USS enterprise question

Looks like it is an Otaki kit..... Otaki came out with a number of unusual kits in unusual scales over the years (and they occasionally pop up on Ebay, and I am STILL kicking myself in the butt for not bidding on a 1/350 Mogami that was listed last year!), that mostly date from the '80's and earlier (ProfTilley probably knows more about this than I).  From my experience, they are pretty good kits for their day, a little better than Nichimo, but not as nice as Tamiya.......

searat12 wrote:

Looks like it is an Otaki kit..... Otaki came out with a number of unusual kits in unusual scales over the years (and they occasionally pop up on Ebay, and I am STILL kicking myself in the butt for not bidding on a 1/350 Mogami that was listed last year!), that mostly date from the '80's and earlier (ProfTilley probably knows more about this than I).  From my experience, they are pretty good kits for their day, a little better than Nichimo, but not as nice as Tamiya.......

thanks for the info. would it be worth the $50 that's being asked for it or should i pass?

Well, there is a 1/350 New Jersey by Otaki on Ebay right now, and the bid is up to $40..... Most people getting a large Enterprise go for the Tamiya 1/350 kit, but that's up to you..... It looks like the Otaki version has the original Enterprise bridge....

well i was hoping to turn around and resale it. but i'm guessing that it wouldn't be worth it. it might be a fun build though. but I would have no place to put it. i'll have to think about. thanks again for your help.

Size is definitely a consideration, considering the 1/720 version is almost 19 inches long!

yeah this one is about 33", if my math was correct.....

enemeink wrote:

i have to ask because i know nothing about these types of ships or thier makers. i'm thinking about buying this kit. i was wondering if any knew who the manufacturer is. it's 1:400th.

Bert Kinzie in his Detail & Scale review of the available models of the Enterprise called the Otaki the best 1:400 scale version,  miles better than the other player (the Aurora - also re-released by Monogram and Revell).    Bert even opined that the Otaki offering may be better than the Tamiya offering in 1:350 scale.  An original Otaki release may also be a collectible item.

The kit is of late-1960/early-1970 vintage and represents the Enterprise in her early Beehive island configuration.

The wrap against the kit may be the lack of a dedicated aftermarket detail set -- if that is in your plans.  You will have to cobble together individual sets to get to a complete set.  The airwing will also be problematical.

I think that the kit may be a good deal at 50 bucks,  just be aware of some of the potential problems with the kit.

enemeink wrote:

well i was hoping to turn around and resale it. but i'm guessing that it wouldn't be worth it. it might be a fun build though. but I would have no place to put it. i'll have to think about. thanks again for your help.

Large scale Otaki kits are quite collectible, so maybe you might reconsider if you just want to flip it....