Life-Like/Hobby Craft 1/350 USS Missouri Question

Modeling Subjects Ships
1

Does anyone know if the Life-Like/Hobby Craft 1/350 USS Missouri is the same mold as the Tamiya Missouri? Or is it a really cheap knock off that isn’t worth considering? Has anyone actually built this kit, and if so, how much persuasion was needed to make everything fit?

Thanks,

Steve

2

I believe it is the Tamiya kit since Tamiya has the only 1/350 scale Iowa class BB on the market. Hobby Craft also put out a 1/350 CVN 65 USS Enterprise which is also the Tamiya mold but at a cheaper price. BTW don’t you mean MiniHobby not Hobby Craft?

3

Thanks Mike. Actually this model was a HobbyKit not a HobbyCraft, but I did find another Missouri that was a MiniHobby.

Steve

4

Revell (Germany I believe) also did a 1/350 Iowa class battleship. In the 1980’s fit. More than likely the HobbyKit and MiniHobby kits are clones of the Tamiya kit tough. and unauthorized ones at that knowing Chicom model business tactics.

5

Thanks Stik, I do remember the Revell model although I was unsure of the era it was modeled in. I was able to track down some pictures of the separate sprue trees from the Tamiya 1944/45 mold, which is the one I am looking for. There were some major differences such as the 20mm redoubt aft of the stern 16 inchers; the Life-Like model was missing it completely. Also the center deck and superstructure was completely different from the Tamiya.

So, I am going to keep looking for a Tamiya kit and hopefully find one for a decent price. There is some fierce competition on evilBay these days for it. I thought most people with the Tamiya kit would want to “trade up” for the Trumpeter 1/200 Missouri and put their kits up for sale. Regarding the Trumpeter 1/200, I know that I won’t purchase it, a bit on the high side money wise for me and I am wondering where the heck I am going to put the 1/72 Gato I started let alone a 1/200 behemoth!

Thanks again,

Steve