salvine
So I'm building the Trumpeter kit for a friend and decided I will make one for myself as well at some point. Any first hand knowledge of the Yankee Model Works kits? Are they worth the extra cost? If they are superior than I'll jump on one but the Trumpeter kit is pretty nice. I'm adding on a bunch of the Veteran model upgrades to spruce it up. Are theses parts included in the Yankee kit? Are the smaller fitting pieces where it shines?
to quote the blurb on the YankeeModelWorks website
"The kit measures 17.5 inches long and is the first and still only accurate kit of this ship on the market today. The upper hull is cast as a single piece casting split at the waterline for your choice of full hull or waterline model. All the large parts, the turret, smoke stacks, pipes, and platforms are cast in resin. All small parts are cast in fine pewter. An extensive photo-etched brass sheet is included to finish the kit."
I don't know the date when the text was written, but I believe that it was written to address the old Panda (now Dragon) Burke kits. The YMW kit is a Flight 1 version, although Flight 1 and Flight 2 Burkes are similar in appearance (changes in mostly the electronics). Flight 2a are very different with hangar facilities and different stack & superstructure heights.
"The small parts cast in fine pewter ..." You're talking about the CIWS, 5" gun, Harpoon, boats, mast, antennas, V-struts, props, etc. Veteran's stuff us probably better. Strike that, Veterans stuff is much better. In addition you can purchase individual YMW aftermarket sets from several online vendors. Freetime Hobbies & Squadron come immediately to mind.
If it were mine, I'd choose Trumpeter with Veteran parts and WEM PE. If a plastic part were less than useable and a Veteran replacement wasn't available then I think I'd investigate single YMW AM sets from one of the forementioned vendors.