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Trumpeter 1/350 San Francisco

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  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Portsmouth, RI
Posted by searat12 on Wednesday, February 27, 2008 4:31 PM
Boy!  You guys are tough!  Then again, I suppose some people won't be satisfied until a kit jumps off the shelf, and sets sail for Guadalcanal with all guns blazing (with scale gun flashes too!)!  The main thing I was pleased with is that it had sharply molded parts with no flashing that fit well, and it didn't have CAD program lines engraved all over the hull like that 1/350 Hasegawa Nagato kit!!
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posted by ridleusmc on Wednesday, February 27, 2008 1:50 AM

I'm a ship novice, but I have been looking forward to hearing about this kit.  I'm happy to hear that it's a quallity kit.  Some faults will probably be addressed by Tom's MW, Gold Medal Models, and L'Arsenal.  It's a relief to hear that this kit isn't a dog like Trump's "The Sullivans."  I think it'll make a good 2nd step after my first ship (a destroyer) is finished. 

Semper Fi,

Chris 

  • Member since
    June 2006
  • From: Waiting for a 1/350 USS Salt Lake City....
Posted by AJB93 on Monday, February 25, 2008 8:54 PM

I do not have the kit in person, but have some remarks based on the photos I have seen.

Trumpy screwed the pooch on the 5 inchers. They are simplified and out of proportion. They appear to be scaled up versions of the skywave pieces.

The 1.1s look decent but could benefit from some AM PE or L'Arsenal resin replacements.

The 20s match Tamiya for quality.

BIG plus are the one-piece turrets and the open bridge windows. Rafts, though not as detailed as some, actually capture the "feel" of these parts better than most kits IMHO. Funnel detail is good. Open searchlight tower lattice is a nice touch, though it will probably be replaced by most. Planking is excellent.

Searchlights, directors and small fittings look OK. Splinter shields are average, nothing to write home about. Cats and Cranes are only Ok, basically the sames as the North Carolina kit. Painting calls for MS12 when she carried MS21 (IIRC). Can't comment on accuracy. Surface detail is about Tamiya quality and you sure can't beat the price. Overall, about on par with the North Carolina and Essex kits, but better engineered and with some big improvments, but some shortcomings (5 inchers) of its own. Looks like it will build nice OOB and with some new 5" and 1.1 guns and a good PE set it will be a show stopper. And a very good value for the money. 

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Portsmouth, RI
Trumpeter 1/350 San Francisco
Posted by searat12 on Monday, February 25, 2008 3:54 PM
Just got this one today, and I must say, Trumpeter just gets better and better at casting really clean, sharp and crisp moldings.  This one will be a real joy to assemble, and I can recommend this one to everyone!  No doubt the real accuracy fans will find some porthole slightly out of place or some other quibble, but from what I can see so far, this is a real gem, and doesn't cost the moon and sun like some of the Japanese offerings of late.....
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