Good 1/350 kit to build ship skills?

Look at some of the Academy "Deluxe Edition" 1/350 ships such as the Perry Class Frigate, Graf Spee, or Warspite. They come with certain AM included and run around the cost of Trumpeter ships. The Graf Spee is a real good "learner's kit" in its' basic form. Another couple of good 1/350 ship kits are the Tamiya USS Fletcher and Trumpeter USS England. And Revell Germany 1/350 Type VII U-Boats are real fun little kits OOB.

As you have already built the Indy and such I'll just tell you that I just recently did build the Fletcher ,as Stik listed, and it was a good kit, no PE. But I am working on a 1/350 U-176 which does come with PE, no convoluted configurations but challenging enough ( for me) to get a grip on dealing with PE.

As has been mentioned, the Academy  Premium kits are pretty nice. I am currently building their Graf Spee and it kinda has what you are asking for. So far the fit has been excellent for me, it comes with a sizable fret of etch, some anchor chain, dry transfers for the keel markings, and a very nice looking wood deck. There is still room for improvement in certain areas if you wish to do so. I think I got mine for right at $100 and in my opinion it's a pretty good deal.

Any 1/350 is useful except for Lindberg offerings. In my opinion, the difference between a model and toy is adding the photo-etch brass and paint. You can work on those skills even with older kits and kits of any size.

I think most 1/350 kits of cruiser size and larger are pricey to experiment on. Recommend using cheaper kits which have pe sets to sharpen skills. Like the indomitable Revell Arizona in 1/426 etc. 

Haarp ;

 I would suggest the 1/350 Fletcher, by I think Hasegawa or Tamiya .I forget which .It's a good little kit and the P.E. necessary isn't that expensive or convoluted to handle .Or the Dragon line of destroyers .  T.B.

Consider a USS Long Beach or USS Bainbridge.

Pricey, but it would make a really nice collection.

I'm building the Trumpeter Prinz Eugen. It has some PE, fits well and comes with a Shnelboot. The price is affordable as well.

Steve

stikpusher

Look at some of the Academy "Deluxe Edition" 1/350 ships such as the Perry Class Frigate, Graf Spee, or Warspite. They come with certain AM included and run around the cost of Trumpeter ships. The Graf Spee is a real good "learner's kit" in its' basic form. Another couple of good 1/350 ship kits are the Tamiya USS Fletcher and Trumpeter USS England. And Revell Germany 1/350 Type VII U-Boats are real fun little kits OOB.

 

I think I'm gonna try the graf spree.  Looks like a pretty solid kit without any additions.  The Fletcher is also on my list.  My local hobby shop can get the PE set for the same cost as GMM and the kit is really cheap for a 350th scale.  I really wish they'd do the Johnston or at least include the right bridge to convert it over.  How has no one started producing that kit yet?  The story of Taffy 3 is one of the best stories in the history of naval warfare!

templar1099

As you have already built the Indy and such I'll just tell you that I just recently did build the Fletcher ,as Stik listed, and it was a good kit, no PE. But I am working on a 1/350 U-176 which does come with PE, no convoluted configurations but challenging enough ( for me) to get a grip on dealing with PE.

 

I picked up the AFV Club Gato and am currently giving it a try.  I've surprised myself with how well I've done the PE that I've tried so far.  The railings are where I struggle and my Indy shows it.  That Academy Indy kit is really good - especially with the AM works crane and radars.  I'm going to give that one to my nephew eventually and try it again - one of my favorite ships of the second World War.

Jester75

As has been mentioned, the Academy  Premium kits are pretty nice. I am currently building their Graf Spee and it kinda has what you are asking for. So far the fit has been excellent for me, it comes with a sizable fret of etch, some anchor chain, dry transfers for the keel markings, and a very nice looking wood deck. There is still room for improvement in certain areas if you wish to do so. I think I got mine for right at $100 and in my opinion it's a pretty good deal.

 

Yep, thats definitely the winner.  I've never tried a wood deck or dry transfers either so it'd be nice to get some attempts at those.

UCSMiami

Any 1/350 is useful except for Lindberg offerings. In my opinion, the difference between a model and toy is adding the photo-etch brass and paint. You can work on those skills even with older kits and kits of any size.

I think most 1/350 kits of cruiser size and larger are pricey to experiment on. Recommend using cheaper kits which have pe sets to sharpen skills. Like the indomitable Revell Arizona in 1/426 etc. 

 

Your comment about PE is right on.  It really makes a difference - especially in ships but also in aircraft.  I recently tried a Eduard PE cockpit set for the first time and loved it.  The hardest part was mixing the chromate to match the pre-colored set.  I'd really like to try the Hasegawa Gambier Bay but from what I understand the PE that comes with it is insane.  Thats on my list too after the Enterprise and USS New Jersey are under my belt.

Tanker - Builder

Haarp ;

 I would suggest the 1/350 Fletcher, by I think Hasegawa or Tamiya .I forget which .It's a good little kit and the P.E. necessary isn't that expensive or convoluted to handle .Or the Dragon line of destroyers .  T.B.

 

I build armor too and Dragon makes them some fine kits.  I wouldn't mind taking a whack at their LCS kit (Bronco I think...).  Fletcher is definitely a good call and will be up next after I finish the 4 projects on my bench right now.

GMorrison

Consider a USS Long Beach or USS Bainbridge.

Pricey, but it would make a really nice collection.

 

I grew up near Long Beach, CA so I definitely like that idea!!

modelcrazy

I'm building the Trumpeter Prinz Eugen. It has some PE, fits well and comes with a Shnelboot. The price is affordable as well.

Steve

 

I have this weird thing where I hate building subjects that may have killed an allied serviceman.  I know its just a model and its really about the appreciation of the subject and its engineering but its always weirded me out to have an enemy plane/ship/tank on display in my home.  I've had a dragon panzer tank in my cart on amazon a few times and have never brought myself to pull the trigger.  That being said, that kit looks incredible and once i get over it I'd definitely like to build it.

Also, I really appreciate all the input guys.  Once my USS Albacore is done I'll try to post a few pictures in here.  Cheers!

harp.ta

Also, I really appreciate all the input guys.  Once my USS Albacore is done I'll try to post a few pictures in here.  Cheers!

 

Looking forward to seeing them!

harp.ta

 

 

modelcrazy

I'm building the Trumpeter Prinz Eugen. It has some PE, fits well and comes with a Shnelboot. The price is affordable as well.

Steve

 

 

 

 

I have this weird thing where I hate building subjects that may have killed an allied serviceman.  I know its just a model and its really about the appreciation of the subject and its engineering but its always weirded me out to have an enemy plane/ship/tank on display in my home.  I've had a dragon panzer tank in my cart on amazon a few times and have never brought myself to pull the trigger.  That being said, that kit looks incredible and once i get over it I'd definitely like to build it.

 

The Graf Spee is German, but I understand, I'm building the Eugen at Bikini.

Trumpeter’s The Sullvans is a square bridge Fletcher like the Johnston. In fact I'm building that in a Johnston Diorama.

Here is a link to that build so far...I need to get back on her.

http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/modeling_subjects/f/7/t/165841.aspx

Jester75

 

 

harp.ta

Also, I really appreciate all the input guys.  Once my USS Albacore is done I'll try to post a few pictures in here.  Cheers!

 

 

 

 

Looking forward to seeing them!

 

So the gato isn't quite done, but I started clearcoating this weekend and hope to start weathering on Monday.  I'm going to use an AK Interactive Rust Streaks pot to add some rust effects, and then maybe add some other colors just to add complexity (I need to load up on some of the AK Interactive weathering paints for ships).  The PE rigging that was included got creased while I was removing it from the sprue, so I had to scratch build some rigging out of stretched sprue - it's not entirely accurate but it looks fairly good for having to put it together myself.

I also have a stupid question: on World War II subs, would they have dove with the flags raised or removed them as part of the dive rigging?  (The flag isn't supposed to touch the ground, but I'm not sure about the rules regarding salt water...)  I want to build her as she looked while rigged for dive, and I hate the way the decal flags look so for now I left them off.

Also, I couldn't find any record of the Albacore wearing MS-9 or MS-32 (snyder and short has no data for her), and I read somewhere that most were painted black all over and had all numbers removed when put out to sea so I went with that.  I added some slight chipping with aluminum paint and a sponge to the hull, propeller shafts, diving planes, and rudder.  I tried to stay with areas that would likely get beat up.  She's really glossy right now but I'll set the paint back to flat after all the weathering is done.

If someone knows the answer to the flag question I'd appreciate it and any other suggestions for improving my work so far are most welcomed.  Thanks guys!

You deffinately should try using wood decks.  I did my first wood on the Hasesgawa IJN Mikasa and the fit was perfect, even if it was a bit thin in a couple places between the bulkheads and rails.

If you do decide one day to do this surviving dreadnaught, P.E. is a necessity, if for nothing else, the rails.

Have you considered metal barrels?

I just got this :

The L.C.M -3 with the M-4 with wading gear . Nice kit in 1/72 I gotta say .   T.B.

Hmm;

   All flags of national identity were stowed while on Patrol , Unless need in an allied port .

My two cents.....I found the Lindberg HMS Hood and Bismark in a discount store. I know they aren't particularly accurste but they are great for practicing on.  I am in the middle of pre-shading the hull of the Hood.  Better to practice on a basic $20 kit before pulling out the $150 one.

I also found the large USS Enterprise from Revell at an outlet store for a song.  My grandfather bought it for me when i was a kid so i jumped at the chance to make it right!  The original had decals for the flight deck that peeled off after a while.  When i started this one i decided to paint all the lines.  Not perfect but I definitely feel like i could do a netter job on the next one.

Alsp wanted to recommend the Hobby Boss Arizona.  Not a definitive kit but a step up from the Revell one we all did at one time or another

Hello Harp.ta;

  I got to thinking and I might get shot at sunrise , but here goes . I have the LINDBERG Tirpitz and Bismark and all the others in their Naval line . . Now after sanding the awful weld seams down and adding the armor belts , I used generic 1/350 Pe for the fitments and they look great .

     There are some dogs in the LINDBERG LINE but with a little work their naval subjects aren't them .You can, with a little modeling skill , and converting some to waterline models ( The D.E. , U.S.S.Butler )  The results will surprise you !      T.B.

Or beat you around the head and shoulders with one of those foam pool "noodles".

I don't subscribe to that line of thinking at all.

A Revell Bismark can be had for around $ 60.00. I don't know what you charge per hour, but I run $ 50.00 on my own time or $ 100.00 as a pro.

So there's no way in less than an hour I can turn a Lindberg into a Revell or Tamiya.

I find ship modeling one of the most inexpensive hobbies I've ever had. Because it's a time consuming thing to do, and reasonably creative.

That is a very impressive Gato. I'd love to see some close ups too.

GMorrison

Or beat you around the head and shoulders with one of those foam pool "noodles".

I don't subscribe to that line of thinking at all.

A Revell Bismark can be had for around $ 60.00. I don't know what you charge per hour, but I run $ 50.00 on my own time or $ 100.00 as a pro.

So there's no way in less than an hour I can turn a Lindberg into a Revell or Tamiya.

I find ship modeling one of the most inexpensive hobbies I've ever had. Because it's a time consuming thing to do, and reasonably creative.

That is a very impressive Gato. I'd love to see some close ups too.

 

 I find your statement contradictory, basically you say great way to spend time, but on the other hand time is money. Not saying either one wrong just confusing together. A whole different being when a business.

 Currently working on the 1/350 1944 USS San Francisco for atleast last 3 months. Sit down when ever just to relax and do a little bit. Almost done just started with PE.

 That said anyone have details on the radars used for it's secondary, none in kit and can not find a clear picture that shows where they were mounted.