[dboulais]

I was just over on the Pacific Front Hobbies web site and they list a METAL Neptun of Germany USS Porter DD-360 in 1/700 scale! Now Neptun makes really (no joke) nice 1/1250 metal waterline ships. If the actual 1/700 scale model is as good as the photo's show, then I will finally have access to diecast ships that would look good in my display case next to all the plastic ones. I'm excited. I hope the Porter is not a "one off" and that Neptun gets a good sales response so they make more types. It's $ 85.00 USD which is reasonable for a detailed diecast ship with all the tons of "fiddley bites" But, if the dollar keeps falling these my go out of my price range on later models.

[1250ships]

The model you saw is USS Phelps, a Porter class destroyer in her 1944-45 configuration with AA upgrade. It was a test project to see if there was interest in pre-made 1/700 ships. My understanding is that sales were disappointing and a follow on project has been on hold ever since. Not sure if it will ever come out. Since this came out like 2 years ago I would guess anything new would be about 25-30% more expensive due to the dollar's fall.

The model though is great. I have one and I don't collect 1/700 anything. It is just a great model. Some photos:








Skytrex in the UK also makes finished 1/700 models. All UK warships at the moment. They are not as detailed as what Neptun does.

[Gort]

About twenty-five years ago I was a HUGE fan of 1/700 waterline kits. Back then they were affordable. Prices these days, however, have hit the ceiling.

But $85.00 a pop? The USS Phelps is a terrific looking ship, no question; and it’s diecast, which makes it even better. But brother—that’s a load of dough for a destroyer. You’ve gotta wonder what they’d charge for the IJN Yamato!

The good ol’ days of inexpensive diecast, apparently, are gone, gone, gone.

[1250ships]

Originally Posted by Gort

About twenty-five years ago I was a HUGE fan of 1/700 waterline kits. Back then they were affordable. Prices these days, however, have hit the ceiling.

But $85.00 a pop? The USS Phelps is a terrific looking ship, no question; and it’s diecast, which makes it even better. But brother—that’s a load of dough for a destroyer. You’ve gotta wonder what they’d charge for the IJN Yamato!

The good ol’ days of inexpensive diecast, apparently, are gone, gone, gone.

You to keep in mind that this is a model make in Germany, not China, and that the production run for it was likely 100-150 copies. Not in the same league as a Chinese produced diecast run in the thousands. There is no way it could cost much less than that with European labor and small production runs.

[dboulais]

Thank you, 1250ships. I learn something new every day. I completely missed the introduction of this line of products. Too bad it died young. Yes, I think at todays EURO to dollar exchange rate we would all gasp at the price of something like a battleship size model. It would cost as much as some of the custom built 1/700 plastic ships from asia. But to have them diecast, oh my!

[Shawn 507]

Originally Posted by 1250ships

The model you saw is USS Phelps, a Porter class destroyer in her 1944-45 configuration with AA upgrade. It was a test project to see if there was interest in pre-made 1/700 ships. My understanding is that sales were disappointing and a follow on project has been on hold ever since. Not sure if it will ever come out. Since this came out like 2 years ago I would guess anything new would be about 25-30% more expensive due to the dollar's fall.

The model though is great. I have one and I don't collect 1/700 anything. It is just a great model. Some photos:








Skytrex in the UK also makes finished 1/700 models. All UK warships at the moment. They are not as detailed as what Neptun does.

Would be a better looking ship if they had a second twin gun turret in front of the bridge ! Is this a take off of the Fletcher design?

[1250ships]

Originally Posted by Shawn 507

Would be a better looking ship if they had a second twin gun turret in front of the bridge ! Is this a take off of the Fletcher design?

It used to have a second twin gun house forward. This is a Porter class destroyer. They were started in 1933 and intended to be squadron leaders. The twin 5" gun houses used single purpose Mk. 22 guns and were not capable of anti-aircraft fire. This became a huge liability by 1944 so several of the surviving ships had extensive AA refits. Phelps was one of them. Here is a model of Porter (in 1/1250) showing here in her 1942 configuration with the as built main gun configuration. As built these ships had far fewer light AA guns. In fact when comissioned the AA battery was only two quad 1.1 mounts and two .50 caliber machine guns. The Porters were the first ships to mount the quad 1.1 guns.