioned above, the diagrams are clear enough and easy to understand so you can make do with those if need be.
Cleaner and complete molding is desired. Vent slots on the bow face of the funnel tops would be nice, either molded or as decals. Likewise for the bridge windows. These are just not molded at all, yet other bulkheads elsewhere do have them.
Overall Comments: Having bought both kits allowed for us to compare them to see if problems were unique to each kit alone or consistent through out. The flash areas mentioned above are found consistent on both kits so must be standard with their molding process. Though not plentiful it still creates unnecessary work for the modeler to clean up.
Disappointing was the amount of broken parts in the boxes. Davits and masts in both kits fell victim to this and will require mending or replacement with scratch built parts. We are not sure if this is happening from the factory or somewhere along travel to the consumer but it is a nuisance. Unique to our Batory was an incomplete molding of the hull. The stem area was just not there on the port half. Every thing forward of the port hawsehole was not molded and will need to be built from scratch. Pitsudski's hull was completely there, so our Batory must have been a "Friday night special" edition.
Missing on both kits were stanchions on some of the decks. These were either broken off or immaturely molded. Some of the deck features were bent over and ready to break off as well. While the level of detail is good, the modeler may want to drill out the portholes or rectangular windows. Something needs to be done about the missing bridge windows for certain.
References are made in the painting guide as follows; eg. such as paint something color "J" but on the paint chart no "J" exists. Hmmmm.....
Hopefully the condition of the kits we received are a special case and not standard practice, hence our mediocre score for these models. What is a plus again is coverage of the smaller lesser known liner market. We are always grateful for any kit produced even if it does require work. As it stands those that build models "out of the box" WILL have work to do if our kits were any indication of what is routinely in store. Those tinkering with added detail can rest assured you will not only have new things you can add, but repair or replacement of stock parts may be in order as well.
Incomplete molding and then sending it out for sale is just poor quality control in our opinion. Though nothing major that can't be fixed by the modeler, it just shouldn't happen. Mirage could do better in that area we feel.
Regardless, if you wish to enhance your collection of liners, consider adding these two to your collection. With all said and done we still recommend them.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5
MP / 2002