Kit Preview Kriegsmarine Supply/Repair Barge, Battlefleet Models BFM #726, Resin/PE/Machined brass, 1:700 Price $25.00 USD

Even the greatest celebrity needs supporting personnel to make their exploits possible. These people stay out of the limelight, but they are indispensable, be it for actors, singers, athletes or human hallstands. This is also valid for our hobby and its naval niche. For decades, manufacturers have tried to produce faithful reproductions of major combatants, with much less effort being spent on auxiliaries.

Battlefleet Models has a heart for the auxiliary fleet, supplying us with high-class miniatures of auxiliary vessels of all sorts, without which our dioramas would look rather naked.

This admittedly not rather sleek vessel is supposed to support larger Kriegsmarine units with provisions and workshop capacities. It was first designed and built by Cedric Chan for his 1:700 DKM Tirpitz diorama as to be seen at http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery/dio/dkm/tirpitz-700-cc/cc-index.html
It is not supposed to depict a certain vessel but rather a generic barge, as all navies used for similar purposes. As those vessels were also taken up from trade and converted individually, each of them was unique. Hence this kit may be used either straight from the box or as a base for a conversion.
As usual with this manufacturer, the kit was excellently packed, and all parts survived the trip from Colorado to Hesse, Germany. Lots of bubble wrap and shrink-wrap worked wonders – other manufacturers could improve in that respect.
The resin parts are cleanly and crisply made, equally crisply molded and cast with hardly any excess resin to trim off. Working with these parts should be trouble-free. The parts count being as low as it is, this kit should appeal to resin newbies as a positive first resin experience. The entire deck has a nice plank structure, which is helpful for conversions. There is a very nice winch at the bow. Some parts prone to damage or loss have been provided with spares, which is a ncie touch by the manufacturer. Apart from the resin parts, the kit contains two pieces of brass wire and a sufficient amount of PE railing from Tom´s Model Works.

The instructions start with a picture of Cedric Chan's model, followed by the usual security notes and some useful hints for working with the materials. There is a parts list and some images of the parts showing their placement, it all being sufficient to build the model. The website mentions additional recommended PE parts such as watertight doors, inclined ladders, hatches and cable reels. Including this hint into the printed instructions would have been helpful, even though most modelers building a kit like this would not need it, but just consult their spare PE for the needed items. In the end, everybody will probably build their own customized version of this vessel, with all the PE and other additions looking useful to everyone.

Conclusions:

This is a very helpful kit of a subject well suited to improve a diorama, offering good value for money and one of the best levels of quality found amongst naval resin manufacturers. Highly recommended, be it OOB or however converted!