What is the story with the Aoshima 1/120th USS Constitution kit?

It originated with Imai. See here;

/forums/p/119293/1195854.aspx

/forums/p/120119/1204457.aspx

The Imai kit was also available from Monogram and I think even Ertl boxings. It is interesting that the Imai Connie depicts her much later in life than the Revell kit (supposedly war of 1812/ 'Hull model' configuration).

I for one think the Aoshima re-issues of the old Imai range have been priced rather too high- maybe that's just from a UK perspective where japanese usually means expensive. I'd love a pressing of their ex-Imai USS Susquehanna, but the price is too steep for me!

Will

The Monogram version shows up periodically on Ebay and usually goes for $30 to $60. I have one in my to build stash and it is quite a nice model.

Thanks all!  Looks to be a sharp kit, but does it have the vacuformed sails?

Thanks!

Nevermind - found a pic of the boxart - it has the vacuform sails.

This kit pretty close to how the ship sets now in Boston. This kit does not have a gun deck like the Revell kit does.

Rod

Sorry for chiming in late, but I had the Monogram boxing of the kit and FWIW, at 100.00, I think your better off going with the Revell 1/96 kit. You can generally pick up a Revell 1/96 on ebay for around 50.00 or so.  (I got an old version of it off ebay, complete (except for sails) for 15.00)

As mentioned, the Monogram/Imai doesn't have a gun deck - the half cannons plug into the holes in the gunports.

I also found the detail a bit heavy (woodgrain) and really wasn't impressed with the lifeboats at all.

I do like the cannon port covers. It's my understanding that they more accurately represent the correct ones.

The Imai/Monogram kit is a nice kit despite the flaws that I personally don't care for.

I opted for the Revell 5600 kit, it's about a 1/150 scale & I find the detail more comperable to the Revell 1/96 kit - but that's just my opinion on it.  Plus, I have a few other ships in that scale range that I want to build so it fits into my scale fleet a bit better.This kit generally goes for around 20.00/25.00 or so but it doesn't come up very often.

I have a picture somewhere that I took of 4 different scale Constitution hull halves - the 1/96 Revell, the 1/120 Monogram, the 1/150 Revell & the 1/192 Revell.  If I could figure out how to post pictures here, I'd post it to show the scale & detail differences.

Adrian