Well, Dirty Harry is virtually complete so my thoughts are turning to my next 'project.'
There are a few options in the frame. In no particular order, these are;
Cruiser Tug from Mountfleet
HMS Antelope from Fleetscale
RNLI Tamar from Speedline
HMS Clyde from new Sirmar.
The Cruiser is a great scale and size. At 1\32 and nearly 1.2m in length, it makes working on quite easy. Im not keen on the ply parts used for some of the superstructure and bits and pieces as I prefer working in plasticard. I guess I could copy these from the ply to card but may be hard work. I wonder how many other people would be put off by Mountfleet using ply or providing it on a sheet uncut? Price is reasonable at around 470. Would love to put a steam engine in it but boiler testing and maintenance, well, perhaps just too high maintenance.
HMS Antelope in 1\72 scale from Fleetscale is another option. OK FS dont actually make Antelope but lose the exocets and install the chaff lockers etc in their place and it wont be far out. Again, a good size in 1\72 at 1.6m, float tests in the bath may be an issue \ not possible! I like the look of the T21 and the smaller size from Sirmar doesnt float my boat. The FS site is weird, buy the Amazon as a semi kit (which doesnt come with the exocets so is very similar to Antelope) and its over 940 but if you select all the relevant parts for Amazon via the options, with exocets in the weaps packs, the cost is about 640! Why the 300 quid difference?
Speedline's Tamar is simply the biggest of the lot in 1\12 scale. OK overall at only 1.3m its a tab longer than Cruiser and shorter than Antelope, the scale makes it bigger as an overall package. Its also the most expensive at over a grand. While that doesnt overtly concern me, what does bother me is the brass work that needs soldering. At this scale, the transom door hinges are still quite small and could be a mare for me to solder as I only have soft solder facilities. The main mast also requires soldering and that's quite a big beastie.
There have been some comments about missing parts in some kits which would be disappointing given the cost. I know the manufacturer will provide any missing parts notified within the first month but if you're anything like me, I can spend a month just thinking about the build rather than actually getting on with it.
Finally, new Sirmar's HMS Clyde. Another big model this time in 1\48. Virtually the same overall length as Antelope in this scale so again, floatation testing could be an issue. This would be a challenging build for me as all the superstructure would have to be built from the plan. also, Sirmar dont give a price for the complete kit on their site as yet so, I dont know how much this would cost (similar to Antelope at around 650 - 700?).
I keep being drawn to Cruiser but have to admit, have a long time hankering to build HMS Antelope in 1\72. The Tamar is massive and that may make launching and retrieving from my local lake a bit more difficult but not insomountable. Clyde is an outsider due to unknown costs and potentially a more involved build off plan.
I known Mountfleet will be attending the Blackpool show in October so if Fleetscale aint there, that could be a deciding factor.
Anyone else have problems deciding what to build next!?
