I agree wholeheartedly! I have been looking to pick up some 1/350 battleships, etc... to build between my sailing ships to kind of break up the building cycle. The only Japanese ships I have found that can be had for under $100 is the older Tamiya Yamato at times and the Hasagawa Mikasa. I actually did just buy a Trumpeter 1/350 HMS Dreadnought 1907 and I am very impressed with the detailing although I have heard that some of their kits are rather poor on the historical aspects. I plan on purchasing PE and metal barrels for this and any other metal ships I buy.
By the way, what colors did you use for the deck and the anti fouling?
Steve