I’ve been researching, but I figured that you guys would know for sure…are there any styrene 1/350 US Navy cruiser models, of the World War Two era, other than the Trumpeter San Francisco? Thanks, in advance, for any assistance you can give me.
Zilch in styrene but quite a bit in resin. The way the prices are going for styrene kits the resin ones should be looking better and better price wise. Check out the Pacific Front and Freetime Hobbies web sites for the best selection. WS
The one thing you have to consider when pricing resin vs. styrene is that many (not all) resin kits are complete, in that they include not only all the parts but all the photoetch necessary to build a complete, contest-quality model. Some styrene kits have PE, some don’t, some have only some PE. but when pricing a kit it is important to compute the TOTAL cost before you make your decision.
I think that you will find that the 1:350 scale resin producers which are still in business supply photoetch in their kits. I’m thinking of White Ensign, L’Arsenal, Yankee Modelworks, Iron Shipwright, Resin Shipyard, YS Masterpieces. I even have an old Classic Warships Benhan destroyer which came with a generic PE set. Older resin companies, such as Vega didn’t supply PE. They’re shuttered - goes to show you.
You will find that PE is not included 1:700 scale. HP Models, WSW, Doc Model are names which don’t usually include PE. JAG includes specific PE (radars, cranes) but doesn’t typically include railings. They can keep their cost down and the modeler can choose to add if he wishes.
I have to pipe in here because of the question asked.I have seen recently the BALTIMORE,The HELENA and the SAN FRANCISCO as well as others You just have to visit more outlets.I have a new fave outlet and he deals in nothing but plastic .His 1/350 and 1.700 cruisers of all types so check around and GET the SQUADRON catalogue!! tankerbuilder
It’s not a question of going to more outlets. The poster asked about 1/350 kits in styrene. The Helena and Baltimore you mentioned are old Revell box scale kits of indeterminate scale (1/500?) and poor detail that have been re-released on a new generation of unsuspecting victims. The only USN cruisers in 1/350 are the San Francisco in styrene, the rest being in resin. The resin kits are well done and nicely detailed and all include photo etch. By the way, Squadron also sells some of the resin kits.
1/700 kits have a better selection but not by much in styrene.Trumpeter has attempted the San Francisco and the rest of the class with mixed results. You could put together virtually all of the Baltimores from the the Trumpeter Baltimore or Pittsburgh kits. Tamiya has released a very nice kit of the late war Indianapolis. Anything else will have to be built in resin from companies like Corsair Armada, Midship Models, etc.
The only 1/350 Baltimore I saw was over $350 US,and was resin,white metal,and brass.I can’t afford that,in time or money.
Freetime Hobbies has the Yankee Modelworks 1/350 Baltimore for $243.74. That kit (resin) comes complete with an extensive PE set. Given the recent prices for styrene cruiser kits coming out of Japan and China when you add in PE the prices are getting very close. WS