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Plastic Model Ship Kits: 1/72 to 1/350 Scale
A guide to plastic model ship kit scales from 1/35 to 1/1250: what each scale suits, typical model sizes, Trumpeter's 1/350 range, tools and upgrades.
Kits and Subjects
Plastic Ship Kits
Plastic warship, liner, PT boat and U-boat kits from 1/24 to 1/1250 scale, with photo-etch tips.
1/350 Aircraft Carrier Model Kits: From the USS Enterprise to the Nimitz Class
A guide to 1/350 aircraft carrier kits, from Tamiya's WWII Enterprise CV-6 to Trumpeter's Nimitz class: sizes, aircraft, flight decks and choosing your first carrier.
1/350 Bismarck Model Kits: Revell, Tamiya and Trumpeter Compared
Comparing the main 1/350 Bismarck kits from Revell, Tamiya, Trumpeter and Academy: detail, accuracy, age, difficulty and which suits a first ship or full upgrade.
1/700 Waterline Warship Kits: Tamiya, Aoshima and Flyhawk
A guide to 1/700 waterline warship kits from Tamiya, Aoshima and Flyhawk: the Water Line Series, detail levels, tips for tiny parts and building seascape bases.
Are there still PT boats?
Only around a dozen WWII PT boats survive. Here's where to see them, including PT-305, PT-617, PT-658 and PT-796, and why so few lasted after the war.
Building a 1/35 Schnellboot
How to build Italeri's 1/35 Schnellboot: choosing S-38 or S-100, joining the screwed hull, deck texture, photo-etch, painting and displaying a metre-long boat.
Building the Airfix 1/180 HMS Victory Plastic Kit
Build tips for the Airfix 1/180 HMS Victory: what to expect from the kit, a sensible assembly order, painting the hull, better rigging thread, sails and upgrades.
How to Use Photo-Etched Parts on Plastic Ship Models
How to cut, bend, glue and paint photo-etched brass on plastic ship models, with the tools you need, railing tips and fixes for common photo-etch mistakes.
Mountford 1/1250 Waterline Ships
A guide to Mountford's 1/1250 waterline ships: the range from River Plate cruisers to modern carriers, docks and dioramas, plus buying, storing and displaying them.
Ocean Liner Model Kits: Normandie and the Titanic Wreck
Normandie liner model kits and how to build the Titanic wreck in 1/350 as separate bow and stern sections, plus why ocean liner kits are so rare.
PT Boat Model Kits: Revell PT-167 and 1/24 Scale
PT boat model kits compared: Revell's 1/72 Elco boats including PT-167, 1/35 options, what really exists in 1/24, plus sizes, references and display tips.
U-Boat Model Kits: Revell Type IX and Ark 1/48 Type VIIC
U-boat model kits compared: what to expect from Revell's 1/72 Type IX, why Ark Models' 1/48 Type VIIC is an RC submarine project, and other scales to consider.
What is the largest model ship in the world?
There's no single largest model ship. We look at manned training models, film builds, museum models, record builds and the biggest plastic kits you can buy.
What motors did PT boats have?
WWII PT boats ran on three Packard V-12 marine gasoline engines. Here's how the engines were arranged, how much power they made, and what it means for models.
Where are PT boats made of plywood?
PT boats weren't really plywood. They used layered mahogany planking, built mainly by Elco in New Jersey and Higgins in New Orleans. Here's where the name came from.
Where can I find ready-made model ships?
Where to buy ready-made model ships: handcrafted display models, museum shops, collectible miniatures, commissioned builds and second-hand finds, plus what to check.
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