Gold Medal Models

1/400 Queen Mary 2 Photo-etch Set For the Revell of Germany Cunard Liner Queen Mary 2

Stock Number: 450-9

Reviewed By  Charles Landrum, IPMS# 26328

MSRP: $42.00 Review copy provided by Gold Medal Models, 1412 Fisherman Bay Road, Lopez, WA 98261. Their website is www.goldmm.com. I would like to thank Loren Perry for this review sample. The Cunard liner Queen Mary 2 is the largest liner ever built, and the Revell of Germany 1/400 scale model is a large and detailed replica - overwhelming in fact. The hull measures nearly 3 feet and is a good 9 or so inches tall. An in-the-box review of the model reveals little in the way of detail missing; even the railings are rather petite for an injection-molded process. It also comes with a large decal sheet, which includes water for the pools, the tennis and basketball courts, and even shuffleboard markings! This is not a kit for the faint of heart, but will look sharp if done right. As a warship modeler, I liken it to building an aircraft carrier - lots of potential for additional detail. Loren Perry has developed a large PE set designed to improve and add detail to what is already a beautiful kit. Etched from .005 brass, this set is pliant enough to work, but stiff enough to hold up in handling during installation. As a warship modeler, I was looking for the standard replacement details, such as railings, ladders and details associated with operational machinery. But I have to say that I am pleasantly surprised and a bit amused to the lengths Loren has gone to, to add the finer details missing in the kit. Here is a breakdown of the details you will find in this set: A full set of pre-measured liferails, with small cranes and liferaft locations etched into the railing for additional detail Guardrails for the spare propeller blades carried on deck Liferings, for the brackets etched into the rails A full set of replacement handrails for the inclined ladders Ladder well railings Vertical ladder stock Boat crane handwheels and handrails Liferaft canister gantries - again locations are marked on the railings! Pool patio lights Pool handrailings Jacuzzi railing Double relief etched clock faces Close-circuit TV cameras - 47 by my count! Basketball court backboards and hoops (including a spare)! A net and rackets for the tennis court! Shuffleboard sticks! And if that wasn't enough you get a multitude of chaise lounges, tanning lounges, round tables and accompanying chairs to fill the open decks! Last but not least the GMM signature figure, this time Commodore Ron W. Warwick - the ship's first master. After further scrutiny of the kit, I could not see any details that GMM overlooked. Do you need all of this detail? Perhaps not, but as I wrote earlier the QM2 is like an aircraft carrier model - plenty of room for further detail and this set provides it. The additional detail provided by GMM will really make the model a standout. Imagine the response of viewers when they notice the basketball hoops on the backboards or tennis rackets lying on the court! I bet that they will notice that detail before they see the handwheels on the crane. A couple of hints for painting, based upon available online images. The regular railings are white, with the upper rail capped with mahogany; the pool railings are chrome. The chaise lounge frames also appear to be mahogany, the cushions green or green and white striped, the round tables and chairs have white frames with wood tops and seats. If there is one thing that is missing and doubtless will require a separate set - a shipload of passengers and crew for a modern liner. The Titanic figures already available will not work; we need vacation goers of all shapes, sizes and dress! Imagine small figures relaxing in the pool or chaise lounges. Well there, I have thrown the gauntlet down for Loren. If you have the QM2 and you want to properly detail such a large model, you need this set.

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