Artist Hobby Review - Arleigh Burke Upgrade Photo Etch Set

[TRM]

Artist Hobby's

1/700 Scale Arleigh Burke DDG-51
Photo Etch Detail Set




Manufacturer: Artist Hobby

Model # AH 270006

Scale: 1:700

Price: $48.00 USD

Artist Hobby is a fairly new company to the modeling world specializing in detailed photo etching in the 1/700 scale realm. Comprised of a team of Senior Photo Etching Designers, Artist Hobby is able to render highly detailed etches from prints along with listening to their customers to meet the expectations of the modeling world.

The Kit

The Artist Hobby 1/700 Scale Arleigh Burke DDG-51 Photo Etch Detail Set is designed for Hobby Boss's HBO83409 kit of the same name. The photo etch set covers numerous highly detailed parts to enhance the Hobby Boss kit. This set comes packaged in three individual blister packs containing the following:

7 - Photo etch sheets
8 - Turned brass Harpoon missile tubes
1 - Turned Brass 1 x 5-inch (127-mm)/62 Mk-45 Barrel
6 - Pages of instructions

The set is comprised of two separate photo etch sets; AH 170021 & AH 170022. Each of these set can be purchased individually; however, there is value pricing for the combined AH270006 set.

AH 170021 Part one of the AH 270006 Set



Part 1 of the set is comprised of five photo etch sheets jamb packed with upgraded detail parts.

Sheet A



The instruction sheets for this set are not too bad to follow.  Some areas leave it open for interpretation for location of the part, but with patience and reference pictures the builder should be able to flow through the installation process.



                                  

This sheet contains railings, anchors and various detail side plates for superstructure parts.




These are extremely delicate, but removal from the sheets is fairly easy and the parts bend easily into shape


Sheet B

                             

Sheet B contains more superstructure parts, still more railings and ladder along with the larger section of the ships anchor.

Sheet C

                         



Sheet C is one of my favorite pieces in this set.  I am impressed with the flight deck tie-downs.  Etched slightly recessed with a crisp look to them.  Included in the sheet are the drop-down safety rails for the flight deck as well as more ladders.

Sheet D








                

Sheet D contains Radar plates for the main superstructure, rack, main deck railings cleats and hose reals.

Sheet E







Sheet E is another highly detailed sheet of parts.  Containing more side plate for the superstructures, there are life rings, ladders, railings and water tight doors. 






 
The railing layout is printed on a landscape, fold-out two-sided sheet showing placement of the railings and anchors





Part 2

Part two is a combination of one photo etch sheet, the 5" gun barrel as well as the Harpoon missile tubes.



                   





The Part 2 sheet is a collection of finely detail parts.  There is grating for the flight deck, the launch platform for the MK41 missiles, propeller blades (folded and unfolded) and a selection of M242 Bushmaster 25mm cannons.





There is a separate sheet labeled as "Present".  This is an antenna mast for the early version of the Arleigh Burke.



Turned Brass Parts

The turned brass parts for this kit include the Harpoon missile tubes and the 5 inch MK-45 barrel for the deck gun.









This is an exception kit for the 1/700 scale builder.  The kit contains an extraordinary amount of highly detailed etch parts.  Albeit delicate will be sure to add a hyper-scale of detail to the USS Arleigh Burke Model.  This set is not for the beginner level builder as there are 100's of almost microscopic parts that will take a higher skill level to work.  With patience and additional reference material the 1/700 Scale Arleigh Burke DDG-51 Photo Etch Detail Set is sure to enhance this model to a museum-like quality.

I currently have three different sets from Artist hobby.  Each set has been engineered to fit the individual models they were created for.  I can tell you with all three sets I can see the time and effort to create a high quality and highly detailed upgrade set.  Artist Hobby has done a great job in bringing options to the 1/700 scale modellers bench and I look forward to seeing new creations from them in the future.








I would like to thank the folks from Artist Hobby for supplying the review sample

www.artisthobby.com/



If you are interested in purchasing this set or seeing what else Artist Hobby has to offer Please visit Free Time Hobbies at www.freetimehobbies.com

1/700 Artist Hobby USS DDG-51 Arleigh Burke Photo Etch
SKU: AH270006


Individually sold parts to the set

1/700 Artist Hobby USS DDG-51 Arleigh Burke Part 1 Photo Etch

1/700 Artist Hobby USS DDG-51 Arleigh Burke Part 1 Photo Etch

The Model for which the set is intended

1/700 Hobby Boss USS Hopper DDG-70 Arleigh Burke Class Guided Missile Destroyer
SKU: HY83411




Source Material

USS Arleigh Burke - US Navy

Arleigh Burke-class destroyer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

DDG-51 ARLEIGH BURKE-class - Navy Ships

[wbill76]

Working with PE in 1/35 is tough enough IMHO. hat's off to those who can pull it off in 1/700! Looks like a beautiful set T.

[TRM]

It is a really nice detail set and I do agree with you somewhat there Bill on being tough! But I can be up for the challenge from time to time!

[TRM]

Thanks for stopping by to check it out Mark! a set like this for 1/700 is pretty intense. There is a lot of straight shots and quick 90 degree bends in the application to make things a bit easier. I will have another review soon for one of Artist Hobbies sets...HMS Tiger from the turn of the last century...somewhere around 900 of these pieces...Incredible to see at first!!

Almost missed you there Dicky!! Truly and art form to be able to pull off the detail!! A small ship like the 1/700 Areigh Burke will just jump out with this stuff on her!!