PRO'S : New tooling, gift box packaging, good breakdown of parts, paints, glues, thread and brushes supplied, comprehensive decal sheet and instruction booklet.
CON'S : Some windows not supplied with clear inserts, large package difficult to sneak into the house if the wife is at home! During the last two decades it has been seen that the popularity of the large cruise ship as a holiday destination has been steadily on the increase. This growth has been responsible for the creation of a succession of what would only be termed as "superliners", the latest and I believe, greatest being the subject of the kit featured in this review.

Airfix have shown great skill and commitment in this recent release. Upon opening the huge 60cm x 35cm x 12cm gift box one is immediately impressed by the extensive A-3 decal sheet, containing all necessary windows, deck markings, tennis courts, pools and a set of neat waterline markings that make that particular job a whole lot easier.

The black hull moulding alone measures 571mm and when one considers that the model is made at 50 feet equals one inch or 1/600 the real thing must be enormous. All the apertures for the windows are excellent and 99.9% flash free.

The bulbous bow is moulded separately and optional inserts allow the bow thruster doors to be represented in either the open or closed position (see below), a little scraping and filling may be necessary to get the waterline joint right - but not much. Clear inserts are supplied for some of the hull windows, but not all (open galleries?), the propulsion pods are nicely done as well as the propellers which will need to be handled very carefully.

The long pieces that form the sides of the superstructure are quite flexible but are well supported by two large bulkheads that also locate the components of the upper deck levels.

Deck planking detail is engraved making a nice change from most other model ship kits. Lifeboats are also well represented - hopefully enough of them to go around! - as well as 8 twin hulled launches plus a couple of zodiacs. The lifeboat davits are crisply moulded if somewhat simplified.

All the cabins with balconies which line the sheltered sides of the upper superstructure, are easy to handle due to the inclusion of some great decals and when combined with the other door and window decals really set the model off with good effect.

The sloping forecastle, the funnel and the bridge wings - all inspired by the earlier Queen Elizabeth 2 and the Queen Mary - are beautifully reproduced. The model when finished will truly convey the best aspects of the tradition of trans-Atlantic sea travel and all that's best of modern shipbuilding technology.

Ten small and five large paint pots, plastic cement, clear fix cement for windows, large and small brushes plus a quantity of rigging thread are included should the modeller so desire to use them. Instructions are provided in the form of a 44-page booklet, the diagrams are clear and precise with a development history and list of vital statistics.

Undoubtedly within a short space of time a photo-etched accessory set will become available for those modellers who desire to put in the extra effort.

The Airfix 1/600 scale Queen Mary 2 is quite a stunning kit, an amazing new release from a company that has always been a industry leader. The fact that a good range of ocean liner kits in the same scale are still readily available make the potential for a great collection quite high. When one considers what's in the box and the size of the finished model, the AUD$71.50 price tag is good value.

Many thanks to SANDLE Hobbies for the review sample.

Good luck and happy Modelling.

Copyright © SMML 2004