Spurdog,
The 1/400 Academy version is an exact copy of the early '70's version of the 1/350th Minicraft Model. Academy simply panographed the model. All of the early mold problems as well as the mistakes in the hull were copied and transfered over to the 1/400 scale version.
Because Minicraft later updated the molds, the 1/400 version missed a lot critical detail that was added by Minicraft. I and a few other modelers were contracted by Minicraft to write a report for Minicraft for use in the Trade Mark Infringment case. Minicraft won, but it did not develope any money for Minicraft just a limited injunction back in the early '90's
So what you are getting is a smaller version of the 1975 Minicraft molder. Hope this helps.
Jake Groby