Has anybody heard or seen anything about this paticular kit and does anybody know or heard fo the kit producer Thanks, Mikey
Saw a test shot at the IPMS Nats. These guys are a subsidiary of Academy.
The guy at the Academy booth said the MSRP would be in the 200 USD range and the expected release date would be sometime after the first of the year (six months after August).
The test shot looked good. Molding on the par with the Academy Perry. Whole one-piece hull. Well deck and hangar decks. Test shot fit looked good. Will come with some LCAC and airwing
According to a couple of hobby shops, release has been delayed until March.
Jon
The kit is listed in the current (January 2010) Squadron sales flyer (received today). The mere fact that it is listed does not guarantee that it is in stock. I’ve waited several months for an item for sale in the SMO monthly flyer.
The MSRP is $249.98 (USD) . The ad copy includes: USS Wasp LHD-1. USN. Armament suite, fully detailed hangar bay, optional position deck elevators and photo etched parts. Extensive vehicles and aircraft: (4) CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters, (4) CH-(5) 3E [sic] Sea Stallion helicopters, (4) MV-22 Ospreys, (2) AH-1W Cobras, (2) AV-8B Harriers, (2) LCAC assault hovercraft, (4) Humvees, (2) LCU landing craft, (2) AAV7s, (10) flight deck tractors, (2) flight deck cranes, (2) M60 Pattons, (2) M1 Abrams, (2) heavy trucks, (2) towed artillery pieces, and (2) LAV 8s.
The ad copywriter obviously didn’t know or think than anyone would care if it was whole hull or waterline, or if the hull was one piece or two, and if it were two pieces how they went together.
I was interested by that kit… until I saw the pictures at freetimehobbies: it looks like a cheap plastic toy !
Let’s hope it was an early prototype…
Here’s an interesting development from the Revell Germany website: http://www.revell.de/en/products/model_kits/model_kits/search_result/?id=203&KOKANR=01&KOSCHL=&KGSCHL=&L=1&page=1&sort=0&nc=&searchactive=&q=05104&SWO=&ARMAS4=&KZSLPG=&offset=1&cmd=show&ARARTN=05104&sp=1&nn=1
Note the reference to the huge parts count, the photo-etched parts, and the various vehicles, aircraft, etc. Looks like it may be the same kit.
I would bet that you are right on the money, Professor. I can’t see how two companies would make copies of the same subject with this detail. I wonder what’s up.
Got mine Friday…very nice kit…you can see Trumpeter written all over this thing…
Here’s an in box review…
http://www.modelwarships.com/reviews/ships/misc/amphib/350-lhd1-mrc/mrc-review.html
There’s an add about it on the back of this months issue.
Impressive, to be sure. The only flaw that strikes me are the oversized tie-down padeyes on the deck. They are actually only about 8 inches in diameter, but they seem to be scaled to be 2 feet in diameter. But that is a minor flaw, i suppose. Wish I could afford this one.
We know that the US importer wants $250 for this kit. It will be very interesting to know how much it is in Europe by Revell of Germany.
After looking at the quality and contents of the kit, as well as the real prices from online stores (less than 200$ USD), IMHO this is a reasonable price. I think I have my Christmas present… 
I examined it at the IPMS Nats and was told the suggested MSRP was in the two-hundred dollar level. IMO, it is overpriced for what is in the box. I don’t need it now. I’ll wait 6 months to a year and pick one up when the shelf price approaches a hundred bucks.
I said the same about the USS Arizona by Banner (Trumpeter/Mini Hobby Models) when it debuted at the 2001 IPMS Nats at eighty dollars. I said it was a forty-dollar kit. I eventually bought one for less than 20.
The 1:350 scale USS Arizona by Banner was sold for under $40 for many years. You can still get the old Trumpeter 80607 USS Arizona for $23 at Hobbylinc. The question is how much to pay for the long anounced, yet to be released 1:200 scale USS Arizona (#03701) byTrumpeter.
The Revell Wasp is hitting the stores in Holland at 199 euros. I was able to take a look inside the box this weekend and its very nearly bulging at the seams. It looks interesting but that is a hefty price tag and a huge box to smuggle past mrs. Grem56.
Julian [whstl]
Saw it on the shelf at the LHS on Friday, looks like a good kit, price was $250.00. Wish the kit had a couple of Huey’s in it though