Yes, I've got one and it's a frustrating kit. The carriage is basically totally modelled on Alex Kontz's 3D CGI model (which is, at least, the best CGI model I've seen), with all the inaccuracies that embodies. Whilst the overall shape and proportions seem okay, many details are wrong: the mountings for the wheel axles, the hatches on the rear of the carriage, the traversing 'windlass' mechanism, the angles of the forward telescopic stabilising feet and various others. These are, at least, susceptible to correction. The barrel and cradle appear to me to be based on the Paris Museum model, as the proportions are different from Kontz's model, though as has been pointed out elsewhere, that barrel is of the slightly lighter construction seen in the two prototype guns with spoked wheels, whereas the production version with solid disc wheels (as in the kit and the Paris model) sported slightly more heavily constructed barrels.
Had Takom been less lazy and tapped into the immense pool of expertise on this forum, specifically Marc Romanych and Arie Dijkhuis, they could have produced an absolute classic kit. As it is, one can use it as the basis for a fine model, but only with quite a bit of extra work which really should have been unnecessary. Given that I'd been considering making a 1/72 resin kit, and have been working up scale drawings to that end, would there be any takers for a 1/35 aftermarket resin kit to correct the inaccurate parts of the Takom product?
Indeed there are a lot of details and dimensions wrong about the kit and to me it seems almost a complete rebuild of the kit, barrel breech is necessary. An aftermarket kit if still feasible it will be certainly interested. If you are interested I can provide you with a collection of photographs however most photographs are very dark with a limited resolution, details are in most cases difficult to see.
Harry, that would be very helpful if you don't mind, thank you! I'm tempted to continue working up my scale drawings and perhaps go ahead with making a complete resin kit in 1/72 scale...
As someone who is very unfamiliar with this gun but wanted to model it since some years, I am really disappointed by the inaccuracy of this kit.
I don't have any books about it, but does someone have a bit of an overview what is available picturewise of the original? Are there movie clips of it?
With reference to the TAKOM 42cm "Big Bertha", I think there would definately be a market for a correction kit, but like all things, the retail price would be the deciding factor that made it a success or not ?
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