I know this has been asked before but I feel the question has not been thoroughly answered and I want to throw a different slant on it anyway.
I want to make a 1923/24 Repulse in 1/700 (yes, another one, but hopefully much better this time).
I am wondering whether the Tamiya or Trumpeter kit is the best starting point. Since the backdate is fairly dramatic, any issues regarding quality/accuracy of superstructure and AA stuff is irrelevant. What I am interested in is only
hull + turrets.
OK so having built the Tamiya Repulse OOB I am very impressed with the kit. The reasons it is not a clear cut decision though are:
1) it's over twice the price, is it worth it given I'm discarding half the superstructure?
2) the upper half of the Trumpeter hull is deeper, which would make a more accurate waterline look compared to her much deeper draught in 1941 (although I still have my doubts about the accuracy of this hull split decision on their part). Any other glaring inaccuracies in the Trumpeter hull I should be aware of?
3) I want to use the ArtWox wood deck, but this is designed for the Trumpeter kit and I am not sure I want to fiddle around trying to adapt it. Would it be possible to adapt the ArtWox deck to the Tamiya kit? Is the real wood deck even worth it?
If I do go for Trumpeter though, I'm pretty sure the turrets need replacing (with the Admiralty Modelworks ones), am I right?
I also assume the Admiralty turrets are identical to the ones in their Glorious kit (which I have). Just from putting the Glorious and the (Tamiya) Repulse side by side and looking at pictures, the Tamiya turrets actually look better than the Admiralty Modelworks
!! Can this be or is it just my eyes?
Your input would be appreciated