Opinion wanted

I'd start with the best quality kit.Most likely the Tamiya Missouri.Dive right in and go for it.That's how I started building 1/350 kits with PE.

In response to your question regarding PE for the Campbeltown/Buchanan/Ward kit,   Gold Medal Models offers a dual set which will do that plus the Revell Buckley DE of the same scale

The bottom half is for the Campbeltown/Buchanan/Ward

http://goldmm.com/ships/gms2buwa.htm

The kit is fairly nice for its age.    The PE dresses it up but it has flaws (wooden decks with no camber) and the guns need replacements.

As far as a kit for a ship PE novice (not a modeling novice), I often recommend a simpler, less complex kit such as the Tamiya Fletcher,  Trump USS England, or Revell Emden all in 1:350.    While the same scale as the larger Missouri kit they do not have the multiple smaller guns that a battleship or carrier has.   You will see more progress toward completion than having to assemble dozens of 20mm guns.    It is also a less expensive learner kit that you won't feel as bad screwing up.   Because you will - trust me I still do.

Once you have learned the techniques you can transfer that knowledge to a mode complex kit or to other scales.  You may find that while you are familiar some PE methods, every modeling genre has PE peculiarities specific to that section of the hobby.

Be prepared to use a host of four letter words.

I am still new to ship modeling myself as an adult, although I have built hundreds of aircraft and armor kits over the past 30+ years. I suggest starting with the Lionfish kit first with no PE unless you really want some, just to get a feel for ships. Then the Campletown with some PE to continue that learning curve. Then tackle the battleship... or add more ships to your stash to build before the BB. ;-)

Ed, TD and Stick, I think you guys made up my mind for me.  I have seen and did know about the PE set from GMM for the Ward-Ect.  Since I have a Lionfish, Campbeltown and Missouri, I may start barfing up………..I mean, building the Lion and move slowly up to the BB.  I am sure I can do no worse than I did at 11 years old!  Get ready for some basic questions and maybe some inaccurate builds.  I kinda feel as if I am starting modeling all over again.   Thanks a million for your answers guys!

Make sure you have plenty of hobby blades.Cutting PE from the fret dulls them quick.Also,pick up a good pair of tweezers.You will need them.Thinned Elmers/white glue works well for attaching PE.Lastly,build up and out.

Thanks TD.  I am pretty well covered on tweezer styles and blades.  By the way, does anyone make PE for the old Revell Buckley?  I found that kit also in the closet that I forgot about.  The scale is 1/306 or something odd like that.

Yes, there are some PE sets out there for the Revell Buckley. I want to say Toms Modelworks, and at least one other company, possibly Gold Medal Models, make a set for it.

Look above GMM has both the Ward/Campbelltown and Buckley covered on one set. I have both kits and eventually will get the PE for them.  I am going to do the Revell Emden for the WW1 100th group build and I plan to use GMM etch set for that.  I agree that you should work your way up the ladder starting with the Lionfish.

I'm a big fan of the old Revell Buckley.  I built it quite a few times when I was a kid.  It really did represent the state of the art in the early '60s - separate guardrail stanchions (in strips), a multi-part whaleboat, and various other unusual details.  Some of its details still hold up well.  If you look closely at the superstructure bulkeads you'll see such things as fire extinguishers and deck swabs in racks.  And those little domes on the after gun tub are the gunners' helmets.

Its big weaknesses are the guns, which aren't up to the standards of the rest of the kit.  But the Gold Medal set would help there.

I personally think that would be a terrific way to get into ship modeling.

I agree on Campelltown, It's a cool kit of a ship that was really built in quantity but hardly modeled. Be aware that the kit is in no way similar to the ship at the raid, but is a reasonable USN four piper and looks the part. The wood decks are wrong but i would just paint them gray.

Whether or not you use PE is a matter of taste, the model will be satisfactory without it.

Upgrading the guns would be a fun thing to do. They do look silly, but are big enough that it's not too fiddly a project. I looked around for replacements, but the model is a weird scale so there aren't any. I did that to the Emden, which is a "normal" scale and it really helped the model a lot.

I have not built either of the Lindberg models, but their reputation is not a good one, so I would hold off on those. I would build that sub too, and wait on the BB until you have a feel for the skills invovled.

The Emden is unfortunately out of production and can be pricey. You just have to watch eBay and pick your spot.

One recommendation I have is that if you intend to do the Missouri in its camouflage scheme, do another ship in camouflage first.  I have found that masking a ship for camo is one of those things I personally struggle with.

I prefer to get the subassemblies together minus small bits and PE, mask and paint.  Then I'll figure out what colors the small bits and PE get, paint those after folding, and then attach the PE and small bits working up and out.  I find that if I try to paint camo after putting on small bits and PE, a lot of it goes missing...  Most of all, have fun.  Big ships can be daunting, don't be afraid to take a break.

Groot

Groot, I don't think I will attempt any camouflage scheme any time soon.  I have seen some that are beautiful but I will stick to something easier.  I will never be the ship builder like some I see on this forum but my intention is to have fun.  It is going to be much different than the automotive stuff I have done the last 50 years, or those old Renwal ships I gloo-bombed as a kid.  I won't be using these as target practice with my range model, 200 shot, carbine action air rifle.  When I get something completed, I will post pics so you guys can poke some fun at an "old" rookie.

I look forward to seeing your work here.