What should I build first?

Modeling Subjects Ships
1

I’m once again new to model ship building. The hobby has come a long way since I last built a ship. I have spent the last 20 years in model railroading. I consider myself well above average in my building skills. I have modeled in plastic, wood, metal, brass, resin, card stock, you name it and I have probably at least attempted it.
1/87 scale detail work is getting a little too tedious for my old eyes. I had an affection for scratch building or kit bashing HO scale trucks and trailers.

Now that I have my resume out of the way, I have purchased the following kits.

Trumpeter:
Arizona 1/350
North Carolina 1/350
Yorktown 1/350
Franklin 1/350

Tamaya:
Fletcher Class DD 1/350

I have bought quite a few aftermarket etched brass and extra aircraft. I don’t anticipate needing any more tools than I already have. I can airbrush.

Which kit should I jump on first and are there any pitfalls I am unaware of in ship building? Also what kind of paints do most of you guys use? Is there a good website for color pics. Most I have seen are black and white.

2

Welcome to FSM!
I haven’t built any of those kits myself, but I’ve heard the Tamiya Fletcher kit is a dream to build. Might be a good one to start with.

The Trumpeter kits you’ve listed seem to have good reputations (well, I’ve heard grumbling about the Arizona), but I’d go with the Tamiya for a nice stress-free start back into shipbuilding.

3

I too would pick the Fletcher. I have built it and it would make a wonderful refresher model that won’t take you much time to build.

The Arizona was one of Trumpeters earlier kits and it does have a few shortcomings. But is still a great kit.

Welcome

Scott