what is the trumpeter 1/700 USS New Jersey like?

Not sure Reggie. I haven't even seen the kit in a LHS over here (California). I've heard some mixed reviews on Trumpeter ships, though not on BB-62.

I haven't seen this kit out of the box, but there's a pretty detailed review of it in the January, 2003 issue of Fine Scale Modeler. The review is accessible through this website. I just read it; it's generally quite favorable. Looks like a nice kit.

The big decision to make regarding Iowa-class battleship models is: what configuration? The Trumpeter kit shows the New Jersey as she looked in the 1980s. By then she looked quite a bit different than she did when she was built. If you're looking for a 1/700 Iowa-class battleship in World War II configuration, the recent Missouri from Tamiya is the one to get. If your interests are more modern, it looks to me like the Trumpeter New Jersey could be the basis for an excellent model.

I do have the Tamiya Prince of Wales. It's an older kit, but an excellent one. The color scheme that ship wore on her ill-fated trip to the Pacific is one of the more elaborate and interesting ones ever to appear on a battleship. It would be quite a challenge to reproduce, but the finished product would be really impressive.

Whichever of the two you pick, you might want to check out the photo-etched detail sets from Gold Medal Models. Both the U.S. battleship and British warship sets that firm offers are excellent. They include such things as cranes, catapults, and radar screens that can really dress up a model.

Good luck.

hmm, i read the review, and im wary of the large amounts of flash and ejector pin marks. but then again, im still keen on revisiting ships, especially since i enjoy the look of full-hull ships. anyone else have their input/experience ?

Reggie if your looking for a less stressful change, I'm not sure ships are right. The P/E (if you do it) can be terrible. Due to scale. If you don't use any P/E it's not too bad.

tim im starting to agree with you. perhaps my first tank is sitting in the LHS ?

Mate I've spoken to a dealer here in Oz who reckons the 1/700 Trumpeter kits aren't worth the effort. I personally would recommend the 1/700 Tamiya or Italeri kits over them.

whats wrong with the trumpeter kit specifically ? cos i really dont like waterline . if its minor i can fix it, im not asking for fall-together.

Reggie....I did the review of the New Jersey for FSM......it is a typical 1/700 scale ship....any flash or ejector pin problems are easily fixed...you might want to check with Gold Medal Models to see if there is a phot etch set specific to this kit...if not you can get generic railing, ladders, and such.....phot etch will make a world of difference on this kit as on any other naval subject....pick up the New Jersey......you'll enjoy it....Bill Teehan