Your opinion on Academy's 1/350 Tirpitz

I have built both and they require a fair amount of filling, sanding, carving, and afternmarket parts to get the ship to bear a close resemblance to the subject.

Although 3 times the price, if I would do it again, I would just build the Tamiya OOB.  Fit is great, instructions are alright, and you don't need any aftermarket parts to replace the toylike features of the cheaper kits.

Scott

Are there differences between the Tamiya and Academy Tirpitz models?  I thought, the Academy model was just a reboxed Tamiya one.

Michel

 

That's exactly what I wanted to hear.  I'll go for Tamiya then.  I rather pay more and build it out of the box with just a few homemade addition than paying the same amount in aftermarket parts to correct the original model.

Thanks for that info.

Here is another one, if I'm a detail lover, do you think I'll like those ships?  And which one do you recommand the most: Bismark, Tirpitz, Prince of whales, King George, New Jersey or Missouri.

My problem is I cannot sneak at these kit cause I have no hobby shop in town so I can only see them on the net.

michel.vrtg wrote:

Are there differences between the Tamiya and Academy Tirpitz models?  I thought, the Academy model was just a reboxed Tamiya one. Michel

Academy may have used the same box, but they did not use the same mold practices nor the same quality of plastic. Any small detail like a gun director is represented as a flash covered blob of plastic.  Hull and deck fits are questionable from kit to kit.  I have built both the low end Tamiya knock offs and the Tamiya kits.  My choice from now on is to stay with Tamiya if building OOB.

I have only built the Bismark and Tirpitz.  But for detail, the finished models I have seen of the Iowa class and POW / KG is remarkable, even OOB.

Scott

I'll go "head" or "tail" then.  Thanks a lot.