LINER UPGRADE
If there's a common thread with most ship kits, it’s that no matter what the manufacturer packs into the box, there’s invariably room for improvement, even in Trumpeter’s imposing 1/200 RMS Titanic (see News, AMW114 May 2020).
The firm was quick to follow up with its own accessory set (66600), produced in association with aftermarket specialist Pontos, aimed at improving its overall detail and finesse levels. Comprising self-adhesive laser-cut wooden decks, 13 photo-etched (PE) brass frets and approximately 299 brass fittings, it is aimed squarely at experienced builders and is not for the faint-hearted, requiring dexterity and skill to make the most use of these parts. It will certainly lift the quality of the basic kit to a whole new level, replacing much of the original’s PE components and, when combined with the brass items, allowing for detailed representations of the ship’s masts – which include rigging eyelets, running lights, ratlines and the crows’ nest on the forward unit. These will add considerable refinement, with notable additions such as the ship’s signage (tiny ‘Keep Clear of the Propellers’ and ‘First Class Entrance’).
Trumpeter’s update set is available either direct from the company or its European distributor, Bachmann (www.bachmann.co.uk), with a retail price of £299.99.
