HobbyBoss 1/350 RM Pola

I've read that the Pola is not a very detailed kit...needs AM badly...

Yes it is certainly needing a detail set. Over the weekend I picked up the Classic Warships book on Italian heavy Cruisers, so that will be of immense help. Lots of great photos and even some 1/350 scale drawings. Hobbyboss definately took simplification shortcuts on this cut.

Thanks for the reply!  I have the Master Models barrel set and have ordered the WEM railing set and water tight doors.  But this model is screaming out for a dedicated detail set!

Bill

warshipguy

I just bought the Reggia Navale POLA; I was inspired by the impending release of R.N. ROMA by Trumpeter.  I would love to do it justice.  Does anyone know if there is any kind of upgrade set for it yet?  If not, what specific PE sets would be appropriate?

Bill Morrison

I can find two sets specific for this kit, but both are for armament only- brass gun tubes from Aber and Master Models.

Now that my Graf Spee is nearing completion, and I have an idea of how to approach a ship kit better, I am looking at tackling this one soon. I am looking at generic railings and some other PE for this ship.

One detail I've noticed not on the kit is that there is a bipod strut on both sides of the main superstructure leaning aft.  It should be an easy scratchbuild.  I've also seen a color diagram showing all four ZARA class cruisers painted green below the waterline.

Bill Morrison

I've got this kit.  Looks pretty neat.  My plan is to build oob except for the addition of photoetch rails from Gold Medal Models 1/350 extra railings set.  And, I'll be going with the paint guide included with the kit.  Not sure if I'll be 100% accurate or not - I just got the thing for a quick, cheap build.

Though I already have the Mini Hobby's Pola built and shown, I've just got the Hobby Boss' Pola too. Couldn't resist its price which is damn cheap, price including shipping from HK is only $18.68. Generic PE rails will be used. But the queue to be built is a long one.

I just bought the Reggia Navale POLA; I was inspired by the impending release of R.N. ROMA by Trumpeter.  I would love to do it justice.  Does anyone know if there is any kind of upgrade set for it yet?  If not, what specific PE sets would be appropriate?

Bill Morrison

Having a specific pe set for Pola would be great!  It would be better if the manufacturers would start offering more kits of Italian ships; they were absolutely beautiful. I used to have Tauro's R.N. Zara in 1/400 scale and would love to have it in 1/350, as well as Conte di Cavour, Giulio Cesare, Littorrio, etc.

One can only dream!

Bill Morrison

It's not a direct "clone", but the Banner/Hobbyboss/Minihobby Pola is definitely a scaled-up copy of the Tauro 1/400 kit, the parts and sprue layout are virtually identical. Tauro actually produced all 4 of the Zara-class cruisers in this scale - I'm currently building their kit of Fiume which is quite different in appearance to Pola, with a tiered bridge incorporating the forward mast tripod, and a narrow forecastle deck. I built the Minihobby Pola a couple of years ago, this was before I'd really got the hang of PE and scratchbuilding details so I may try rebuilding it one day!

For their age, though, they're quite good kits (as is the 1/350 Pola copy, though some of the details are slightly softer). And as far as I know, all of the Tauro kits more or less accurately represent the differences between the individual ships.

It's a shame there isn't a PE set for any of them - though you can use generic PE sets such as ladders, rails and hatches, there are numerous areas such as the RO.37 aircraft, ship's boats, AA guns (which were Italian-designed 37mm and 20mm types) and the mast "starfish" which could benefit from a dedicated PE set. Maybe if the Hobbyboss kit remains in production and available at retail (I don't think the original Banner/MHM issue was around for long) we might see one from the likes of GMM or WEM?

Are you sure it's from HobbyBoss and not Mini Hobby? Hobby Boss's kits are never that cheap. Under $20 for a 1:350 battleship is a deal. And the name of the ship is R.N. Pola, not RM Pola for sure. I know because I had one built in the past. You're right about the PE upgrade, at least there should be PE railings:

That is from my all-ship page:

http://www.falconbbs.com/model38c.htm

In the same page you'll find USS CV-2 Lexington Carrier, USS Los Angeles Class "Dallas" Submarines, USS Mobile Bay and IJN Destroyer type koh "Yukikaze", all in the same scale (1:350).

Stikpusher:

I did a little checking on the anti fouling color for the hull bottom. I've got a copy of Warships No. 23 with a color drawing of her in 1940. This shows a black boot strip and a red bottom. I looked on Model Warships . com and they have a section under cruisers entitled Calling all Zara , Pola fans. I read through this thread and the consensus was her bottom was probably red. The key appears to be where a ship was originally built. If it was at Trieste then the bottom was green. However like any ship it could have put in for repairs at other bases and been repainted red or start out red and end up green. It kind of comes down sometimes as to what color you like. I couldn't really tell with the Gorizia so I did green as I liked the color. One thing appears pretty certain, these cruisers had natural teak decks from the stern to about a third of the way forward and the rest of the deck was a dark grey. From about the front main turrets to the bow, the deck was painted with diagonal red/white stripes to let the Italian air force know they were one of theirs. I'd suggest that you ask on Model Warships.com as they have some real experts over there. I've was wondering how do you like your kit? I was thinking of getting one. Anyway I hope I've been able to help.

Michael Lacey

Stikpusher:

When I built my Tauro Gorizia I used Tamiya's IJN light grey in a spray can no. AS-2 and their AS-1 dark green for the lower part of the hull. I know they are Japanese colors but I liked the results. I believe WEM makes the exact colors but they are enamels which I try to only use acrylics when I air brush due to the smell (I paint inside). I know for some this maybe sacrilege but I reasoned that after exposure to the salt and the sun they were a pretty close match.

Michael Lacey

I read about the last battle of this ship today, good stuff! She was even boarded by the Royal Navy prior to being finished off.

So, what color/shade of light gray did the Italian Navy use in early WWII? What company makes a good version of that shade?

Is this a "new tool" or is it the old Tauro kit re-boxed?

Thanks