A similar thread on ModelWarships has stated that Aoshima's web store is offering both on pre-order; check out the price difference: Trumpeter: Japanese retail price - JPY 9800 (currently $105.50) Academy: Japanese retail price - JPY 3800 (Currently $40.88)

That's crazy.

Great Models has pre-order Trumpeter version for approx $75 Hobby World Japan has Academy for approx $35

I just had a second thought. The Trumpy Repulse came with a fairly complete PE set (I haven't gotten mine in yet, so I can't state this as actual fact) So the Graf Spee may continue this trend and have a PE set aong with it as well. If so, it kind of justifies the extra price in my book assuming that acdemy isn't doing the same thing

Hi Jim No problem my friend. This new Academy kit has certainly generated some interest. An interesting future exercise may be a side by side review/comparison of both the impending kits once they are released. Cheers Sean

Hello Sean, thanks for double checking the price. I have not made an Academy Ship yet, So i do not know if it is a good price for it. It seems to me that Dragon and Trumpeter is pricing themselfs out of the Model Business. If Academy is as good as everyone says, They will be getting my business. Just my 2 cents. Cheers, Bruce

Even if Trumpeter does include a limited PE fret with the kit, it hardly goes far enough to warrant a $60US premium. Having bought their 1/350 Hood & Repulse kits, and compared the the amount and quality of the included PE with that of PE frets from WEM, there's no way there's an extra $60US worth of brass! I think we have to look closer to home to find out where that extra levy is being applied, because there's no way a Trumpeter kit costs anywhere near the UK/US asking price when it comes out of the shipping container on the dockside. Having just looked up the UK importer for Academy kits, it seems that Pocketbond are Academy's agent over here. Sadly, they are also agents for Trumpeter. I just hope that this doesn't mean that we are going to have our chains yanked in the same way they do it with Trumpeter kit pricing.

Well, I went ahead and did a pre-order withj Graet Modles. with shipping it's right around $84. Don't think you'll do much better with the academy kit after it gets imported here or you add on the $40 shipping fee from Japan. Besides, I have built a few Academy kits and never been greatly impressed with any of them. they have all been fine, just nothing real exceptional that can't be found on a better quality albeit higher priced version.

Thanks for the news... interesting discussion, a cheaper Academy and then get WEM/GMM PE, or get more goodies with the Trump version? Currently, Great models has the academy 350 Bismarck/Tirpitz at 42 USD, Lucky Models for 28/22 USD. Prices go up 150% for the Trumpeter BB offerings; LM always has the cheapest Trumpy (and Bronco) prices, even with their strange shipping costs (and months of wait).