Open Model Shop

[[ASIN:B0006N6OUG 1/400 RMS Titanic]

This TITANIC kit is far and away the most detailed kit in this scale ever produced… It out-classes the old Minicraft 1/350 kit in at least one important area: the superstructure sides are molded entirely in white plastic in the area which is intended to be painted white, making the model far easier to paint without obliterating detail. The fact that the superstructure sides are separate pieces also eliminates the alignment problems associated with the old Minicraft kit, such as the aft C-Deck square windows and the two well-deck areas. If one decides to cut out additional windows, particularly in the aft area of starboard B-Deck (location of Cafe Parisien) where the window pattern is incorrectly a “mirror image” of the port side (A’La Carte Restaurant) where it is correct, this is easy to do because the superstructure side is a separate section. If one wishes to model the TITANIC’s sister-ships OLYMPIC or BRITANNIC in terms of window placement, having the sides as separate also makes this option far easier. The detail is crisp, without flash (excess plastic) and without sink-marks or mold lines. The masts and spars are made flexible enough not to break when handling, and the rigging plan is easy to follow. A “purist” might balk at the fact that two of the collapsible lifeboats are missing from the kit, but these can easily be made from scratchbuild plastic stock… The high level of accuracy and detail elsewhere on the kit make the two missing boats a “non-issue”. There are a number of brass photo-etch aftermarket products made just for this kit in 1/400-scale, which can be used to super-detail this model. Not enough good things can be said about this TITANIC kit… Pete Hodges

Rating: 5 / 5