HMS Queen Elizabeth - Wasn’t the Warspite a QE class ship?
American Battleships - I’d love to see a USS Texas (BB-35) in plastic. It’d make an interesting subject in any of its configurations. I’m biased, it makes for interesting hours when visiting Houston.
Dreadnought? - What’s that? It sounds like the kind of ship that would spawn an arms race and create a basis for naval archetics for 50 years. Even the name is cool enough to get people to buy kits.
Yes, the Warspite was one of the *Queen Elizabeth-*class battleships. Airfix used to make a reasonable (for its age) version of her on 1/600 scale, but it represented her in her World War II configuration - by no means ugly, but an entirely different silhouette than she originally presented. I also have vague recollections of an old Pyro 1/1200 version, which was a reboxing of one of the famous and much-missed Eagle Wall kits, from England.
I’d certainly second the nomination of the Texas; the fact that she’s still around, and so many tourists visit her, might make her a little more attractive to the kit manufacturers.
In my ideal world of plastic kits, each of them would include enough alternative parts to build any member of a class in any of its configurations. (I can visualize the boxtop: "Iowa-class battleship. May be built as Iowa, New Jersey, Wisconsin, or Missouri, in 1944, 1950, 1970, or 1991 configurations. Full details of all color schemes worn by all ships enclosed.") Maybe that will happen some day. And maybe the sun will rise in the west.
How about the first iteration of the USS Texas (launched 1892)? It would also be of interest to have BB-3, USS Oregon, as one of the well-known vessels from the Spanish-American War. I agree with “jtilley”, the period from the 1890 through WWI is a very interesting period historically, and very underserved by the kits available. The only choices I’ve really seen are the ICM kits of a few German ships from this period and (I think) a Revell kit of the SMS Emden. I would also welcome a WWI era German U-Boat or two, as has been mentioned I think in this thread or another recent thread.
Iron Shipwright makes the Texas - as launched in 1898. And at a hundred forty it is priced in the same ballpark as many of the new styrene releases. Remember that photoetch details are included in most 1:350 scale kits. They are not an aftermarket add-on which jacks the finished price
ISW also makes several USN destroyers from the pre-WWI to WWI era, including the Bainbridge, Hull, Paulding, and Smith. (I mastered the Smith for ISW, and have a Paul Jones in the works). Oh, and I almost forgot the Ford Eagle Boat, which I also mastered for ISW.
YankeeModelworks (formerly Blue Water Navy) makes a 1:350 scale model of a German WWI sub, which at 40 dollars is also now in the same price range as styrene kits.
Thanks, Ed - very helpful and much appreciated. As someone coming back to this hobby after 30 years (i.e. not done anything since my childhood/early teen years), I find this forum wonderfully helpful and friendly.
Since you didn’t mention it, I’ll assume that the Oregon is not available at this time?
Also, do you know if the USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE) is available from someone in 1/350?
I second the nomination for a U.S.S. Enterprise (CV-6). There are some features of the Enterprise that would be hard (at least for me) to replicate by using a sister ship.
I’d also love to see the U.S.S. Pennsylvania (BB-38) in her WWI configuration.
The Oregon is not currently available. They used to have one, but its off the list – the master probably needs to be re-worked.
The Roberts was a John C Butler-class. There is not a model of a Butler-class DE currently available in 1:350 scale. I have just finished reading 'Halsey’s Typhoon" and I want to do the Tabberer, which rescued 55 men from ships sunk in the typhoon. The Tabby was also a Butler. A Butler is essentially a low, enclosed bridge Buckley hull with 5-inch guns fore & aft. Since most of us don’t model the propulsion system, those differences are moot.
ISW makes a Rudderow which is essentially a Butler (low bridge & 5-inch guns) with a different propulsion system. Lindberg makes a 1:300-ish scale of a Rudderow sold as the DeLong.
USS Indianapolis and modern day LSD’s, LST’s, and LPD’s. I don’t think really see much of the “Gator Navy”. Specifically, I’d love to see a Whidbey Island Class LSD.
I second the USS Triton vote, and would like to add The USS Nautilus…
Several years ago I was aboard the Nautilus and remember on the Captain’s desk was an original copy from the Verne estate of 20,000 Leagues, the inside cover of which was signed by every Captian of the sub since her launch. The experience made the hair on the back of my neck stand up, boy that was something![8-]
Let me join in on this,plastic or resin…Please make me an SMS Derfflinger,with included bits to do either the tripod or pole type foremast,and an HMS Tiger ,the BC,of course.These are arguably the two most attractive warships of their displacement in all time!! must be 1/350th.I Hope This Helps!! Mike
Yup, I am very fond of the pre-dreadnought era myself. Love to see more Russo-Japanese war subjects, like some of the Japanese armored cruisers (Asama, etc) and Russian armored cruisers too (Bayan, Gromoboi, etc). And of course, more of those whacky Russian battleships, especially Tsesarevich and Oslyabia!
Yup, HMS Tiger was a fine-looking battlecruiser indeed (I like the ‘Lions’ as well). And of course, never forget the splendid German battlecruisers, like Lutzow, Moltke, and Von Der Tann as well! Basically, there are FLEETS of splendid WW1 ships that could make wonderful subjects. Strangely, I remember reading in some forum or another a year or two ago, some guy was COMPLAINING when ICM issued the ‘Koenig’ class battleships!! ‘Why bother with ships nobody ever heard of…’ was the quote I recalled, and it almost broke my heart!!
I’d like to see 1/350 modernized Essex-class carriers and Forrestal class carriers also in 1/350 it would be nice to see the the LHD Wasp-class large amphibious ships.[:D]
