lee models

I got a CC Lee Arethusa class cruiser in 1/200th scale off of e-bay and it's not tooo bad a kit, needs some detail, well a bunch of detail considering the size but it was cheap for sure LOL. I haven't seen their other scales in the box but the guy I got this Arethusa from also has like the graf spee and pola ships in 1/400th for sale and the pictures look ok I would say about like some of the late 60's revell and monogram kits a little less detailed that the Airfix 1/600 stuff but still doable with aftermarket enhancements. I'd like to get the 1/400th pola myself but the wallet is on strike for a while.

Tracy

Lee's Aurora cruiser is a basically good model, lacking in fine detail and compromised by motorisation.  The motor and gearbox etc can be left out of course, but the hull has horrendous sink marks on the lower hull opposite the inner mountings for batteries and motor.  Their Oriana liner has similar problems.

Is there currently anywhere to buy the Lee kits in the UK or Europe? (or even the US for that matter)
The only seller I can find for the 1/300 HMS Aurora (Arethusa-class) is in Australia, and the postage
cost is prohibitive (about $30, plus $30 for the cost of the kit)

The fellow on e-bay that I got mine from is aaamodels e-mail him and see if he can get another one. He's about as straight a fellow as I've ever dealt with there. If all else fails I'll sell you mine I've gotten to the point that I can't build them all anymore, I haven't touched any plastic in a month.

Tracy

Thanks for the advice - I contacted this eBay member as you requested, but they replied that this kit is no longer in production.
A great shame - even if it isn't the best in terms of quality and detail, this is the only injection-moulded kit of a RN WW2 cruiser in a large scale (though it's a pity it wasn't made in either the standard 1/350 scale or a larger scale like 1/250 or 1/200)
Out of curiosity, what is the hull length of the kit? I'm wondering if it's actually 1/300 or an odd "box" scale like 1/285 or 1/320.

I believe the hull is 21 or 22 inches long I'm not sure i'll check when I get home toady and let you know

A hull length of 21"/22" would give a scale of either 1/290 or 1/285 according to the data I have on the Arethusa-class cruiser.
Anyway, PM or e-mail me if you're interested in selling the kit - if you don't want to sell it though that's fine!

EPinniger,

 I was wrong about the scale it's actually marked on the box as 1/300 scale and it' is 516mm long.

Tracy

I have a LEE 1/400 "Admiral Scheer" with the early bridge - at least that´s what they claim and the reason why I bought it....in fact it is a bootleg of the Heller "Spee", the only difference is that the hull is now one-piece and suitable for motorization. They also have a dedicated Spee, this is presumably exactly the same kit. The detail is less sharp than on the Heller kits, but they managed to add nice recessed bridge windows where Heller just have raised lines. Still, it is not a "Scheer"! The one-piece hull is about 6mm narrower than the deck pieces that are supposed to fit between the sides!

The Pola is a rip-off from the 1/400 Tauro model, but isn´t this one "blown up" to 1/350 scale?

Personally, I stay away from these kits and try to get the originals even if they are more expensive. I don´t like the thought that some chinese pirate company (in fact the pirate arm of Trumpeter afaik) makes money with a blatant copy and the french company that developed the original is on the edge of bancrupcy due to dropping sales figures...