- the kits measure out very closely to 1/700 scale. Tamiya's kits are a bit smaller than 1/700, closer to 1/720.
- Hornet's elevators can be posed up or down.
- nice surface detailing on bulkheads, etc.
- one-piece hangar deck included.
- full hull or waterline options.
- Trumpeter's Yorktown and Enterprise hulls are much better shaped than their Hornet.
On the minus side:
- details are typical for 1/700 scale injection molding: clunky weapons, blobby fire control directors, gun tubs, etc. Replace with aftermarket.
- Trumpeter's 1/700 scale Hornet kit is the older of the three and appears to be scaled down from their 1/350 scale kit. It has the same chubby "super tanker" bow, not at all like a Yorktown-class hull. Tamiya's kits have a much more accurate hull shape.
- Hornet's island has shape issues, too, most noticeably the pilot house is depicted centered and symmetrical. The real pilot house was offset to port and asymmetrically shaped. Replace with a Model Monkey island.
- Yorktown and Enterprise islands have some clunky detailing, and lack some detail and features unique to each ship. Replace with Model Monkey islands.
- Yorktown's smaller hangar deck bulkhead roller doors are depicted closed. Cut them open to see more of the hangar deck. Some of Hornet's smaller doors are open.
- aircraft are molded in clear plastic and feature heavy panel lines, both of which some modelers object to.
- The Yorktown kit's decals include large white "5"s for the flight deck. Just leave those off; Yorktown never wore them.
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