*Inj. molded plastic* Upcoming Ship Kit Releases

[Timmy C]

Ah of course!

[Rick E Davis]

But, MARYLAND and COLORADO had the aft cage mast shortened post PH. So, it is possible to model that version, plus MARYLAND at the end of the war was updated with twin 5-in/38-cal mounts and the aft cage mast was replaced with a tower similar to PENNSYLVANIA.

They would still have a short cage mast on COLORADO (and 1942-44 MARYLAND) and the fore cage mast to deal with in 1/700 scale ... maybe in molded "solid" plastic".

[Marco_Trigo]

Oh my God... I can hear heavenly music right now.

Marco

[ADebroux]

Colorado and Maryland still had cage mast after PH. They gotta come up with a solution anyway.

I recall an issue of Fine Scale Modeller back in the 90's that had a resin model of one of the big 5 in its Pearl Harbor configuration with both cage masts in brass/photo etch in 1/700 scale. So I'm assuming that Trumpeter has come up with something similar for its offerings in plastic on a mass scale.

[Atma]

Those photo etch cage mast they are on the market in 1/700 and 1/350 for quite some time now.
As for the IJN Fuji per-dreadnought that Mermaid posted is and old release, almost 8 years.

There is no solution on the cage mast. Either you go with plastic that is over-scaled, or you include Photo-Etch parts on your offering. Trumpeter does that since their RN Roma release in 1/700, a limited frame of brass PE parts. Is on the new 1/700 HMS Queen Elizabeth 1918 too. Bridge face and some small ladders for the turrets and funnel rails.

Edit:The PE Cage Mast is difficult for the modeler to assemble too. So Im guessing as USS Colorado and USS Maryland had only a small cage mast after 1943 on her main bridge, it will be easier.

[Quincy]

Tom's Modelworks has an early war US Battleship set with a cage mast included in it. So, this shouldn't be a problem for Maryland and Colorado.




Bob Pink.

[Timmy C]

The thing about the PE option is that even that's not accurate - cage masts are pinched around its mid-height point due to the way they're constructed. PE cannot replicate this unless you glue two halves, one on top of the other. Even then, it'll be just an abrupt inflection rather than a somewhat gentle curve.

Of course, I'm not seeing any other reasonable option so...

[Hanchang Kuo]

I think pre-shaped jig might solve the problem. The kit could have included small plastic jig which resembles the shape of cage mast. Modelers assemble cage mast by wrapping PE around the jig-- somewhat similar to using Mission Model's Multi Tool.

[Atma]

Any online guide of how to bend PE cage mast ? Please...
Sounds hell of a job... what will happens if you twist it a bit too hard...

[Dave Martin]

The thing about the PE option is that even that's not accurate - cage masts are pinched around its mid-height point due to the way they're constructed.

Pardon me for saying so, but if I were a representative of the manufacturer concerned, I would most likely think "**** this! We'll not bother, despite the market research telling us that the subject(s) is (are) desirable, because some rivet-counter is bleating on about a 1/700 scale PE cage-mast not having the requisite kink in the right place......."

It's 1/700 scale for ferk's sake!

Just WHO would be anal enough to notice?

[SeanF]

The thing about the PE option is that even that's not accurate - cage masts are pinched around its mid-height point due to the way they're constructed.

Pardon me for saying so, but if I were a representative of the manufacturer concerned, I would most likely think "**** this! We'll not bother, despite the market research telling us that the subject(s) is (are) desirable, because some rivet-counter is bleating on about a 1/700 scale PE cage-mast not having the requisite kink in the right place......."

It's 1/700 scale for ferk's sake!

Just WHO would be anal enough to notice?

I'm sorry, but the difference between a conical cage mast and a properly cuved one is *really* obvious. Taken in complete isolation it may look okay, but it will never look right after one has seen the correct shape in any photo of a cage-masted ship. As a matter of fact, I'm working on some 1:2400 scale GHQ ships right now, and the curve of the cage masts makes a big difference even in this tiny scale. (Yes, they're cast solid and I expect nothing else from this scale. No, I wouldn't accept solid-cast cage masts on my 1:700 builds.)
As for the manufacturers, I have long suspected that the cage mast has been a major deterrent.
- Sean F.

[Rick E Davis]

Two thoughts, this is Trumpeter and these kits are to be in 1/700 scale. The accuracy of their ship kits have really varied.

Trumpeter may NOT realize that not all of the Big Five were NOT re-built to the TN/CA/WV configuration and label a WV kit as CO and MD? They have labeled other kits as being another in the same "class" and not provided any different components.

I wouldn't be surprised if Trumpeter for the "base" CO/MD kits just went with molded plastic cage masts with molded on "spiral-wire" exteriors for the Dave's of the world. Letting aftermarket and/or "deluxe" versions provide a PE cage mast. A pre-assembled PE cage mast would "sell" well for us PE challenged individuals.

It likely will all depend on what Trumpeter is using to "copy" their new molds from ... an existing resin kit or using someone's research. I don't think Trumpeter does much research on their own, many of their ship kit items have been made from work previously done by Pitroad.

[Atma]

Trumpeter may NOT realize that not all of the Big Five were NOT re-built to the TN/CA/WV configuration and label a WV kit as CO and MD? They have labeled other kits as being another in the same "class" and not provided any different components.



It likely will all depend on what Trumpeter is using to "copy" their new molds from ... an existing resin kit or using someone's research. I don't think Trumpeter does much research on their own, many of their ship kit items have been made from work previously done by Pitroad.

First, they are not gonna base the post 1943 USS West Virginia on a USS Colorado hull...Stop jumping in conclusions so fast. They are not 3 years old that running a model manufacture.
Second, about the part of Trumpeter's research, that a big B.S. Stop be so naive and negative, cause Trumpeter didn't made your precious USS Enterprise in 1/700.

[Rick E Davis]

Atma,

Look at Trumpeter's 1/350 scale HORNET, NEW ORLEANS class cruisers (where they messed up configurations for most of the units they released), FLETCHER class destroyer THE SULLIVANS (soft detail, faulty configuration details, and a backwards step from Tamiya's FLETCHER kit detail from several years earlier), etc for not exactly accurate kits. All of this would be easy to do RIGHT if they really did research. So I don't think I'm being naive ...

Trumpeter and Pitroad openly acknowledge that they are in a co-op relationship with ship kits. Several of Trumpeter's 1/700 kits are directly based on Pitroad limited run resin kit efforts. Generally these kits have been acceptable.

I will admit that in recent releases, notably the German "Z" Destroyers and Heavy Cruisers, TRIBAL class, and British Battleships, Trumpeter is using unknown sources for their kit designs. (WEM and others resin kits???)

What I mean about basing COLORADO and MARYLAND on the WEST VIRGINA 1944 kit is that they simply put COLORADO or MARYLAND names on a WEST VIRGINA kit (aka like they did with NEW ORLEANS cruiser kits) not the other way around as you state.

As far as I can tell, if someone doesn't HAND Trumpeter a ship design drawings (CAD?) or they "acquire" a resin model of the ship, they can't or won't do the necessary research. Trumpeter CAN do things right in producing ship kits, but their track record isn't very good. So far they have been hit and miss.

I generally model USN destroyers and some cruisers, not Aircraft Carriers ... I said nothing about USS ENTERPRISE.

[Atma]

What I mean about basing COLORADO and MARYLAND on the WEST VIRGINA 1944 kit is that they simply put COLORADO or MARYLAND names on a WEST VIRGINA kit (aka like they did with NEW ORLEANS cruiser kits) not the other way around as you state.

As far as I can tell, if someone doesn't HAND Trumpeter a ship design drawings (CAD?) or they "acquire" a resin model of the ship, they can't or won't do the necessary research. Trumpeter CAN do things right in producing ship kits, but their track record isn't very good. So far they have been hit and miss.

I generally model USN destroyers and some cruisers, not Aircraft Carriers ... I said nothing about USS ENTERPRISE.

Pit-Road is absorbed by Trumpeter, I choose Trumpeter over Dragon's 1/700 Abomination(USS Pennsylvania, the worst kit from the past 5 years).And no I dont give a rat ass about WWII destroyers so dont tell me how good Dragon's are.
Trumpeter has raise the bar with recent releases of Littorio class, USS South Dakota class and HMS Queen Elizabeth.
They have been hit and miss in every company, I just dont like when someone is so critically negative about a release that yet to see the light of the day. Wait and see, we all want them to be perfect.
I was waiting so long for a correct USS Colorado class, since the Pt-Roads there is none on the market except the Looses Canon 1/700 resin USS Colorado. And no I dont want one more USS Arizona or '40's USS Battleships.

As far as I can tell, if someone doesn't HAND Trumpeter a ship design drawings (CAD?) or they "acquire" a resin model of the ship, they can't or won't do the necessary research. Trumpeter CAN do things right in producing ship kits, but their track record isn't very good. So far they have been hit and miss.

I generally model USN destroyers and some cruisers, not Aircraft Carriers ... I said nothing about USS ENTERPRISE.

You are so wrong here, thats not the case with Trumpeter, they are the lead company(together with Tamiya) in armour and one of the best companies in air subjects. I know how this company works cause I used to deal/work for them with them for the past 3 years. They are not stealing or copying from already released subjects.
USS South Dakota class, USS Arizona in 1/200, Littorio class the British battleships(except HMS Hood) are all original developments/projects and not based on old releases.

What I mean about basing COLORADO and MARYLAND on the WEST VIRGINA 1944 kit is that they simply put COLORADO or MARYLAND names on a WEST VIRGINA kit (aka like they did with NEW ORLEANS cruiser kits) not the other way around as you state.

While the Littorio class for example had all the differnce that the 3 ships of the class had same with USS South Dakota. The USS New Orleans(and Richelieu class) mistake will not happen again.


ANYWAY
I will not involve anymore in that subject. You clearly have made your mind about Trumpeter, so have fun with Dragon's 1/700 USS Pennsylvania.

[Rick E Davis]

Atma,

I hold judgement on what ANY new kit is like until I see it or read a good review.

You didn't understand my tongue-in-cheek posting about these new "reported" Trumpeter kits. No one has seen any of the new "Big-5" (or for that matter DREADNOUGHT or TRIBAL ... although there has at least been posted test shots of that kit) kits and you and others were proclaiming they will be the best thing since sliced bread. Of course others were declaring they would be ugly. Fact is nobody will know how good or bad they are until (and if) they are actually produced.

I have some of Trumpeter's kits and like the BALTIMORE class units. But, my many interest are and will be USN destroyers (1/350 and 1/700 scale) and a few other USN subjects (large units in 1/700 scale only). I don't know a darn thing about Trumpeter aircraft or armor kits and don't care. You don't own or build USN destroyers from DML or likely even the Trumpeter THE SULLIVANS kit, and you don't care. So we can't compare apples and pineapples. I research and study USN destroyers, and trust me DML is producing the BEST USN destroyer kits in plastic there are ... period. I have bought Trumpeter's THE SULLIVANS kit and was sorely disappointed.

I base most of my views about Trumpeter ship kits based on past experience, which has been 2-to-1 bad. I have little interest in the latest Trumpeter kits in 1/350 scale, so I don't know how good or bad they are.

Best if we all wait and see.

[Thomas E. Johnson]

Anyone know what the aprox. release time for Trumpeters 1/200 Bismarck is?

[Tim Jacobs]

Timmy,

I've seen this on a few sites, but I don't see it on your list on pg 1:

1/72 USS Skipjack by Moebius

http://www.hlj.com/cgi-perl/product_s/MOE1400 (edit 28 Jun: link is now dead, but searching HLJ website says July release)
http://www.megahobby.com/preordernotyet ... arine.aspx

[Steve]

This kit as advertised is unique as being molded in colors to the original paint scheme. Can anyone comment if the kit is a true 700 scale (or a 720 just updated) and if the hull has a real wl option (with a wl plate or stiffeners) or just molded in two pieces for the hull color diference?

[Timmy C]

The Academy 1/700 Titanic was originally released a few years ago in non-coloured plastic (I think), but it is a new tool to a true 1/700 scale.



Also, nuked a good portion of this thread to keep it less cluttered.