Building the Trumpeter 1/350 Scale SMS Viribus Unitis WWI Dreadnought

In this 4th model ship build for the channel, we construct, paint and detail the World War I era Austro-Hungarian dreadnought SMS Viribus Unitis 1/350 scale model kit by Trumpeter Item No: 05364.
This vessel was the first in the world to ever sport triple mounted main gun turrets. It also transported Archduke Ferdinand and his wife Sophie during official functions as well as carry their bodies after their lives were taken - starting World War I.
This video could not have been made without the generous contributions of information from Naval Historian Andrew W. Wilkie of British Columbia, Canada.
Please visit his site for all things SMS Viribus Unitis and more! www.viribusunitis.ca
Andrew’s 3D SMS Viribus Unitis model book info:
“SMS Viribus Unitis: Austro-Hungarian Battleship (Super Drawings in 3D)” Paperback
By Andrew Wilkie and Friedrich Prasky; Kagero Publishing
----------------------------------------------------
Credits:
(Rare) SMS Viribus Unitis images are courtesy of Andrew W. Wilkie
All other SMS Viribus Unitis images are Public Domain
Movie Clips:
“Horror Express” (1972) is Public Domain due to lack of current copyright
“Your Name Here” (1960) by Calvin Communications is Public Domain and is used as parody
“Battleship Potemkin” (1925) is Public Domain due to lack of copyright
Music:
“1812 Overture” by Tchaikovsky is public Domain
“Growing Space” by Astron is Creative Commons (CC0) and is public Domain
“Night Snow” by Asher Fulero is Creative Commons (CC0) and is public Domain
“Sad Piano” by Liborio Conti is Creative Commons (CC0) and is public Domain
“Two Moons” by Bobby Richards is Creative Commons (CC0) and is public Domain
“9th Symphony, Finale” (excerpt) by Beethoven is Creative Commons (CC0) and is public Domain
“A Quiet Thought” by Wayne Jones is Creative Commons (CC0) and is public Domain
“Deeper Meaning” by Liborio Conti is Creative Commons (CC0) and is public Domain
“Awaiting Return - Alantean Twilight” by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommon...
“E Minor Prelude” by Chopin is Creative Commons (CC0) and is public Domain

[@stevie65able]

Hello Tom. I cannot begin to express my gratitude at your very kind and generous acknowledgement at the beginning of the video. This would have to be one of your most outstanding builds. Sorry that my suggestion put you through the torture test! I learned a lot of things during this video. I now know what "bitts" are. I really liked your rendition of the torpedo nets-clever. I particularly liked the detail around the railing where they go over the bitts. That foam cradle you used to hold the model in place while you worked on it is something I will have to utilise. And finally, the difference in detail once you replaced the windows on the 13.5 ton motor boat with decal strips is night and day. I am aware that when I get to the sister ship-Szent István, there are quite a few detail differences, but this will be an immensely helpful video in terms of build sequence etc.. As always, your friend, Stephen.

[@MaxAfterburner]

Hi Stephen, so very glad you liked the video and the "innovations". I'm thrilled that you and Andrew Wilkie we're happy with the final result after everything that went into this one. You may recognize that cradle from before -- it first appeared on the B-52G build. I think the numbers will pick up in a few hours as most of the U.S. was asleep when this video went active. Look forward to your dreadnought later on. Unfortunately, I have to get to sleep now 🥱😴. Talk to you later, mate -- Tom

[@jonfast16]

My name is John I live in New Zealand I've just bought this kit and as usual I look through U Tube to see what you good / bloody excellent model builders do to turn a box of bits into a masterpiece, I got to admit your video I'm lost for words it's bloody awesome I'm really impressed, it's an inspiration and fills in so much that is missing from the instructions bearing in mind Trumpeter do a reasonable job with a few grey areas resulting in research and some guess work I'm lucky to be a shipwright and ex navy reserve , well retired ! but it helps with the guess work . I mean it when I say this example of a Dreadnought is going to stay on my mind for sometime. Thankyou for sharing it. RGDS John

[@MaxAfterburner]

Hi John, so glad you enjoyed this build and the video. Thanks kindly for your comments! I'm just an amateur always trying to do a little better on each successive kit. Congratulations on your service and best wishes on your model endeavors! 😀

[@robbo1068]

Fantastic build, great visuals, attention to details, informative commentary and a terrific final result. What more could we want! More please :)

[@MaxAfterburner]

Hi robbo1068, wow, what can I say after reading that? Just terrific, thank you!! 😍

[@hermanterblanche7712]

Awesome build as always

[@MaxAfterburner]

Hi hermanterblanche7712, thanks very much! The kind comments and support keep the channel going and my attempts to entertain flowing 😄

[@robw3027]

Very well done Max. Always great to see your videos.

[@MaxAfterburner]

Hey robw3027, thanks so much for the kind words of support! 🤩

[@marcusaureliusantoninusaug2161]

So great to see another ship built by you. I remember the Bismarck from a couple of years ago. Ship building is a love and hate relationship for me. I love the way they look and I love painting them. I hate the fiddely mast assembly and rigging though. I really like the final look of your VU battleship. Great job as always!

[@MaxAfterburner]

Hi marcusaureliusantoninusaug2161, thanks! The ship builds tend to get a lot of attention -- especially the Bismarck. Rigging can always look great and add to the final result, but things like that can go south really quick sometimes. But, if you can a decent final result overall, model ships always look pretty neat , don't they? 😎

[@foreverplastickits138]

*Surely the only video which deal with this subject, naval kits are pretty rare on You Tube, and a Dreadnought isn't popular! Very good build for avery good kit, so many details and so many mastering for a perfect result!*

[@MaxAfterburner]

Merci beaucoup, foreverplastickits138. Félicitations pour avoir atteint les 200 ! 😍

[@goforitpainting]

So cool ⛵

[@MaxAfterburner]

Hi goforitpainting , thanks, and great to hear from you! 😃

[@madhatterstudios966]

I hadn't had much interest in WW1 ships, but this one is quite the looker. Very nicely done! Another way you can do salt lines is dabbing on small amounts of flat clear with a tiny bit of sponge. It can create a very life like result if done carefully and with moderation. Love the movie clips you throw in too - very cool. Way better than emoticons

[@MaxAfterburner]

Hi madhatterstudios966, thanks for the tip, I'll have to try that sometime! Glad you like the channel's presentation style 😀

[@SEMJW]

Another incredibly good presentation. Informative and entertaining. After watching, we all want to build or own a model you built. Thanks Tom.

[@MaxAfterburner]

Hi johnnyboy483, happy you enjoyed the whole of the package! One should always grab a meal and watch my videos, that way they're attending a "dinner and a show". 😅

[@eduardogarcia-bz9kt]

thanks for this video

[@MaxAfterburner]

Hi eduardogarcia-bz9kt, you're welcome. I know many out there are anxious for more model ship builds on the internet. Thanks for watching mine! 😊

[@diecast_MikeEspo]

Awesome build ! Great work and video. Full watch, you really are a master builder . Your finish is amazing. Mike Espo .

[@MaxAfterburner]

Hi Mike, great to see comments from you again! I truly appreciate your kind messages of support and that you had some fun viewing the presentations 🤩

[@diecast_MikeEspo]

Beautiful ship , great work 👍.

[@rwd76]

Lovely work, well done, and nice vid as well.

[@MaxAfterburner]

Hi rwd76 , thanks much -- it was a LOT of work 😅

[@fredtedstedman]

Great job Tom ! love these Trumpeters , the hulls are "substantial " I built the big ARIZONA and found the photo etch to be a pain , made a sticky mess on my carefully executed paintwork !!

[@MaxAfterburner]

Hi fredtedstedman, PE sure has become a necessary element for our ship models because they add so much. However, they also produce a lot of hair pulling moments as you know! I've got to build an Arizona again one of these days for sure. Thanks for watching! 😊

[@cerethpainting6606]

Dude, love your channel and I love the clips. Keep both coming!

[@MaxAfterburner]

Hey there cerethpainting6606, thanks so very much! So, glad you like the clips. I try to provide a broad spectrum of enjoyment for viewers as well as challenge & entertain myself creatively. 😎

[@garyvictory3513]

Really impressive build and lovely finish. I am more of an aircraft builder but ships are catching my attention and I now have a few in the stash. Thank you sharing your work. Has always an informative and enjoyable watch. Thank you for sharing your work. Looking forward to your next project. All the best from the U.K.. 👍

[@MaxAfterburner]

Hi garyvictory3513, much obliged for the kind comments. I'd say just about any model ship build these days is quite an undertaking! Project #34 is another aircraft build that I hope you'll enjoy when all is said and done. As they say, USA and the UK = United Mates!

[@garyvictory3513]

@@MaxAfterburner definitely finding out ships are not a quick turnaround. Currently working on the 1/350 Tamiya KG V… just making a start on adding Eduard photo etch… And just added the 1/350 Trumpeter USS Franklin CV13 to the stash. Definitely a project and half.

[@Greg-et2dp]

Max Afterburner you are good at building aircraft models and airbrush painting and building ship models kits my friend

[@Adamslee72]

Awesome job mate always a pleasure to watch your builds this one especially was a different experience for me as I love planes I tried boats and ships but could never finish them love your work keeping going kind regards from Wales

[@MaxAfterburner]

Hi Adamslee72 , I won't lie, ship models are a crate full of work! But, Stephen's suggestion was too tempting for me to pass up because I was returning once again to my earliest plastic model "roots". I'll also mention here that Project #34 is an aircraft build / video that I hope you'll look forward to coming up. 😁

[@Adamslee72]

@@MaxAfterburner awesome mate looking forward to it

[@davidguy6823]

Superb build. Many thanks for sharing

[@MaxAfterburner]

Hi davidguy6823, I appreciate the generous comments and thanks for watching! 🤩

[@meganmurphy7671]

Another incredible build! I love this kit

[@MaxAfterburner]

Hi meganmurphy7671, thanks very much. It was a lot of work all the way around! 😋

[@ChristianSchroter]

Hello mister max!i test build an vessel at 13 years. an aegis ticonderoga. but i could not have fun while moddeling. So i stuck with tanks and airplanes.but its a pleasure watching you modelling a vessel. With sticky greetings .christian.

[@MaxAfterburner]

Tag ChristianSchroter, model ships are a lot of work with lots of detail, but they can look very nice when completed even if not perfect. New build and video out hopefully by the end of this December. 😍

[@Greg-et2dp]

Max Afterburner your ship kit is awesome my friend 🎄

[@MaxAfterburner]

Hi Greg-et2dp, it was a lot effort, but I'm happy you like the outcome 🙂

[@philski24]

Fantastic work and video as always. Gave me some ideas on how to tackle bits of my 1/200 Bismarck that I’m slowly working on.

[@MaxAfterburner]

Hi Phil, thanks much. A 200 scale Bismarck? It must be a monster of a build. As you know, you're #1 on the runway now 😉

[@dusanbolek8004]

Thank you for your video, thinking about building this kit and you provided huge amount of very valuable info in that regard. I'm rather pleased with the quality of the kit itself as well, compared to the older Trumpeter ships this looks almost bearable to build. 🙂

[@MaxAfterburner]

Hi dusanbolek8004, that's great to know that it might help you out and I'm also glad you enjoyed it! 😃

[@Greg-et2dp]

Max Afterburner your utube videos are awesome my friend 🎄

[@acescalemodeling]

Nice job as always!

[@MaxAfterburner]

Hi acescalemodeling, thanks so much! I know you're into the aircraft carrier model builds. I have one carrier in my stash, but all those little aircraft give me the heebie-jeebies! 😮

[@JacobyHR]

That ship is still in my hometown…

[@MaxAfterburner]

Hi JacobyHR, ⛴️👍

[@LSCModels]

Very nice ship and awesome build buddy. 👍

[@MaxAfterburner]

Thanks for watching! 😊

[@signorpippistrello]

Pretty impressive! I hope one day you build Szent Istvan, too!

[@MaxAfterburner]

Hi signorpippistrello , thank you! I know Stephen is keen on building himself a model of SMS Szent István. 😉

[@stevie65able]

@@MaxAfterburnerYou know Tom, I couldn’t possibly stop you building another one after all the enjoyment you got out of this. You could make it a double header! 😂

[@MaxAfterburner]

😋

[@enokinnokenti5649]

Fantastic vid as always. I don't know if it's just me but I have a real love/hate relationship with Trumpeter kits. They do provide us with some pretty unique subjects that we wouldn't get elsewhere but sometimes the fit is really bad and some parts are very inaccurate.

[@MaxAfterburner]

Hi enokinnokenti5649, I agree. Sometimes there is that inconsistency so that you never quite know what you might come across until you have a particular kit in hand and are into the process of building it. Glad you enjoyed the SVU video! 😄

[@MakotoAtava]

2:33 Funny to see Tarkin and Count Dooku under heavy guard. 😁 By the way, nice final result. 👍

[@MaxAfterburner]

Hi MakotoAtava, glad you liked the video. Star Wars is everywhere... My understanding was that Cushing and Lee were good friends in real life and were in a number of films together. They must have had a blast being cast side by side many a time. 🚀🛸

[@TacticalModeling4314]

Another amazing one! I love your ship videos! Especially since I am currently working on one and I still 5 to do in my stash! :)

[@MaxAfterburner]

Hi TacticalModeling4314, thanks! I hope you get your navy ready and out to sea soon 😉

[@thucy5052]

He's back!

[@MaxAfterburner]

Hi thucy5052, Cyberdyne Systems Model 101 -- living tissue over a metal endoskeleton? 😉

[@thucy5052]

@@MaxAfterburner could this be.... An Arnold reference?

[@StephenDawson-ih5mm]

Like very nice indeed. Steve U.K.

[@MaxAfterburner]

Hi StephenDawson-ih5mm, thanks and cheers! 😎

[@BaDArxz]

Ah the Dreadnought. So charming in their absurdity of firepower. They don’t make ships like they used to.

[@MaxAfterburner]

Hi BaDArxz, big, bad, and beefy! ⛴️

[@Greg-et2dp]

Max Afterburner i wish you and your wife and kids happy Thanksgiving and a merry Christmas and happy new year 🎅 🎄 🎉 2024 🎉🎉🎉

[@MaxAfterburner]

Hi Greg-et2dp, Happy Holiday season to you! 🥳

[@user-fk5tn4ud6j]

최고 👍

[@MaxAfterburner]

감사합니다!

[@Greg-et2dp]

Max Afterburner my hobbies are painting pictures 🖼 and listening to shortwave and ssb iam thinking about getting my ham license

[@CAPNMAC82]

Outstanding work. Ship models are not easy ones for people in other genre, like a/c or armor or the like to jump into. Trumpy does not make this any easier, especially with color call-outs that are largely imaginary, and perverse terminology like "artillery platform" in lieu of "gun director platform" (Geshutzturm or zaštitni toranj in Croatian). For all the grief the Trumpy kits can be, for WWI subjects they are better than the Kombrig kits out of Russia, which rival Airfix kits of the 70s in far too many ways.

[@MaxAfterburner]

Hi CAPNMAC82, a little foray back into my old ship building days. The photo etch was the main difficulty on this one. Back to aircraft for the current project. New video hopefully out by the end of this December. 😅

[@sleepyboy3542]

Hello Tom, i just wanted to ask if you remember the Hasegawa F/A-18F that you build, do you think its possible to make the folded wings if i already put the upper and the lower wing parts together?

[@MaxAfterburner]

Hi sleepyboy3542, I guess it would depend on how far along in the build you're at. In any case, it might be done, but you'd have to be very careful with the cuts 🤔

[@Pauedo]

Thanks for the video, but I have not understood what you have used for the wire.

[@MaxAfterburner]

Hi Pauedo , I'm not sure what you're asking specifically.

[@Pauedo]

​@@MaxAfterburnersorry, I have not understood why my commenti appeared in another video!!! 😅 I don't know!

[@alexviper9773]

Hey Tom! I’m wondering how to see if a F-15 Is a good scale for my bed room! But I’m not sure if it’s going to be to big or small. Maybe a medium size. Any advance to see what’s the best size? Thanks!

[@MaxAfterburner]

Hi alexviper9773, the F-15C at 1/48 scale I presented as Project #4 back in 2017 is 16 inches long and has an 11 inch wide wingspan if that helps you find a space that might work somewhere in your bedroom 😉.

[@alexviper9773]

@@MaxAfterburnerthanks! I really needed that! Thanks you so much!

[@alexviper9773]

@@MaxAfterburnerhey Tom sorry to bother at you at this moment. Just wondering is 1/100 scale big or small?

[@stevie65able]

@@alexviper9773 1/100 scale is tiny. An F-15 in that scale would fit in the palm of your hand.

[@MrBumpy2013]

Is c.a. glue what it's called or is it the actual name?

[@MaxAfterburner]

Hi MrBumpy2013, modelers usually say ca glue because it's quicker than saying "cyanoacrylate glue" all the time. The same goes for photo etch parts when we say, "P.E." parts 🙂

[@Greg-et2dp]

Max Afterburner I am thinking about getting cars Models to build and paint 🎨 my friend

[@jimmclaughlin2728]

trumpeter photo etch is too thin easily damaged

[@MaxAfterburner]

Hi jimmclaughlin2728, I found the thickness about standard, but some of the crane guides for the cables required way too many bends! 😲

[@vindicari]

trumpeters photo etch is too thin, too easy damaged

[@MaxAfterburner]

Hi vindicari, it's still workable, but this PE created some unnecessary headaches 🤔

[@matthewrosa7262]

TEGETTHOFF! -TEGETT-ALL-HOFF🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@MaxAfterburner]

😮😉

[@techmarine83]

Dude...are you building a model or showing a movie. Ease off the clips.