Instructions, 1:700 SMS Ostfriesland 1918, 3D printed kit
SMS Ostfriesland was a Helgoland-class dreadnought battleship built for the German Imperial Navy (Kaiserliche Marine) ahead of World War I. Commissioned in August 1911, she represented the second generation of German dreadnoughts, designed specifically to counter the growing naval dominance of the British Royal Navy. Featuring a distinctive hexagonal arrangement of her six main turrets, Ostfriesland was heavily armored and built to survive punishment that would sink lesser vessels.
During World War I, Ostfriesland served as the flagship of the I Battle Squadron of the High Seas Fleet. She saw extensive action in the North Sea, culminating in the famous Battle of Jutland (May 31 – June 1, 1916)—the largest naval battle of the war. During the chaotic night fighting, she successfully engaged British warships and fired dozens of her heavy 30.5 cm (12-inch) shells. Despite striking a naval mine during the fleet’s retreat to port, her robust German construction and superior watertight compartmentation allowed her to make it back safely for repairs.
Following the end of the war and the collapse of the German Empire, Ostfriesland avoided being scuttled at Scapa Flow and was eventually surrendered to the United States as a war prize in 1920. Her ultimate fate secured her a unique place in military history. In July 1921, off the Virginia Capes, she was chosen as the primary target for landmark naval aviation tests led by Brigadier General Billy Mitchell. Under heavy bombardment, Ostfriesland was eventually sunk by US Army Air Service bombers, a historical turning point that conclusively demonstrated the vulnerability of battleships to modern air power.
Technical Specifications (As Built)
| Feature | Specification |
| Class | Helgoland-class Dreadnought Battleship |
| Displacement | 22,800 tons (Standard) / 24,700 tons (Full Load) |
| Length | 167.2 meters (548 ft 7 in) |
| Beam (Width) | 28.5 meters (93 ft 6 in) |
| Propulsion | 3-shaft triple-expansion steam engines (28,000 shp) |
| Top Speed | 20.8 knots |
| Main Armament | 12 × 30.5 cm (12 in) SK L/50 guns in twin turrets |
| Secondary Armament | 14 × 15 cm (5.9 in) guns & 14 × 8.8 cm (3.5 in) guns |
| Armor Belt | 300 mm (11.8 in) Krupp cemented armor |
This is a ship model developed by ModellbauRay Studio in 2025. It has a resin-cast hull and a 3D-printed superstructure. This ship model is very detailed, making it difficult to make and unsuitable for beginners. Of course, we also provided spare parts to this kit for easily damaged parts. Before starting please read the general instructions first.
General Instruction-How to build 3D printed kits
Our full-hull models are often delivered as one complete piece to simplify your work. You don't have to glue the upper and lower bottoms together, which usually creates seams that can take a lot of time to fix and damage the details of the model.
We recommend drilling holes before starting, to make it easier to hold. It is better to drill holes in the barbette and fix it with screws.
The figure below shows the turret support design for SMS Ostfriesland. It is recommended to remove these supports before detaching the turret from the skid.
Please note that the torpedo net booms were removed after 1916; do not install them if modeling the ship in its 1918 configuration.
The new version of the turret features a rotatable barrel; during installation, you need to carefully push the barrel into the locking mechanism.
You will receive 4 Type A turrets and 2 Type B turrets; the difference between them lies in the mounting position of the rangefinder.
Rigging materials are not included and can be purchased separately.（Link here）
This kit includes water-slide decals; please note that these decals are not pre-cut—please refer to the instructions below.
PE railings are not included, it can be purchased separately.（Link here）
It is recommended to spray paint the railing before installing it on the model.
Anchor chains can be purchased separately.（Link here）
Figures are not included; you can add some small figures to make the scene more lively. （Link here）
Then, carefully cut them off.