HMS Hood 1941 by CDW - FINISHED - I Love Kit - 1:700 Scale - PLASTIC

[CDW]

I was searching various sources for 1:700 HMS Hood accessory/upgrade sets when I found the I Love Kit version of the 1:700 scale HMS Hood on Amazon. The kit immediately caught my attention as it contained every upgrade component you would want to fully update the Trumpeter model, plus the kit itself! All of this was a bargain price of around $60 shipped when I bought mine in May. At this time, I can no longer find it for sale on Amazon, however there is a dealer or two on Ebay who are selling it for just a little bit more than I paid for mine.

 

This being said, let's move on to see what you get. When the model arrived, the first thing I noticed was the weight of it. It was unusually heavy for a 1:700 scale ship model weighing in at just under 2 pounds. What I discovered is that much of the weight is in the heavy duty cardboard box it comes in. Very sturdy and substantial box that found it's way from China to Florida without any damage. A plus! First the box art:

 

 

Where it gets remarkable is when you get inside the box. All the molded plastic components are contained inside two more internal boxes:

 

 

Then when you open the full color high quality instruction set and realize what you get is a complete Pontos Detail Set inside!

 

 

 

Here are all the component parts inside:

 

 

I am looking forward to starting this model in a few more days. 

[king derelict]

That looks like a great deal. Wood deck and everything! What is the detail like on the plastic parts? I'm going to enjoy watching this come together.

Alan

[CDW]

5 minutes ago, king derelict said:

That looks like a great deal. Wood deck and everything! What is the detail like on the plastic parts? I'm going to enjoy watching this come together.

Alan

The plastic is not quite as good as other Flyhawk offerings have been, but it's not bad either.  As can be seen, the upgrade package is extensive.

Edited June 24, 2021 by CDW

[Old Collingwood]

I am  here as well   watching with most interest mate   - you doing a full hull or  sea scape?

 

OC.

[CDW]

14 minutes ago, Old Collingwood said:

I am  here as well   watching with most interest mate   - you doing a full hull or  sea scape?

 

OC.

 

Not sure yet. Time will tell but I am leaning toward full hull now.

[Haliburton]

I’m here too - you can never have too many hoods!  Scott

[Old Collingwood]

7 minutes ago, CDW said:

 

Not sure yet. Time will tell but I am leaning toward full hull now.

I hear you Craig  -  although she looks  unique in the water with her very low (and wet)  rear deck,   I think sometimes  they can look kind of cut at the waist and missing something if they are not a full hull.

 

Dont foreget her lower hull was dark Grey not Red.

 

OC.

[ccoyle]

I just tagged your build log -- can't believe I had to type in "I Love Kit" for the manufacturer! 😜

[Canute]

Super, another "Mighty 'ood", as Haliburton said.

 

Is this a Flyhawk or some other brand?

[popeye the sailor]

sitting in as well........this might be the future for the model kit    

[CDW]

Just now, Canute said:

Super, another "Mighty 'ood", as Haliburton said.

 

Is this a Flyhawk or some other brand?

 

It appears that some company in China is using the Trumpeter plastic, combining it with a Pontos detail set, repackaging it all in a much improved box, then selling it all under their name brand of "I Love Kit". 

Go to Ebay and do a search for "I Love Kit". There are a ton of different models being sold under this brand. Great looking kits by the way.

[Old Collingwood]

We should all do Hood kits  - make it a  megga group build   - might have to wait a while for mine though,

 

OC.

[CDW]

Seems as though I Love Kit are also selling a 1:700 Bismarck that is another combination of Trumpeter plastic and Pontos update set. Looks like a very detailed, exceptional model.

This time around, I already have the Flyhawk Bismarck with their full updates so I am going to pass on the I Love Kit one, but I remain tempted. 🙂

 

TRUMPETER 65701 1/700 SCALE GERMAN BATTLESHIP BISMARCK 1941 9580208657011 | eBay

[king derelict]

Very tempting but likewise I have the deluxe Flyhawk kit. That's a great looking kit at a great price though. I need to reduce the size of the pile not increase it.

Alan

[Old Collingwood]

Have you seen this mate  - 1/64  scale  shipwrights  model of Hood.

 

OC.

 

http://hmshood.com/hoodtoday/models/gallery/hoodgallery3.htm

[Ian_Grant]

14 hours ago, CDW said:

 

It appears that some company in China is using the Trumpeter plastic, combining it with a Pontos detail set, repackaging it all in a much improved box, then selling it all under their name brand of "I Love Kit". 

Go to Ebay and do a search for "I Love Kit". There are a ton of different models being sold under this brand. Great looking kits by the way.

So is this happening under a license from trumpeter to use their plastic?

[CDW]

Just now, Ian_Grant said:

So is this happening under a license from trumpeter to use their plastic?

There is a copyright stamp on their box so I assume it is. Many people unfamiliar with plastic models do not realize how many name brand labels contain plastic made by Trumpeter. There are many. This is just another one.

When I was a young man, I worked for a company named Globe Union. We manufactured automobile, truck, and heavy equipment batteries. We made batteries for every private label you could name back then, Shell Oil Company, Sears, Amoco, Caterpillar, John Deer, on and on. Same thing in this regard only we're talking about plastic.

Edited June 25, 2021 by CDW

[CDW]

I started by examining the the first page of the update instruction photos to see what raised details needed to be removed from the deck pieces.

 

 

Here are the deck pieces compared to the instruction photos. Everything marked in red has to be removed.

 

 

After a couple of hours of cutting, filing, and sanding, the deck is ready.

 

 

[CDW]

Next task is to file down raised details on superstructure and funnels.

 

[CDW]

Just an idea of how large and extensive the photo etch frets are in this kit.

 

[CDW]

This is one of two funnels that are wrapped in photo etch. The photo etch is stainless but looks dark after I annealed it to conform to the funnel shape. Used CA glue and masking tape to hold the etch around the funnel while the glue set up.

 

[CDW]

The photo etch walkways and railings inside the tops of the two funnels.

 

[hof00]

Awesome work!!

 

Quick question, what adhesive did you use for the Stainless around the Funnel?

 

Cheers....HOF.

[CDW]

6 hours ago, hof00 said:

Awesome work!!

 

Quick question, what adhesive did you use for the Stainless around the Funnel?

 

Cheers....HOF.

 

Thanks. Cyanoacrylate 

 

[king derelict]

Very, very nice

[CDW]

3 hours ago, king derelict said:

Very, very nice

Thanks. I’m struggling a bit with the photo etch domes that go on top of the funnels. Time and patience is what I tell myself.

[CDW]

On 6/23/2021 at 9:12 PM, king derelict said:

What is the detail like on the plastic parts? 

Alan

It’s okay but not grand, it gets the job done with some extra detail parts whereas Flyhawk needs hardly any except railing. Some parts look rough all on their own. Funnels are a good example of what is lacking in the plastic all by itself.

[king derelict]

4 hours ago, CDW said:

Thanks. I’m struggling a bit with the photo etch domes that go on top of the funnels. Time and patience is what I tell myself.

I've not worked with stainless PE. How did you anneal it?

Thanks

Alan

[CDW]

2 hours ago, king derelict said:

How did you anneal it?

Thanks

Alan

Whether it’s stainless or brass, use a butane mini torch to heat it up. It softens it up taking the “spring” out of the metal. Tends to stay in place much easier when it’s shaped to a curved surface.

[king derelict]

2 minutes ago, CDW said:

Whether it’s stainless or brass, use a butane mini torch to heat it up. It softens it up taking the “spring” out of the metal. Tends to stay in place much easier when it’s shaped to a curved surface.

Thanks Craig.

I picked up a Harbor Freight mini torch so I'll give it a try

Alan