Level 3 HMS Iron Duke Frigate "Vintage Classics" Series 1/600 Plastic Model Kit by Airfix

Brand new plastic model kit of HMS Iron Duke Frigate "Vintage Classics" Series (Level 3) 1/600 plastic model kit by Airfix. Brand new box. Vintage style packaging. Officially licensed product. Comes with display stand. Contains 183 detailed parts. Paint and cement required (not included). Manufacturer's original unopened packaging. Parts molded in Light Gray, unless otherwise indicated. Dimensions approximately L-12.5, W-1.75 inches assembled. HISTORY ASPECTS: HMS Iron Duke was the lead ship of the Iron Duke-class battleships and served as the flagship of the Royal Navy’s Grand Fleet during World War I. Commissioned in 1914, she was a state-of-the-art warship at the time, armed with ten 13.5-inch guns, a secondary battery of 6-inch guns, and heavily armored to withstand modern naval combat. She was named after the Duke of Wellington, reflecting her strength and strategic importance. As tensions in Europe escalated, Iron Duke became Admiral Sir John Jellicoe’s flagship, leading the Grand Fleet in the North Sea against the German Imperial Navy. The most significant engagement of HMS Iron Duke's career came at the Battle of Jutland in 1916, the largest naval battle of World War I. During the battle, Iron Duke fired 90 shells from her main guns, striking and heavily damaging the German battleship SMS König. While the battle itself was inconclusive, the strategic outcome ensured that the German High Seas Fleet remained largely confined to port for the rest of the war, securing British control of the North Sea. After Jutland, Iron Duke continued her role as the fleet’s centerpiece until the war’s end, helping to enforce the naval blockade that contributed to Germany’s eventual defeat. Following the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922, Iron Duke was demilitarized and repurposed as a training and depot ship. During World War II, she served in a secondary role at Scapa Flow, providing anti-aircraft defense and accommodation for Royal Navy personnel. In 1939, she was damaged by a German air raid but remained in service until being scrapped in the late 1940s. Despite her retirement, HMS Iron Duke left a lasting legacy as one of the most powerful and influential warships of her era. Bring the might of the Royal Navy’s Grand Fleet to your collection with this beautifully detailed 1:600 scale model. Featuring authentic wartime markings, finely crafted turrets, and a precision-molded hull, this replica captures the power and history of one of Britain’s most legendary battleships. A must-have centerpiece for naval history enthusiasts and scale model collectors alike!