Kit Review Seebäderschiff FUNNY GIRL 1973 - HMV - 1/250 - CARD

[ccoyle]

1/250 Seebäderschiff FUNNY GIRL 1973 - HMV

Available from Fentens Papermodels €13.99

 

Photo courtesy of Fentens Papermodels

 

(All photos by the author except where noted.)

Hot off the presses in 2022 from Hamburger Modellbaubogen Verlag (HMV) we have another fine addition to their lineup of historical German working vessels. This time, the folks at HMV are offering a Seebäderschiff with the curious name of Funny Girl, no doubt named for either the Barbara Streisand film or for Fanny Brice, the film's central character. The German name for this type of vessel translates as "sea bather ship." This sort of excursion vessel is still used to this day for ferrying vacationing tourists from the German mainland to the various seaside resorts located on that country's barrier islands. Funny Girl was the last of three sister ships (the others being the Kloar Kimming and the Fair Lady) placed in service between 1970 and 1973. Funny Girl remains in service to this day, transporting up to 799 passengers per trip to sunny days on the beaches of Helgoland.

 

As is usual for HMV kits, this design from Friedrich Pohl is in 1/250 scale, producing a finished model that is 27.5 cm in length  (10.8 in.). The four sheets of parts contain 534--698 parts, depending on which build options are chosen. The size and parts count have earned this model a rating of 'intermediate' on HMV's scale of 'easy' to 'very difficult.'

 

Upon turning the attractive booklet cover, featuring images of the prototype model, we find a nice description of the real-life Funny Girl. Sadly for many of you, this description is of course in German, which should encourage some of you to learn that fine language. Remember, Deutsch macht spass!

 

 

These days, HMV kits include brief explanatory remarks on the lines and symbols used in the construction diagrams, so that the builder can know such things as where to make folds either up or down, and where optional laser-cut detail parts may be used. These remarks are written in German, English, French, Japanese, Spanish, and Russian.

 

 

 

After tearing my hair out while trying to make sense of the diagrams in a GPM kit, I can tell you honestly that I really appreciate the clarity of the logical HMV construction sequence and diagrams. Experienced card modelers should have no trouble at all in following the six pages of detailed, computer-drafted diagrams.

 

 

Construction of Funny Girl's hull makes use of the standard HMV 'egg crate' method of construction. Some care and attention to detail is required to pull this off well, so I recommend having one or two simpler models under your built before attempting a larger model like this.

 

 

It would be a shock to me personally if any HMV kit were not up to the company's high standard of print quality. Funny Girl's printing is sharp, the colors are bright, and the registration is spot-on. Two-sided printing is included on parts that require it.

 

 

As mentioned earlier, a laser-cut detail set is available for this kit. The circled letter 'L' in a diagram indicates that such a part is available for the item shown.

 

 

The laser cut set contains eleven frets and includes a complete railing set, bulwark stays, deck chairs, anchor chains, life belts, anchors, and many other fiddly bits that are difficult to cut out from the printed parts sheets. The set costs €13.99.

 

(Photo courtesy of Fentens Papermodels)

 

A nice final touch in the kit is the addition of two pages of B&W photos of the actual Funny Girl.

 

 

As you can tell for yourself from the kit prototype model, this new HMV offering can be built into a very attractive model -- and it won't take up a lot of shelf real estate when completed.

 

(Photo courtesy of Fentens Papermodels)

 

HMV's Funny Girl will make a wonderful addition to any collection of card models, but will especially appeal to those who have a fondness for small but attractive passenger vessels. Both the Funny Girl kit and its laser-cut detail set can be purchased from the Fentens Papermodels site at the link provided at the top of this review. Be sure to tell them you saw it at Model Ship World!

 

Thanks to Benjamin Fentens for providing the copy of Funny Girl for this review.

 

 

 

 

[Ian_Grant]

What a pretty boat! Very nice.

 

By the way Chris, your new user photo is much more dignified and serious, but I still like your previous one. 😉

Edited June 3, 2022 by Ian_Grant