"A WW1 Naval Celebrity Deathmatch - GHQ vs WTJ" Topic

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Evening All,

I've just finished some more 1/2400 WW1 Naval stuff including some samples from WTJ, so I thought I would have a bit of fun and square the two brands off against each other.

Based on look, price, durablity etc lets have your preference. I will count all the votes in the various places this is posted and then announce a winner at the end of the month. Just put WTJ or GHQ.

Regards, Ken
The Yarkshire Gamer

Man, WWI Naval wargaming is sooooo tempting.

I wish the folks in my area were more interested.

Nice. You gotta have masts though…

I added wire masts to most of mine, and it adds a nice touch. I add a control top by slicing a tiny bit of plastic or aluminum tube, slipping it down the wire pole, and supergluing it in place. This doesn't look quite as nice as the GHQ control tops cast into the right shapes (sometimes with portholes!!), but it does a good enough job in 1/2400 scale. They look very similar to the masts in this picture posted by War Artisan:

Note that his ships also have just a bit of running rigging. I love the effect so much I'm considering retrofitting it to my models.

I think yards would also add a lot, but would be too fragile for my storage and transport needs, so I don't add those either.

The one thing I hate about GHQ models is the fragile pewter masts. I can't bring myself to replace them since they have all that nice superstructure cast on (I couldn't craft nearly as nice a solution), but they bend and break off too easily.

- Ix

To answer the original question: I can't vote one over the other.

I consider GHQ and WTJ equivalent at the moment. Both have excellent detail, the WTJs have better proportions and cost less, but the GHQs are a tad easier to paint up. My purchasing is going to trend toward WTJ from now on based on cost, until/unless I find an unforeseen disadvantage. (e.g., the long-term durability of the printed plastic is unknown).

- Ix

The one thing I hate about GHQ models is the fragile pewter masts. I can't bring myself to replace them since they have all that nice superstructure cast on (I couldn't craft nearly as nice a solution), but they bend and break off too easily.

Ix have you considered cutting the vertical element (mast) off then drilling the superstructure and inserting a wire mast? Definitely a bit of work but it does 'fix' the pewter problem.

To derail the thread, Hallmark 1/6000.

Hi Samsonov,

Not really a derail as they are a completely different scale.

Fantastic ships though, many years ago I used to paint orders for the then owner of Hallmark and also did a stock of painted stuff for him to carry at shows. Having painted thousands and I mean thousands of 1/6000 I ain't going back !

Regards, Ken
yarkshiregamer.blogspot.co.uk

Ix have you considered cutting the vertical element (mast) off then drilling the superstructure and inserting a wire mast?

Tried it, even. The really hard part is drilling a hole into the underside of the part of the pewter mast I want to keep, like these:




I haven't been able to craft a nice replacement for all that military superstructure lofted above the deck of the later armored cruisers.

Fortunately, most ships don't have anything like that, so I can cradft wire-and-tube-section masts almost exactly similar to this cast pewter one from GHQ:

- Ix

PS: One of these days I'll get pictures of my stuff on line…

Yorkshiregamer

The game in your link, is it in 1/6000 scale? Very nice paint job

Any chance your willing to spill the beans, in detail, on how you paint them?

Dan

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Hi Dan, cheers for the interest, my WW2 stuff is all Skytrex or Navwar which is 1/3000, I did a tutorial on my method of painting them on t'blog a while back, the link is above. Hope you find it useful.

Regards, Ken
yarkshiregamer.blogspot.co.uk

Thanks!!

These look great. And Yes, WTJ are coming out with some really great models now, and both a larger selection of both scale and ships, both Predreadnaught and WWI.

I have a very few of the 1/6000 scale, ah, Figurehead as I recall now. However in that scale I only go for WW II and then only Battleships and Battlecruisers. Personally, thats great if you want to fight Jutland, but other wise.. too small even for cruiser fights.

Well TMP you are well and truly a bunch of fence sitters !

Looking at all the formats that Yarkshire Gamer is on there was a general feeling that both companies provide excellent models each with their own outstanding points and minor niggles.

Most responders highlighted this and the few who expressed an opinion where equal in their choices ! So it was a draw.

For me the best thing is that we have two companies supplying excellent models in a niche scale in a niche period in a niche field of a niche hobby and we have choice. Best order some new ships for my "small" WW1 fleets from both companies then.

Regards and thanks for voting, Ken
yarkshiregamer.blogspot.co.uk

Nice looking WW2 ships on your blog, yarkshire gamer. The sea bases are pretty impressive.

Surprised that the voting was even. I wonder if it will be even in a couple of years when more WTJ models are available. The recent major price increase for GHQ puts those out of my consideration, though I have a lot of them in my collection. Hate gluing on little turrets and things though. Makes me really love those WTJ models.

For me the best thing is that we have two companies supplying excellent models in a niche scale in a niche period in a niche field of a niche hobby and we have choice.

Hear hear! It's nice to be spoiled. :-)

- Ix