The Trumpeter 1/200 Titanic + Pontos Detail Up Set
A model kit company in China, Trumpeter, recently started selling its new 1/200 scale Titanic kit. As some of you may know, Titanic: Honor and Glory had a hand in some corrections done to the model, with me helping on many of those corrections. The complete kit is massive, with the boxes being almost as tall as me and the hull being nearly 4 feet, 5 inches long. It consists of very well-molded and well-fitted parts, a detailed hull, and includes some basic photo-etch parts, decals, and an LED lighting set. Out of the box, the kit can make for an excellent and quite accurate Titanic model, though you’ll want to do your own LED setup if you want it to look more accurately lit.
If you’re interested in purchasing a Trumpeter base kit (with everything you need for a complete and detailed 1/200 Titanic), you can get one from a number of retailers, or if you’re in the mainland USA, you can order one from the THG store for $450: https://www.titanichg.com/storemain/trumpeter-200
To compliment the Trumpeter kit, a Korean company called Pontos has started selling a detail set. Whereas the Trumpeter kit is big, the Pontos set is focused entirely on the tiny things. 13 sheets of photo-etched metal parts, several baggies of turned brass parts, masts, brass propellers (including an option for a 4 or 3 bladed center propeller), and laser-cut decks made of real wood. The level of detail contained in the Pontos set is beyond anything you’ll get in the average kit or the Trumpeter itself, right down to the exact patterns of stained glass in the smoke room windows, the bells, every detail of the Crow’s nest, lifeboat plaques, funnel riveting, and detailed lifeboat interiors (including oars).
If you’d like to take your Trumpeter kit to the next level with the Pontos set, you’ll have to jump through a few hoops first. From what I’ve gathered, the Pontos set isn’t being widely sold. To get one, you have to be on this Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/495723057755975/ - and follow directions given there for ordering the Pontos set. The set is $180 and not easy to order, but if you’re willing to go through the pain, it’ll be worth it.
One would need to take their time with this kit, whether or not they use the detail set, and that’s exactly what I plan to do. I may even 3D-print and build a nice display case for it. Are any of you considering getting the Trumpeter Titanic?