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New Academy 1/700 RMS Titanic?

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  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Derry, New Hampshire, USA
New Academy 1/700 RMS Titanic?
Posted by rcboater on Sunday, June 3, 2007 2:27 PM

I was in the local shop yesterday, and noticed that they had the new Academy 1/700 scale RMS Titanic kit. 

The box top claims it is an all new mold, with "awesome detailing".

The box sides had a couple of photots of the completed model-- what really jumped out at me was the detail photo of the stacks.  They looked to be covered with huge rivets-- like one of the old 1960s era Revell or Airfix 1/72 scale aircraft kits.  The other detail parts I could see looked rather chunky as well. 

I was thinking about buying it, but these phots make me decide against it- it just didn't look like it was worth close to $30 (US).

Has anyone here see the inside of this kit?  Any comments?

Webmaster, Marine Modelers Club of New England

www.marinemodelers.org

 

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: Greenville, NC
Posted by jtilley on Sunday, June 3, 2007 4:30 PM

Academy released a 1/720 Titanic just a few years ago.  Here's the FSM review of it:  http://www.finescale.com/fsm/default.aspx?c=a&id=1624

Whether this "new" kit is the same one or not I have no idea.  I suppose it's possible that Academy has produced (or borrowed from some other manufacturer) a totally new, slightly larger kit.  But I wouldn't want to spend good money on it without finding out for sure.

The good news is that, according to Mr. Usher's review, the 1/720 kit is pretty good.  It looks to me like a fine candidate for slicing off at the waterline, to eliminate the problem he spotted regarding the screws.

I sure wish somebody would produce a series of state-of-the-art 1/700 (or 1/720) liners.  The potential list of beautiful, historically important subjects is endless.  Imagine a 1/700 Lusitania, Queen Mary, Aquitania, Imperator, Isle de France, United States....Well, we can dream.

Youth, talent, hard work, and enthusiasm are no match for old age and treachery.

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Derry, New Hampshire, USA
Posted by rcboater on Sunday, June 3, 2007 5:47 PM

 I should have looked on Great Models before posting-  they have both the 1/720 and the 1/700 scale Academy Titanic kits listed.  They list the 1/700 kit as being in pre-order status, I'm a little surprised the local shop already has it.

What's nice about the Greatmodels.com listing is that it has links to two different previews.  Having now read them, the kit sounds better than I thought....

Here are the links to the reviews:

Internet Modeler: 

  http://www.internetmodeler.com/2007/may/first-looks/academy_titanic.php

Cybermodeler: 

http://www.cybermodeler.com/hobby/kits/aca/kit_aca_14402.shtml

Webmaster, Marine Modelers Club of New England

www.marinemodelers.org

 

  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: Amongst Words
Posted by aardvark1917 on Sunday, June 3, 2007 7:35 PM
Squadron now has it for $24.30.

"Freedom is a possession of inestimable value." -- Marcus Tullius Cicero

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: Greenville, NC
Posted by jtilley on Sunday, June 3, 2007 7:42 PM

Well, this is interesting.  Squadron Mail Order also is advertising an Academy 1/700 Titanic, and offers a photo of the finished model.  It certainly looks like the photo in Mr. Usher's review - but on my monitor I can't see enough detail to make out the screws.  (They should be an indication of whether the kits are identical.  Mr. Usher noted that, in the 1/720 version, the outboard shaft fairings are noticeably too short.)  The kit number listed for the 1/700 version on the Squadron site is one digit away from the one for the 1/720 version in Mr. Usher's review.  Squadron doesn't sell a 1/720 version - but does have a 1/400 one.

The two reviews to which rcboater was kind enough to link us don't really resolve the question.  Neither of them comments on the earlier 1/720 kit.

I guess we'll have to wonder about all this until somebody gets hold of the two kits and compares them side by side.

It does seem a shame that the manufacturers, having ignored the Titanic for so many years (according to Dr. Graham's book, the Revell decision makers thought long and hard before producing theirs, because "who wants to build a model of a ship that sank?"), now seem to be unable to recognize that any other ocean liner has ever existed.  But I guess we should be grateful for any high-quality ship kit that comes along - and this one, whatever its origin, seems to fit the bill.

Youth, talent, hard work, and enthusiasm are no match for old age and treachery.

  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: Amongst Words
Posted by aardvark1917 on Sunday, June 3, 2007 8:20 PM
 jtilley wrote:

"...  now seem to be unable to recognize that any other ocean liner has ever existed.  But I guess we should be grateful for any high-quality ship kit that comes along ...

Love to see a range of old liners -- like the one that rescued survivors off the Titanic.

"Freedom is a possession of inestimable value." -- Marcus Tullius Cicero

Moderator
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: USA
Posted by Matthew Usher on Sunday, June 3, 2007 9:45 PM

They are different kits. The one I reviewed for the magazine is from an old, old, tool.

The new 1/700 Academy kit is No. 14402.

According to the press release that came with it here at FSM HQ, kit is No. 14402 is all-new tooling, and its MSRP is $27.

I haven't started work on the model yet, but it's a beauty in the box with delicate, crisp molding. It's the one to look for.

Matt Usher @ FSM

 

 

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: Greenville, NC
Posted by jtilley on Monday, June 4, 2007 10:55 AM

That seems to answer the question!  Many thanks, Mr. Usher.  I imagine the 1/720 kit will now disappear.

I think there have now been at least eight Titanic kits in styrene.  (Probably more; I can't claim to have kept track of them.)  Come on, manufacturers - show some nerve and give us a different ocean liner!

Youth, talent, hard work, and enthusiasm are no match for old age and treachery.

  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: Amongst Words
Posted by aardvark1917 on Monday, June 4, 2007 9:44 PM

And to think I almost bought it last week when ordering an IJN liner from Aoshima -- I looked at this Titanic and wondered how clunky it was and waffled for several hours.

Thanks, Mr Usher.

"Freedom is a possession of inestimable value." -- Marcus Tullius Cicero

  • Member since
    April 2004
Posted by Chuck Fan on Monday, June 4, 2007 10:04 PM

I wouldn't mind a good Art Deco liners in 1/350 scale.  I prefer Normandie, will be happy with Queen Mary, and will settle for Bremen or Rex. 

  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: Amongst Words
Posted by aardvark1917 on Friday, June 8, 2007 2:54 PM
Found a review here at Internet Modeler; click the kit graphics for a zoom in.

"Freedom is a possession of inestimable value." -- Marcus Tullius Cicero

  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: Amongst Words
Posted by aardvark1917 on Wednesday, October 22, 2008 1:49 AM

Just bought one a couple of weeks ago and ...

Does anyone make PE for this particular kit?

"Freedom is a possession of inestimable value." -- Marcus Tullius Cicero

  • Member since
    May 2007
  • From: Atlanta, Georgia
Posted by RTimmer on Wednesday, October 22, 2008 2:47 AM

It looks like GMM has something that might fit the bill...

URL:  http://www.goldmm.com/ships/gms700-2.htm

Description: MERCHANT SHIP DETAIL SET (1/700)  Railing in several styles, vertical ladders, railing for stairways, crane details, lifeboat rigging, life preservers, special ratlines for Titanic and Lusitania.

SCALE AVAILABLE: 1/700

Fits all 1/700 scale model of ocean liners or freighters. Includes parts for Titanic and Lusitania.

Hope this helps.  Cheers, Rick

 

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