1/200 kits question

I have not heard of any 1/200 Yamato Rumors. There is a site that lists new product news related to model ships at   http://www.modelshipwrights.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=index&catid=&page=1

However...  Fujimi has announced the July 2017 release of kit FUJ02033, a Yamato 18" gun turret. In 1/200 scale!

Nichimo made a 1/200 Yamato.  The kit was listed at over 51 inches.  The deck comes in 5 pieces. I have never seen the parts close-up.  It seems to depict Yamato Pre-Leyte Gulf. There are always some being sold on Ebay. They are Hundreds of dollars. 

     Nino

Edit:  There is a 1/250 Yamato by MicroAce (Arii).  It sells for a lot less than Nichimo 1/200.

My reliable source indicates a newly tooled Yamato will be announced this year. Kitted by Wave (same Japanese company that released 1/200 Mikasa) and you guessed, it, moulded by Trumpeter (just like Mikasa which was re-released later under Hobbyboss label). So the rumors going the rounds are true. 

Aside for the novelty factor of the 'biggest' etc etc, they are over-represented in model kits already. Now Yamato being a good-looking ship, Okay, let's say we agree to disagree.  

Hobby Boss = Trumpeter which will tool the new Yamato so would be typical Trumpeter quality (in the current age).

The 1/200 Mikasa is what you'd expect for kits in this day and age so there's nothing to worry about and without a doubt any new Yamato in 1/200 will be better than the decades old Nichimo offering, and a lot more expensive! 

Well it's pointless discussing the overall quality of a brand, each brand has its gems and lemons. Hobby Boss kits are decent, unless you are talking about ancient ripoffs like the 1/325 Arizona or 1/350 Pola, well they were produced when Trumpeter started out. Trumpeter being one of the biggest model kit manufactuer in this day and age means there's little to worry about in terms of fit/mould quality. As for accuracy, you better pray the Japs (Wave) did their homework.

Hmmm;

   I don't know the scale . I have one sitting on a shelf in the garage . She's complete down to the P.E. BUT , she had to be converted from German R.C. To Futaba before she was any use to me . Gorgeous ship by the way . T.B.

uspsjuan

Is it the sheer size that that turns modelers away from 1/200 scale or the cost? With all the super detailers out there , I figured that this scale would give them ample opportunity to go wild. That's why I would like to see a modern carrier in this scale. Aircraft that aren't so tiny that it hurts my old eyes , maybe light the hanger deck , or whatever tickles my fancy. Just a thought. Tell me what you think. And go! lol

 

Cost!

When I scratchbuild ships, I do go to a larger scale.  Many of my Great Lakes ships are 1:192 (almost same as 1:200) or 1:96.  I find scratchbuilding ships quite a cost savings, so I have Great Lakes models between three and four foot long- no problem.

uspsjuan

no one else to weigh in?

 

High quality 1/200 battleship builds are very popular and tend to attract lots of attention but there are a couple of problems which I think scare away newcomers once the reality of tackling one sets in.

First off, OOTB Trumpy 1/200 battleships tend to be lacking in accuracy in certain areas and detail in general... they really feel like upsized 1/350 kits and the end result is often too "toylike" for many "serious builders" (whatever that means! ). These kits do need extra work, research and detail to really shine, which usually means expensive aftermarket additions (not to mention extra paint, glue, putty, ect. for such large models and the not so cheap kits themselves).

Second, you'd think the bigger scale would make 'em easier to put together but once you throw in a detail set or three a 1/200 battleship easily becomes a nightmarishly huge long-term project with just as many complications and "fiddly bits" as several smaller scale superdetail projects put together. Build times regularly run into the hundreds of hours and it takes a high level of proficiency, patience and dedication to actually pull off a great build.

Many, many big Trumpy ship kits and a plethora of aftermarket goodies for them are sold but not so many are actually finished, and only a small minority of those are completed as the museum-worthy masterpieces which tempted so many to buy into one in the first place. 

In other words, it's a tough niche to keep playing in for very long. 

chango

 

 

 

Many, many big Trumpy ship kits and a plethora of aftermarket goodies for them are sold but not so many are actually finished, and only a small minority of those are completed as the museum-worthy masterpieces which tempted so many to buy into one in the first place. 

 

 I wouldnt mind an Escourt Carrier ( USS Bouge ) in 1/200 scale. But there aren't that many airplane kit's in that scale soooooo.... How about a carrier in 1/144 ?

[quote user="littletimmy"]

 I wouldnt mind an Escort Carrier ( USS Bouge ) in 1/200 scale. But there aren't that many airplane kit's in that scale soooooo.... How about a carrier in 1/144 ?

There is a 1/200 USS Wasp available.  I think it is about 125 centemetrs (shorter than the USS Misouri).  If you really want to go insane try the 1/35 Dora rail gun...it is 7 feet long.  I have the 1/35 Leopard and the 1/36 Karl.  I also have the 1/200 Mikasa and yes the PE parts are more expensive than the kits.