Tamiya 1/350 Bismarck kit differences 78001 and 78013

Ok, I managed to find 78013 for $54 on the internet and ordered it.  I just HAD to have it now. 

I've seen several different PE sets for this kit and am having a hard time deciding which one/ones to get.  decisions decisions......

Wilbur Wright wrote:

... You should also try to get the superscale swaticka set for the bow insignia.  ...

Iron Shipwright offers a sheet of German Naval decals which includes pre-war and wartime state flags, naval ensigns, commissioning pennants, and admiral/command flags.

I sprayed the center of the swaztica out of deference to people who find the image offensive.  

http://www.commanderseries.com/accessories.html

The swaztica is printed on a white disc.   You will still need to mask & paint the red background.

Jon at ISW once told me that armor modelers found his decal sheet useful for sleeve marks on figures.

Just another note on LHS prices. I long ago found that I could not buy kits from the shop. My savings per year on the net is well over $1,000 dollars a year..................that is a lot of freakin supplies and paint , is it not.  I bought my 350th Tamiya Enterprise for $130 dollars on the net, when it was over 200 in the shop (for instance). Just finished a 1/35 king tiger which I paid $36 dollars for on the net.......its $53 in the shop. Common sense man! 

Tamiya at ther old repackaging hijincks again, which stinks.

Buy the original, and the GMM photo etched set. You should also try to get the superscale swaticka set for the bow insignia.  The model is fantastic kit. I will put up some pics of mine when I get time.

EdGrune wrote:

espins1 wrote: Does anyone know what the differences are between the two kits?  I'm leaning towards 78013 and then adding a PE detail set.  Any info would be most appreciated.  The difference between the two kits is the cost and the box art.   If you can find the 78001, purchase it and put the savings toward the PE. The good folks at Tamiya apparently think that by just changing the product number and jacking the price - no one will notice.   Well I was born at night - but not last night.

Ed's right. There is no difference in the kit other than the price and box art. Apparently the Tamiya folks got frustrated with modelers "willingly" handing over $100+ a kit for the Trumpter releases and wanted to get in on the act without going through the hassle of actually retooling their kits. I went to my local hobby shop the other day and saw the "brand new" Tamiya 1/350 Missouri for $85.95 !! Just two weeks ago, the earlier release of the same kit was in the same spot for $52.00. I'm all for supporting my local hobby shop and all, and I do on other things, but Jeez !! If you're patient enough on eBay, you can probably get one for around $20 less shipping. That's how much I paid for mine a couple of years ago.There's usually not a whole lot of competition bidding on the Bismarck kits. But, PoW, Missouri, Yamato and New Jersey is a different story. But even they usually don't sell for more than $45 or so.

Ted 

espins1 wrote:

Does anyone know what the differences are between the two kits?  I'm leaning towards 78013 and then adding a PE detail set.  Any info would be most appreciated.

The difference between the two kits is the cost and the box art.   If you can find the 78001, purchase it and put the savings toward the PE.

The good folks at Tamiya apparently think that by just changing the product number and jacking the price - no one will notice.   Well I was born at night - but not last night.