in 1/700th trumpeter or dragon

Phil_H

To further confuse things, some of Dragon's 1/700 offerings are based on Skywave/PitRoad moulds (some of which were originally waterline, later modified to add a full-hull option). The Sovremenny, C.F. Adams and O.H. Perry kits come to mind.

And some of the Tamiya 1:700 scale kits also have Skywave/PitRoad in their pedigree.  Tamiya reboxed the PitRoad HMS Onslow  O-class destroyer, and IIRC the PitRoad Gato.    But fortunately the Tamiya 1:700 scale Fletcher isn't related to the Skywave/PitRoad 2-fer Fletcher.  

To further confuse things, some of Dragon's 1/700 offerings are based on Skywave/PitRoad moulds (some of which were originally waterline, later modified to add a full-hull option). The Sovremenny, C.F. Adams and O.H. Perry kits come to mind.

In 1:700 scale Trumpeter has a deal with PitRoad Models of Japan.    PitRoad does the research & cuts the molds.    Trumpeter produces the kit.   Trumpeter gets first dibs on sales in the West,  PitRoad gets first dibs in the Orient. 

Trumpeter seems to be responsible themselves for the 1:350 scale product line.  But I have an example of a Trumpter USS England boxed as a PitRoad USS Cannon.

If you want to see whats coming from 1:700 scale Trumpeter, check the PitRoad website.

PitRoad has long been one of the foremost names in 1:700 scale plastic ship kits.  They have even had their own resin kit label - Waveline.  If not an original member of the waterline consortiuum, they were an early addition.   PitRoad's kits are genrally well done with accurate shapes.  Like many 1:700 kits, the small detail parts are often overscale.

PitRoads instructions are in Japanese with 'Engrish' subtitles.  PitRoads paint call outs often refer to PitRoads own line of paints.

Many of Dragon's 1:700 current kits (Burke, LosAngeles, etc). are re-pops of the 20-year old kits produced under the DML label.    The newer kits under the Cyberhobby label are new-tool and well done, but often suffer from the common Dragon trait of many un-necessary extra parts.   Dragon/Cyberhobby kits' instructions also often lack clarity in their pictograph approach toward assembly.  Often the instructions are flat out wrong.

I would ask you...

In 1/700 there are every kind of ship models available. Most are resin and therefore are in a certain league where the ship kit is second to the details and finish. As you may have seen, a typical resin kit has less parts, each of which are more complex. The model task tends towards painting and display.

In 1/350 the same rule applies, except that plastic is a good technology for a lot of fine detail. Those kits take months, and are rewarding but major efforts.

I have not built anything from Dragon or Trump in 1/700. I probably would start with Academy, then Trump.

But I'd fear the thought of way too many parts at that scale, from either of the manufacturers you list.