Good points and I agree entirely. But if anyone interpreted my editorial as suggesting that kits are the future, or primarily such, let me clarify that. I don't believe that these are the future. But I believe that these will presage mass produced high quality 3D models in a larger variety than what we have been getting, in place of the the metal models that have been the staple of the hobby, but which are now in decline. These kits are clearly not for the majority of collectors. Hopefully the next step will be fully finished versions of models like these. More expensive of course, but not necessarily more expensive than the 3D models we have gotten in the past decade or so.
Other than the few done by Neptun and Shapeways, all the 3D models that have been available to us in the past have been produced by small producers in very limited quantities and varieties. We can't expect anything more from Neptun, and most products from Shapeways are a step backwards. The small producers will never produce a vast array of different models in a relatively short time, which is what is needed to sustain the hobby. In it's heyday, Neptun's goal was to produce as many as twenty different models a year. Small producers are lucky to do three. But clearly a producer like SS can do many more. And for the hobby to survive, a robust variety is a necessity.
Nice work on these.
These highly detailed kits from SS models are by far 2023’s most surprising development in 1250 warships. Who would have predicted that a company in China would become the most prolific producer of excellent new models in our scale? Not me. Are these kits the future of our hobby? Personally I would like to see more of them produced, but I also hope that this format is not the future.
3D derived models have been around our hobby for a while now, for almost two decades. That is the reality of recent years as there are only a handful of warship model producers doing masters the traditional way, and even fewer doing casting in metal.
My first Paper Lab printed model arrived in 2004. The first 3D created metal one I saw was Neptun ROANOKE in fall 2006. ROANOKE master was created digitally, and then traditional metal casting and production methods were used. We have seen dozens, maybe hundreds, of excellent metal models done from digital masters since then. And the terrific ones printed in plastic by Joerg Niehage, Eric Goggans, and others, not to mention the highly variable in quality Shapeways models in 1200/1250.
What’s really new here is the kit format, and in plastic. We have rarely seen kits produced in 1250, though they have been somewhat common in less detailed, more basic UK produced kits (often in 1200s). Those kits were in metal and were usually a hull and a small handful of metal parts. The SS models look, and are, absolutely superb. The renderings shown of the models cannot be topped. In a perfect world, with highly skilled model assemblers, your finished model will duplicate the renderings.
But most of us do not live in a perfect world. As noted in other posts on the subject, one needs to be a very good model maker, probably have a space to assemble the model in a pristine (almost computer chip-lab like) environment, have great eyesight and steady hands. Cut all the small (tiny sometimes) parts away from their sprues, then clean and glue the various parts to their proper place on the model (their location is not always obvious without other reference material). Don’t lose a tiny part or you’ll be making your own replacement parts. The plastic is very fragile, especially on things like secondary guns and masts (think those beautifully done cage masts). Almost all the SS models I’ve gotten have no directions, and the few that did have “instructions” are so rudimentary as to be worthless.
Tiny details and true scale that were not realistically doable in our commercially available metal 1250s are now possible. Gun barrels, and other small details that were obviously slightly oversized for metal casting purposes are now true to scale. I’m not sure that’s good….which may sound strange. What can be done to such fine sizing often should not be done. My eyes/brain have gotten used to 5” gun barrels that are maybe 1’ or more in scale….etc. It looked right. Masts done in their proper diameter somehow look too narrow….and are very fragile The main thing I worry about with plastic is bowing or warping of the hulls. I can usually flatten out to begin with…..but what will happen over time? I don’t pretend to understand the chemistry of plastic, but I do worry about molecules changing over time. My good old metal Navis/Neptun (and all the others) have stood the test of a half century (for some)…….what will one do with a plastic model that warps six months or six years after all those tiny details are finished? If they last 10, 15, 20 years that will carry me through though!
I believe if 1250 plastic kits done this way are the future of our hobby, we are in real trouble. The majority of 1250 collectors are collectors. Period….not expert level model builders. These highly detailed kits are a great option for those of us who can and will sit down and assemble and paint them. I do not believe that universe of 1250 assemblers is very large, and wonder how many collectors will take this option. And how many producers of finished metal model will now not attempt to make a given model with potential or actual kits available? Will this “future” severely limit our already dwindling number of collectors? The SS kits are not entry level kits……think Hobby Boss type models for that.
My Rx: future kits should be designed, and parts enhanced when needed, for strength and durability. Printed with a minimum of supports that need to be removed. The producer needs to print and assemble test kits before offering for sale. There seems to have been an assumption that their 1:700 kits can just be mathematically dialed to 1250 or 1200 and everything will be fine. The kits need basic assembly directions. And it may not always be possible, but producer should remove as many of the supports as can be done before mailing.
IF, a big IF, these can evolve into more user friendly models…..or better yet, completed models….then this may be the future. Currently the SS 1250 kits, and similar, are just complementary to our metal model collections. A super complement to the hobby, one that is appreciated, but I think delicate, fragile kits are too niche to replace.
A lot of comments here, but I am delighted to have the option of these new SS models. I will be able to do at least a half-dozen models in rigs not previously available. I’ll look forward to further SS releases....but hope this particular kit format is not the future.
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