Best 10 Ship kits of all time...

Yes Manstein I beleive she was.

Wilbur Wright wrote:

I have built the CSS Alabama as I wanted to try a ship like this however the kit is not accurate, and is a reboxing with little change, of the Kearsarge which apparently is accurate. There are lots of threads along on that topic.   I would add that I have built the Snowberry within the last two years and found it to be extremely enjoyable. There is a strong argument around however that it needs serious work to correct the innacuracies of the real thing. Looks great to me however. I've really got to get some photos up.

Is the Snowberry a corvette?

I have built the CSS Alabama as I wanted to try a ship like this however the kit is not accurate, and is a reboxing with little change, of the Kearsarge which apparently is accurate. There are lots of threads along on that topic.

 

I would add that I have built the Snowberry within the last two years and found it to be extremely enjoyable. There is a strong argument around however that it needs serious work to correct the innacuracies of the real thing. Looks great to me however. I've really got to get some photos up.

I would vote on the 1/72 scale Matchbox Snowberry. When I built it years ago it was a rather enjoyable kit, bur remember haveing to modifify soldiers to sailers to outfit her. She sat produally on the fireplace mantel till my old cat decided it was in the way. Both have long departed and I bought a  revell version and built the hull and bagged it up and put away just could not get into the project one day I will restart again.

 I might throw in the 1/96 CSS Alabama---Revell, I think?

I'm going to presume styrene kits here as I don't think wood builders are on this forum.

Heller Victory,  Revell Constitution 1/96, Revell Cutty Sark 1/96, Revell Kearsarge 1/96th

Possibly the Revell Bismark and possibly their QM2, and many have said their Viking Ship is quite accurate.

 

I would choose these based on accuracy or the ability to make them accurate with little effort and that a finished model would faithfully represent the real thing.

second vote, hands down, for Dragon's 350 destroyers.

Unlimited funds?  I have heard/read tons of praise heaped at the 1/350 resin Commander Series offerings

I would get the Mikasa with all lion roar accessories.

bang for the buck? you cant go wrong with the classic Tamiya Fletcher

The RoG 350 Bismarck is quite nice too.

I dont think you can pick any "oldies" except out of nostalgia.

And, unfortunatelly, no plastic sailing ships would make this list (or even a top 100 list......  )

 

Well my vote would go for the new Dragon 1/350th scale Destroyer kits (Buchanon, Laffey, etc.) Also, the new Tamiya 1/700th scale "early" Akagi is a real gem...especially if you trick it out w/ the wooden flight deck and other AM parts...

subfixer wrote:

...price will have to be a factor. Best for the price or best, the sky's the limit?

Good point. I'd say sky is the limit for your pick. But if you chose a $900 limited-release, resin, signed and numbered kit that sells for $900, qualify your answer with that information.  Then pick a second choice from those directed at mass market.

I would say that the new Lindberg 1/72 scale I-53 is the finest ....

Really though, I think, from what I've heard, that the new USS Buchanon is supposed to be a fine piece of work. But as far as nautical subjects go, my favorite so far, it might not be the best of all time, is the Tamiya 1/35 PBR. I have a thing for it as I volunteered for duty for service on them during Vietnam but missed the chance as they turned them over to the S. Vietnamese Navy before I could. (It was probably a good thing, now that I look back on it, stupid 18 year old). There is good detail (large scale) as you would expect, and excellent fit.

But getting back on the subject, price will have to be a factor. Best for the price or best, the sky's the limit?