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Harbor Diorama Hamburg

This model is probably the most loved model from HMV ever. Details everywhere and the little diorama is packed with small scenes, cargo, and stories.

Scale: 1:250
Designer: Peter Brandt
Skill Level: difficult
Parts: 1627
Length: 297 mm (11.69 inch)
Width: 210 mm (8.27 inch)
Height: 120 mm (4.72 inch)
Instruction: German, English, Illustrations
Format: DIN A4
Sheets: 12
Item no.: 3476
Edition: 2nd Edition 2011

The model highlights:

  • weathered steamer Schwan
  • 2 harbour cranes
  • Barges and lighters
  • Locomotive with wagons
  • Horse and cart
  • truck
  • opened cargo hatches
  • payload
  • warehouse with open doors
  • water surface

A scene as on a picture from the thirties of the 20th century in a mixed cargo harbour. A worn down freight ship is loaded or unloaded. Little vehicles everywhere. A few vessels in the water. It takes a while to spot all the details on this amazing model.

This kit contains not only the steamer Schwan in a weathered version and with open hatches and the warehouse with open doors but also plenty of accessories necessary for a good diorama. Vehicles for the pier, barges, lighters, wagons, locomotive, cranes, and of course a lot of payload. All this little models together make this great diorama.

This diorama shows a little cutaway of larger harbour and includes a lot of little models that also could be built as single models or accessories for other dioramas. The famous HMV model steamer Schwan is included as well as one barge, two lighters, a post boat, some pier with a part of a warehouse, a locomotive and seven wagons, two cranes, one truck, one car, one horse cart, and plenty of payload. As a base the water surface is included, too. For this diorama the steamer Schwan was weathered. We have added rust and heaps of dirt and also added a few details. The deck shows wear and tear and the hatches can partially be opened.

Technical data:

  • steamer Schwan
  • launch: September 1907 as # 271 at Neptunwerft, Rostock
  • commissioning: November 1907
  • length: 73.50 m
  • width: 11m
  • displacement: 1.212 BRT
  • engine: steam engine
  • power: 1.000 PSi
  • top speed: 12 Kn
  • classification: freight and passenger ship
  • owner: DG Argo AG, Bremen

Steamer Schwan II was built in 1907 at the shipyard Neptunwerft in Rostock as # 271. The predecessor Schwan I was built at Tecklenborg in 1897 and was sold in 1906 to Italy. Because of the positive development at Argo the company decided to order Schwan II. This steamer actually was categorized into the highest class of the German Lloyd. Schwan II had passenger cabins for first and second class and also acommodations for 82 people on tween deck.

During World War I Schwan was used as an auxiliary ship on the river Ems and equipped with two 8.8 cm guns. After the war Schwan was turned back into a freighter again. In 1920 she ran ashore in Norway and was heavily damaged. But Argo decided anyway to repair the ship. Once that happened Argo was forced to deliver the ship to the allied forces in 1921. But at the end of that year Argo already had bought back her steamer Schwan. In 1938 she was renamed in Pinguin. Under this name she serviced the Kriegsmarine in various ways: First in 1939 she was a pilot mothership. She was then turned into a blockade pilot ship and was stationed in different areas throughout the following years. The steamer Pinguin took also part in the evacuation of East Prussian in 1944/45. At the end of the war she was stationed in Wilhelmshaven.

Pinguin was one of the 31 units that were not delivered to the allied forces after World War II. She stayed in Bremen and after an extensive overhaul due to some major damages in Cuxhaven she was even able to carry 16 passengers again. Since 1949 she was chartered by Schuldt/OPDR for transporting fruit from the Mediterranean. In April 1954 the ship was finally sold for scrapping to a company in Hamburg. And this is where we lost track. If this steamer really got scrapped or maybe found another purpose is unclear and unknown to us. But one thing is certain: steamer Schwan II (Pinguin) definitely had a long and eventful life.

HMV Lasercut Sets are especially designed for a particular HMV model as an additional but optional detail set. The laser cut parts replace parts of the original kit with more filigree and already cut out versions. Sometimes additional parts are included as well. Building your model with a Lasercut Set is easier and more detailed at the same time. But the Lasercut Set is not necessarily needed to build the model.

The material we use is high quality and already coloured paper. Thus it is not necessary to paint the laser cut parts. We recommend though to colour white parts before using them, as during the laser process burn marks might occur.

Lasercut Set
Item no.: 4476
Parts:

  • all railing parts
  • stairs and ladders
  • sea ladders
  • parts for masts and cranes
  • hooks
  • ladder and spreader for mast
  • rigging accessories
  • achor chain
  • anchor
  • thwarts for dinghies
  • filigree steering wheel
  • parts for winches
  • parts for locomotive and waggons
  • wheels for horse-drawn vehicle
  • parts for barges and dinghies
  • davits
Model built by Tommaso Quagli
1st edition 2008
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