Preface: old modeler getting back into the craft.
Way back when, before the movie and even before Telly Savalas opened the safe I was an avid fan of not only ships but of the Titanic, and I had built a fantastic 1/350 scale model of her (memory is a fine thing :D ).
I've been out of the game for a long while, but recently started building my original love, armour again (use to only dry brush weathering but have discovered using pastels, colour me impressed! :D ), and suddenly started yearning to have another big Titanic sitting on the mantle (my original was lost as I left home for school and mothers apparently have no special sentimentality to plastic boats :( ). So, imagine my surprise that model kits of the ship are still available in the scale!
Suffice it to say, I have narrowed my decision to the Minicraft kit, however there are two options available to me, the Centennial version, or the 'Deluxe' version. The Deluxe comes with photo etched bits (note: this was not a 'thing' way back when, so a new learning curve presents itself to me, I'm guessing you 'delete' plastic and replace it with more accurately modeled brass bits, god bless youtube...more or less. Coincidentally I found an article on this subject on this site’s main page :thumbup: ) and the Centennial does not.
As far as I can ascertain this is the only difference between the kits...... Is this true? If so, would it not be more prudent to order the Centennial kit and then get aftermarket P.E. bits from Tom's modelworks or similar peddler? Is the mold from one kit better/crisper from one to the other?
Any pros and cons on one kit over the other is much appreciated!
TIA
P.S. I’ve gotten a bit caught up in getting back into the old hobby, I have seven other kits I’ve bought that need attention, so it is good to have found this site! :D