Last weekend I bought the new Trumpeter 1/700 HMS Nelson. Upon opening the box after getting home, I was extremely disappointed to see that the model did not include a lower hull. I do not like waterline models; they are only half a model to me. That is why I like Trumpeter; they have always offered the modeler a choice between waterline and full hull ships. Upon looking at their website, it seems that all the new 1/700 ships by Trumpeter are now only waterline.
To put my angst about this in context, I have all of the previous battleships by Trumpeter, all built as waterline, and they are arranged by nation on rows of shelves in my den. Looking only at their British offerings, I have all of the Queen Elizabeth class ships, both kits of the Renown, the Repulse, both kits of the Hood, and both of the Dreadnought. Again, I built each as a full hull ship. I eagerly bought the Nelson only to find that it does not fit into the collection!
The same is true of the American battleships. The Texas and New York will not fit, nor will their Enterprise and Yorktown fit into the CV row.
I have written Trumpeter about this, expressing my appreciation for their effortsin the past and my subsequent disappointment in their latest kits. I also stressed that there is much to be said for the overall quality of these kits, but I do not build waterline ships and I really appreciated the choice to build the kits as full hull ships.
I will be happy to post Trumpeter's response if the community wants.
Bill Morrison