The first 1/350 ship model you ever built

That's really cool Mike. That is the Revell "Haven", the version with the horizontal green stripes. The scale is box, said to be 1/471.

If I'm not mistaken, that's the Revell hospital ship Haven on the left. It was my first ship model, in about 1957. (The kit, according to Dr. Graham's history of Revell, was issued in 1956.) And that's quite clearly the old Aurora Viking ship poking into the picture on the right.

You're mighty lucky to have that photo (in color, no less)! The only pictures I have from my childhood are a dozen or so that my brother and I found in the house after my mother died.

That looks like the Aurora Viking Ship. As for unpainted, the dragon head looks red. It was a decent looking brown plastic color- I never painted mine.

A very handsome young man.

Found another shot from around the same time period. This time my brother is reluctantly posing for my Kodak Hawkeye.  Does anyone have a clue as to what sailing ship that is in the center of the mantle? It's been too long for me to remember. No detail in the shot and it looks like I just slapped it together.

Mike

I think it's the old Revell 1/192 Constitution, from 1956. It was Revell's first sailing ship kit. Looks like the builder didn't quite have the courage to paint the white stripe between the gunports.

John,

You're probably right about the ship being the Constitution. I'm not sure that courage (or lack thereof) played too much of a roll in my hasty, slap it together build. I believe I was shifting gears at that time and more than likely my model building time was caving in to my newest interest .... GIRLS!

Mike

Well, let's apply some sophisticated academic logic. The picture was taken no earlier than 1956 (when the kit was released).

1956 - 1943 = 13.

Yup.  Girl Tyme.

My first was the Banner kit of the Arizona I built years ago that my nephews "inherited". I've since built the HobbyBoss kit and made it more accurate, as well as a number of other 1/350 ships. I really enjoyed my builds of the older WW2 Japanese battleships (Fuso, Yamashiro, Haruna). The pure ugliness and top heavy appearance of their lines appeal to me, as do other pre-WW2 capitol ships.   

My only 1/350 was academys warspite, I really liked it and can see me doing more, but at the moment I have so many on the go, I just can't manage any more.

These have all been great replies.

Going through my stash today, because I moved and am unpacking it- The Hasegawa Mikasa with the extra detail set, the Zvezda Varyag, all kits I bought 10 years ago.

You Know " G "

 When I look at photos like this , It's hard to believe we actually dressed that way every day for school and work !     T.B.

Had to think about this one for awhile and to my chagrin, I realized I've NEVER actually built a 1/350 ship. :-(

My first ship was the old Revell Yacht America. Hmmm. Can't remember building another one. Dang, I got WORK to do!!! 

Exactly Stray! That's what I realized when I first posted this thread. For all of the focus on 1/350 now, I've built about a squillion ship kits in all kinds of scales, but not so many in 1/350.

^{And now I just started on the old Revell 1/319 scale USS Forrest Sherman plus bouncing between the Trumpeter Lexington and Saratoga! Well, at least the carriers are 1/350. Guess I'm making progress.} 

Yep, came across the Burton Island (1/283?) in the garage last week.

My first 1/350 kit was the Dragon Z39 which I kitbashed into the Z32 only a year ago

Well, just went through the stash tonight and found all the ships. In "other scales", I've got:

Yacht Opty in 1:50

Revell Ward in 1:240

Revell Forrest Sherman in 1:319

Revell Defiant in 1:131

Cutty Sark in 1:96

Constellation in 1:720

Shinano in 1:700

PT-109 in 1:72

RG Gephart and German Fletcher, Trumpeter Gato all in 1:144

And in 1:350 (I'd lost count!!):

4 Tamiya Iowa BB's.(Two WWII, two modern)

Big E.

KGV.

Tamiya and Trumpeter Fletcher's.

Ohio, Typhoon, Los Angeles, Ticonderoga, and Spruance all by Dragon.

Two Perry's and a Bismark by Academy.

USS Wasp by Gallery.

Trumpeter Lexington, Saratoga, and Nimitz with Admiral Kustenov on order. 

Starship Enterprise-A by Polar Lights.

And also on order is Academy's Graf Spee and Indianapolis. 

Whew! These should keep me busy for awhile, huh? 

GMorrison

Exactly Stray! That's what I realized when I first posted this thread. For all of the focus on 1/350 now, I've built about a squillion ship kits in all kinds of scales, but not so many in 1/350.

 

just how many exactly is a "squillion?"  :-)

Stray,

I think a squillion is somewhere between a bazillion and bankruptcy.

Steve

The First 1-350 Kit was the Academy Ripoff version the Tamiya Tirpitz about 17 Years ago.

Tamiya Yamato in the late 70s

Hi im building the tamiya king george. Ive noticed that one the decks you have to drill the holes marked k. But there are also holes marked p but nothing in the instructions explaining what do do with these holes. Would you be able to advise me?? 

IIRC, the holes marked "P" are for Tamiya's related kit of Prince of Wales.  The two kits share some parts.

Hope this helps!

-----

My first 1/350 kit was the Life-Like USS Missouri BB-63, ex-1971 Otaki mold.  A gift from my parents, I built it about 1980.  I clearly remember how big the model looked to me when I opened the box.  It had good "wow factor".  Loved the way the detail looked and the shape of the hull, which to my eye, was great for the time, especially the bulkhead detail. 

When Tamiya released its excellent Missouri about 5 years later, I liked the Tamiya kit even better but was surprised Tamiya included no bulkhead detail.

Looking back, I realize that I have no 1/350 scale ships completed.  Lots of ships and boats in larger scales, including the current pride of my fleet, the Dumas 1/16 USCG 36’ Motor Life Boat.  I do have two 1/350 scale builds on the shelf of doom:

- Dragon USS Buchanan (1942) stalled out when I had a lot of trouble with the deck decals, and then I learned that the Dragon PE railing set doesn’t fit very well. (Doesn’t take the sheer of the hull into account.)

- Minicraft (ex-Imai) USCGC Eagle stalled out after I ran into a couple of obstacles. The kit’s boats are awful— they are 1800s style long boats.  I removed the Aztec stairs, but didn't have replacements on hand.  I also decided to use PE ratlines, so I started to collect extras from various Titanic and Lusitania builders.  I never collected enough to proceed.  But while ordering some other stuff from SprueBroslast week, I found (and bought) the Alliance Models set of generic lifelines, and a generic ladders set. So I may return to this after I finish my current project. (Though I still have no solution for the boats.)

First and only so far in 1/350 was AFV's Gato.  Have a bunch on the shelf, CV-6, Dragon Laffey & Scharnhorst.  Graf Z., think my Arizona is 1/350 as well.  Then there is the monster......1/72 Gato with the Big ED PE kit and WE PE and brass props and the alum scopes.  Got to get her done by 11 Oct this year.

My first and only was Tamiya's Tirpitz.  I although I was only in 9th grade, I managed to paint the "dazzle" scheme.  She was lost at sea when I saw fit to attempt to sail her at the beach!

I have the old Tamiya Yamato in the stash, plus a bunch of PE sets.  I'll get to her someday..  I also have a bunch of subs, none finished.

Tojo72

I don't mind resurrecting zombie threads,this is good one.It was either the Tamiya Bismarck or Yamato

 

Yep, its not always a bad thing.

I have not built any 350 ships yet and only have 1 in the stash, the Revell Bismarck. I'd like to get a few more, the Graf Spee, Graf Zeppelin, Scharnhorst, HMS Belfast. Maybe a couple others. But they do seem like large undertakings that will take a lot of time, so maybe i might just stick to one or two.