SMS Dresden Deluxe Edition 1: 700 Flyhawk 1307s

Plastic model kit: SMS Dresden Deluxe Edition 1:700 Flyhawk 1307S

The SMS Dresden Deluxe Edition 1:700 Flyhawk 1307S model kit is a unique proposition for enthusiasts of maritime history and modeling. This plastic model represents the German light cruiser SMS Dresden, which was one of the key ships of the Kaiserliche Marine (Imperial German Navy) before and during World War I. 

Model features:

• Scale: 1:700
• Manufacturer: Flyhawk
• Catalog number: 1307S
• Model type: Plastic model kit

History of SMS Dresden:

SMS Dresden was the first ship of its class, built at the Blohm and Voss shipyard in Hamburg. Its construction began in 1906, and it was launched in October 1907. It was ultimately completed in November 1908. However, its entry into service was delayed by incidents during sea trials, including a collision with another vessel, which required significant repairs.

Dresden was armed with ten 10.5 cm SK L/40 guns and two torpedo launchers. Its design was based on the earlier Königsberg class of cruisers, making it a modern ship for its time.

Service and wartime actions:

After entering service, SMS Dresden visited the United States in 1909 during the Hudson–Fulton Celebration. It then returned to Germany, where it served in the reconnaissance forces of the High Seas Fleet for three years. In 1913, it was assigned to the Mediterranean Division and later sent to the Caribbean to protect German citizens during the Mexican Revolution.

In mid-1914, Dresden transported former dictator Victoriano Huerta to Jamaica, where the British granted him asylum. The planned return to Germany in July 1914 was thwarted by the outbreak of World War I. At the beginning of the war, Dresden operated as a commerce raider in South American waters in the Atlantic, and in September it moved to the Pacific Ocean, joining the East Asia Squadron under the command of Maximilian von Spee.

Battles and final fate:

Dresden participated in the Battle of Coronel in November 1914, where it clashed with the British cruiser HMS Glasgow. In December of the same year, it took part in the Battle of the Falklands, where it was the only German ship to avoid destruction. For several months, it evaded British pursuits until March 1915, when it docked at Robinson Crusoe Island. Due to worn-out engines and a lack of coal, the ship's captain contacted local Chilean authorities to intern Dresden. However, British cruisers, including its former opponent Glasgow, violated Chilean neutrality and opened fire in the Battle of Más a Tierra. The Germans scuttled Dresden, and most of the crew escaped to be interned in Chile for the duration of the war. The wreck of the ship remains in port, and several artifacts, including the bell and compass, have been returned to Germany.

Assembly and painting kit. Does not include paints or glue. Assembly requires separately sold modeling tools (including cutters, files, tweezers), paints, brushes, and plastic model glue (e.g., Tamiya Extra Thin Cement). The photo shows a professionally assembled and painted model.