AirFix / Humbrol’s 1:600 Queen Elizabeth 2

clip_image002.jpg (29221 bytes)

 

Kit No. 06203

Review by Arjay & Mike Cook

 

Note: This review was originally posted on the DF in February 2003. It has since been updated to reflect additional information realized about both liner and model.

 

‘Long Live The Queen ……’

In 2002, after much anticipation, Airfix / Humbrol re-released their excellent Queen Elizabeth 2, the last of Airfix's original 1:600 scale 'ocean liner' issue which included the Mauretania, Queen Elizabeth, Canberra and France. All have been re-released except the France, for which, (according to A/H) the molds have been lost. Whether re-release in 2002 was a polite acknowledgment of Her Majesty's (the liner's Godmother) Golden Jubilee is speculative, the timing is particularly appropriate considering interest in the QE2, her history and design, is on the rise following Cunard's commissioning the QM2. Also, for the same reason the QE2 may be, unfortunately, sailing her twighlight years. Liner aficionados hope not, yet it is no longer a question of if, but when. She is presently Cunard's longest serving "Queen," and without doubt the QM2 is conceived to be her eventual replacement, just as the QE2 in 1964 was conceived to be the replacement for both the Queen Mary and Elizabeth.

Those familiar with our 2001 Canberra review will experience a sense of dejavu, as this being a re-release it will not be constructive to rivet-count all that we would have liked to see. Existing molds are better than no molds, and retooling to correct errors and omissions was probably not economically feasible. At best, the kit represents QE2 as she was introduced in 1969, or perhaps how she was intended to be. We suspect the development of the model was well underway prior to QE2's maiden voyage, which may account for several fairly obvious differences between the 1:600 and the 1:1. To highlight one: Part #7 features a broad staircase leading down to One-Deck. Considering the effort to detail this 'non-existent' staircase we can not imagine it represents a "short-cut" to avoid what actually did, which incidentally would have been much simpler. A design concept changed by Cunard during the liner's fitting out? We believe possibly so and perhaps only one of several not featured on the model. Also of interest, assembly instructions of the original 1969 issue do not identify the decks as they are known today, but rather as simply 'Foyer', 'Promenade', 'Main', etc., an indication that at the time of production the QE2's final deck designations had not been established.

This is an interesting study from another modeling perspective. Unlike the Queen Elizabeth, Canberra and France the deckhouse bulkheads, for the most part, are molded separately and feature a welcome degree of architectural detail. In this regard the QE2 compares favorably with Airfix's Mauretania. Attention to detail, compromised in previous offerings, was re-introduced with the QE2. An effort by Airfix to improve overall product quality or perhaps Cunard played a role in the development of the model of their new flagship, the pride of the line? Whatever the reason, we benefit.

As noted the kit represents QE2, circa 1969. Thankfully so. For better or worse the QE2 did not remain 'original' for long. Almost seemingly in a state of evolution her interiors, exterior profile, massing and livery changed during her years of service. Some exterior changes were subtle, others dramatic and in the opinions of many (ours included) detrimental to the graceful balance of her original design. (It is ironic the QE2 today, soon to be become a full-time cruise ship, offers less open deck area than when introduced as a seasonal transatlantic liner.) Yet she remains recognizably the QE2. Somewhat different, yet reassuringly the same. The kit offers a range of presentation possibilities, depending on the selected period of service. We chose 1969, the year of her introduction. While 'after market' assemblies are not available to assist the modeler in rendering the QE2 in any of her later configurations, the adage 'it is easier to go forward than to go back' applies. Scratch building to 'time advance' the QE2 is a task that should be, relatively speaking, easily achieved by dedicated research, patience and an ample supply of plastic stock. We are grateful the kit was not retooled to represent the QE2 as she is today, for to go 'back' to represent her 1st year of service, would be a major undertaking. Fortunately, for modelers who wish otherwise the QE2 remains, perhaps second only to the Queen Mary, the most successful and extensively documented Cunard liner. Most, if not all, ocean liner books devote a section (however brief) and several titles are exclusively hers. Two of the better publications in our respective libraries include QE2 (Captain Warick, 1985) and QE2: A Ship For All Seasons (Hutchings, 1988). As with any ship there will always be several less documented and elusive areas, both publications' color and b/w photographs (and Hutching's 1969 deck plans) are valuable aids. And considering she is still with us, one can not overlook the value of many years of Cunard brochures as modeling aids, most of which today are collectibles in their own right.

Before launching into the heart of this review, again like our Canberra to highlight optional corrective measures one may wish to undertake to improve the 'out-of-box' offering, a brief overview of the kit is warranted. In summary:

Now on to the joy of painting! We always take painting instructions with a grain of salt, finding that dedicated research is almost always guaranteed to result in a more accurate, and eye-satisfying, render. As many 'more experienced' modelers recommend, when in doubt 'scale down' the paint. In most instances a particular color will appear darker, and more intense, when applied to a 1:600 scaled surface compared to its 1:1 counterpart. As for the QE2 several paints deserve discussion:

Now, with kit in hand we offer the following observations:

Assembly Instructions ~ The six-steps are clearly detailed and accurately referenced with respect to part identifications. However, the sequence of assembly is illogical. Assembly #1 suggests building the superstructure almost in its entirety prior to attaching to the hull, Assembly #4. Although such instructions are at best a guide (we rarely follow then them to the letter) we believe Assembly #4 should be undertaken first as the hull / Boat-Deck interface will require clamping to ensure proper alignment and fit. To attempt to do so with the superstructure in place would be a hindrance, subject to damage. We prefer building from the keel up, attaching minor pieces (screws, stabilizers, etc.) during the final 'finishing' stage. Several hull areas, bow and stern, will require painting of their inside surfaces prior to positioning deck components. This can be easily overlooked and not easily corrected once the decks are in place, especially if one wishes to embellish like adding clear plastic to the inside surfaces of the aft screens to represent glazing. All glazed screens, in our opinion, will benefit by the application of clear, or slightly tinted, plastic to their inside surfaces.

Hull ~ Typical of most offerings it is a two piece assembly. As mentioned the two halves do not join together well, and the positioning pins / holes are too small and too few to be of much help. With our kits the bottom of the hull halves were distorted by the heavy tree, causing the 'flat' at the center to be pushed upward and requiring quite a bit of work to set straight. We have added several transverse styrene bulkheads in this area to flatten the distortion, which will also have the benefit of strengthening the hull for permanent (bolt down) mounting on custom display bases. One may also consider adding additional 'plate' gluing tabs to one half of the hull, overlapping the seam, to increase surface contact. Compared to the other parts, hull detail is reasonably crisp, with most, but not all, paint lines indicated. With exception of the tri-part ovals of the One-Deck deluxe cabins the ports, gangways and Upper-Deck / Quarter-Deck public room fenestration is molded 'raised'. Owing to the ovals we do not recommend 'opening' the ports, thus rendering by permanent paint marker may (as we recommended with Canberra) provide better control and a sharper finished product. Not indicated, the lower hull should be painted two tones: a band of bright red boot topping, with deeper 'brick / red-wine' below. (Masking the boot topping, for painting, may prove easier without the shaft bossings in place.) Bow thrusters, bilge keel and stabilizers are featured, although the bilge keel seems heavy and perhaps slightly out of scale. Not surprisingly, the aft glazed windscreens, due to the difficulty of molding ultra-thin components, are inaccurate in terms of unit divisions. The same can be said for the open slits of Two and Three-Decks: the stanchions of Two-Deck are not featured, and those of Three-Deck are molded flush with the hull's outer skin. On the actual ship these are recessed. Removal and scratch building can easily correct these features.

Presented as near mirror images of one another, hull fenestration is incorrect. There were differences in the groupings, and number, of the large plate-glass windows, from port to starboard, especially on Quarter-Deck owing to the location of the original portside Grill Room. In addition, both the Quarter-Deck, and Main-Deck, windows and ports is positioned ½ deck lower than on the actual liner. A strange error for such a finely executed model.

Decks (in hull) ~ Before positioning the Boat-Deck, part #9, the aft decks, parts #3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, and the bow assembly, part #3 need to be rendered and set in place. If you wish to add clear plastic to the inner surfaces of the aft screens, to represent glazing, now is the time to do so, prior to positioning the decks (hint: consider fog-free glue). Of note:

Collectively, these pieces are a fair representation of the QE2's 1969 aft configuration. Although the instructions are somewhat ambiguous with respect to the color of the pool surrounds / splash baffles, photographs suggest the 1st Class pool, part #7, was a light blue while Transatlantic Class, part #6, an olive green. Also, four 'mushroom objects' were clustered around each pool, function unknown to us, and are not featured on the model.

 

clip_image003.jpg (36751 bytes)

Signal-Deck open well ~ note planked surfaces, structural supports of the well's inner surfaces, skylights and the Boat-Deck transition from white to khaki.

 

Photo-etched components: As with any kit the QE2 will visually benefit by adding P/E railings (we have already commented on the use of davits). Owing to the 'in-out' configuration of the boat deck railings around the davits, railings on the model should be positioned prior to the lifeboats above. It should also be noted that while the aft facing railing of part #6 is of the 3-bar type (plus handrail), those of part #7, and #8 above, were solid glazed screens (since removed). Most stairs on the QE2 are oddly shaped, thus not lending themselves easily to P/E replacement, or enhancement.

Summary Comments: To repeat an earlier statement, this review is intended to serve as a simplified guide to identify (we have not identified all) optional corrective measures one may wish to consider. Apart from personal pleasure from doing so few of our suggestions, if adopted, will be noticeable by the untrained eye, thus the decision to build straight from the box will still produce a highly detailed, and fairly accurate, representation of this beautiful one of a kind liner. Although QE2 is offered in 1:450 and 1:1200 scales, the Airfix/Humbrol is an absolute 'must-have' to complete one's 'Cunard 1:600 scale Quartette': Mauretania, Queen Mary (although hideously inaccurate and slightly off-scale it is close enough) and Queen Elizabeth. Collectively, they represent the evolution of the 20th century ocean liner: from four, to three, to two, and finally one stack. They also represent the vision, and aspirations, of one shipping line, a rarity in the nautical modeling world, and all served His / Her Majesty's Government in times of crisis. With many representation possibilities one could (and perhaps should) acquire at least two kits, as we suspect once this limited production has run its course it will be a long time (if ever) the 1:600 will again be available 'off the shelf'. At approximately $30.00 Canadian (+/-) this kit is more than affordable.

Rating: 9 out of 10.

 

RMD/MC ~ 10/03