Tamiya 1/700 Saratoga Impressions

[Steve]

My kit arrived today from PF and what a fine kit it is! The individual parts are finely molded and the details are on a par with what you have always expected from Tamiya (which was missing on their Hammann). I will take a close look at the components but I can say the 40mm and 20 mm are very finely done. A very big plus for all fans of this class is that you can put them side by side with the Trumpeter '42 Lexington and their prewar Saratoga and be pleased with the presentation. I will leave the detailed reviews to those who can assess the accuracy of the kit as to dimensions and outfit but anyone who has a soft spot for the Saratoga in her late war guise will not be disappointed! So then who will do the late war Enterprise?

[MartinJQuinn]

I saw it built up and in the box at the Tamiya booth at the IPMS/USA Nationals today. I was quite impressed with it. I'm definitely going to pick one up.

[Hugh L]

I finished my Saratoga a couple of weeks ago and it is a wonderful kit. Very well engineered and the weapons set should be available as extra parts, they are great. The only drawback is the radar which is state of the art for a 1960's kit.

[taskforce48]

My impressions are very good as well. I am not a 1/700 guy but the Sara has always been one of my favorites and in this fit especially. I have seen a lot of questions as too how well the early fit versions by Trumpeter compare. Well I won't do a detailed comparison, but rest assured, if you build a prewar Sara it will look very nice next to Tamiya's Sara. See comparison below of Trumpeter and Tamiya deck and hull.


More to come,

Matt

[Steve]

Note that the only real difference in the width of the flight decks between the two kits are the molded safety nettings on the Trumpeter kit. Otherwise, they are basically the same. Another interesting comparison is to the ancient Fujimi kit. The Fujimi flight deck is wider but almost the same length

[Geno the Viking]

Thanks for the info guys. One of my favorite ships. I guess I'll have to blow the $$$ and pick one up. My old Fujimi kit has been sitting in the box for about 40 years. I never got around to building it.

[jpeeler]

I found one at our favorite hobby shop over the weekend. Very impressive little kit that'll make you really happy. The only challenge I see in a quick in-box look will be filling some of the (very shallow) ejector pin marks in some of the 20mm platforms, but otherwise I'm very, very happy with the kit. Holding off for a little bit in case anyone brings out some photoetch specifically designed for this kit; if that doesn't happen, I'll adapt something that's already available. Many thanks to Tamiya for making it unnecessary to rebuild my old Fujimi kit!

Jodie Peeler

[Stephen J]

I am working on mine now. It is everything you expect it to be from Tamiya: click, glue, fit, move on. It is like Lego! I love it. With aftermarket details it is going to be a winner. Now go on and get one!

[davidwaples]

I'm looking forward to a nice photo etch set for ole Sara.
Dave

[anj4de]

Hi

Just came back from the toy fair in N�rnberg were I spotted the "new" Sister Sara for the first time. I don't do modellimg in the summer so I probably missed it's release. A beautiful model and in my prefered apperance. Even the air wing are all night fighting equipped. Have just now placed an order for one. I also have the ancient Fujimi one...started to turn her to 1945 some 20+ years ago and with the little info I had back then. Comparing the two now shows I was miles off target back then.

cheers
Uwe

PS: I wish somone like Merit would do a 45 Sara and a 45 Enterprise in 1/350!

[anj4de]

Hello all

My Sara has arrived about a week ago...Yesterday evening I have started putting the ship together. So far the basic structure is built and I have to say I am impressed. Super find details so far and the engineering of the parts is spot less. The fit is "out of this world", Tamiya has done another 1A job here; 'shake and bake' comes to mind. I will soon reach a point where I have to wait for some PE to become available, a basic set would be very nice.
BUT there is some shadow as well, mainly the 5"38cal twins, those have to be concidered a joke! They definitely have to be replaced or seriously beefed up with evergreen bits. I am looking at getting replacement here...and recommendations? (Ocean Spite?) I am also looking for detailed pictures of Saratoga in 1944/45, the best ones on Navy Source are from the 1942 re-fit. A similar set from the 1944 yard period would be great.
All in all a great new model...lets hope Tamiya will also pick up the other carrier classes with new tool kits. A 44/45 Enterprise would be a dream...

cheers
Uwe

[Vlad]

Thanks for the heads up on the 5" twins, I have opened my Saratoga but not started and I didn't notice those. I know I have some in my spares box. If you've ever built a Trumpeter Maryland that comes with those for some reason but it's handy.

Gold Medal Models has a 1/700 "WWII US Aircraft Carrier" PE set that is geared towards the Essex class but has a ton of generic parts. I've got one and it looks like I'll have enough parts to do my Sara and the Shangri-la I'm converting from a Dragon kit.