Generally I build Cars and Sci-fi ( re Gundam ), but for a while now I have been thinking of building a ship as a break.
If Im going to build only one ship then I choose the Yamato. Simply because the name is most familiar to be having watched all of the Space Yamato Anime. I dont have a huge amount of Display space so Ill limit myself and hopefully financial outlay to 1/700 Scale.
My question is this. In 1/700 scale, who makes the best OOB Yamato Kit? at the best value for $$$? and currently available.
It doesnt have to be perfectly accurate But it would be nice to be fairly close.
I need to consider price tag as well as I am on a fairly limited budget.
Waterline vs Full Hull. Not that bothered, but if its the only ship I build Im guessing a full hull with stand might be nicer on display.
Doesnt need to come with PE if there are kits that come with some. However If I choose to, and can afford to buy a PE set without going rediculously over board, which would the better value for money to detail railing etc to take it up just that next level from an OOB all plastic kit.
That’s an extremely broad range of criteria, something that will help a lot is specify your budget.
Purely model wise currently
Pitroad > Fujimi Next > Aoshima > Tamiya > Fujimi old tool > Tamiya old tool
Tamiya is middle of the road, but very available/affordable (20), fairly easy to build and fairly crisply molded for the price. Aoshima is fairly cheap (25) and decent but not that common. Fujimi Next is well detailed but somewhat pricy (45), but full hull. Pitroad is the best, full hull but pricy (60).
For PE I think some of the items are essential to bring about the ‘intricate’ aspect of a 1/700 ship, namely the Type 21 radars ontop main range finders, the rear crane tower and crane, and maybe the 2 catapults. That’s about it really, don’t think railing is essential.
Thanks Potchip. As a starting point the above info for selection is quite helpful. Sadly Living in New Zealand increases costs fairly dramatically once you include shipping.
Ill have a look locally and HLJ which is where I tend to shop internationally for cheaper shipping costs and put together a list of six kits factoring in total cost to me incl. shipping and within my budget constraints and re-post here to ask for further feedback on those and go from there.
Fujimi would appear to have a set as well but hard to find in stock or Im not looking in the right places. I can find the PE Set that goes with the Aoshima kit but that kit is not available locally.
Normally if they don’t specify which kit they are for it’s most likely generic. The dimensions can’t be that much different. I have used generic P.E. many times and have had no problems. Sometimes you just have to make a decision how much detail you want to add, a more detailed sheet may be more than you want to do. iT’S YOU CHOICE.
Eduard, LionRoar, and GMM’s PE is etched from a harder brass alloy. Tom’s products are etched from a softer alloy. Toms tends to be less forgiving under an errant thumb.
But being softer it is also somewhat easier to form.
That is where my head is leaning at the moment. I dont build for competition and I dont have the knowledge or the time to correct any kit flaws and inaccuracies, so if it captures the look and “feel” by building OOB and adding even half of what comes on one of those sheets and if it turns out half as well as it does in my head, then jobs a good 'un.
I did. And I would love to accept your Generous offer. Then all ill need to do is search for a Generic PE IJN Hand Railing set on the cheap to complete the finsh im hoping for.
bnamodelworld is my go-to if I want something local - Australia based online modelshop with very competitive prices.
Eg the FH PE you linked, is 6.95 in AUD and with lower shipping as well (freetime hobbies don’t really offer half decent international shipping rates).