Dragon Models 1/350 1054 German Z-31 Destroyer Smart Kit
Dragon’s model of this German warship is a Smart Kit, meaning it is incredibly well engineered to achieve maximum levels of accuracy and ease of assembly. Its 1/350 scale allows for an amazing level of detail to be incorporated. While some parts have been utilized from the earlier Z39 kit, many are newly created just for this particular destroyer. Examples of brand new components include the bridge, hull, search light and mines. As is Dragon’s norm, the kit allows modellers to build a waterline-hull or full-hull version of this interesting destroyer. This new kit makes an ideal patrolling partner for Z39!
Dragon previously released a fine kit of the German Z39 destroyer, and it was enthusiastically received by modellers because of its accuracy and easy assembly. Dragon is now pleased to offer another 1/350 scale kit of the Z31 destroyer. This ship was one of the Zerstörer 1936A (Mob) class, also known to the Allies as the Narvik-class destroyer. Instead of being named, these ships built after the commencement of WWII were known by their hull numbers Z23 to Z39. Thanks to their impressive 15cm guns, these ships were close to being light cruisers rather than destroyers. Z31 was laid down on 1 September 1940 and was commissioned on 11 April 1942. This ship was notable in that it initially featured a single forward-mounted gun, before being retrofitted with a twin turret in late 1942. Interestingly, this warship survived WWII and was taken by France as war booty in December 1945. It subsequently served in the French Navy as Marceau (Q 103) before being scrapped in 1958.