What would Be the Ideal battleship for a bigginer? I have been told countless times that a Des Monies Is a better build, but my dad says other wise about what he calls a wimpy little Cruiser...
With respect, unless your father has built an RC combat ship, he can't know what's involved. I don't know anyone in the fast gun side of the hobby who says a battleship is a good first ship.
Well, I can say it. I might not believe it, but if you want me to I can say it. Besides, you are 12. You can't lift a battleship! I can hardly lift my battleship! Take your dad to a battle, get him on here, get him involved before he makes rash decisions.
I would suggest nothing larger than class 4. Most of the Class 4 would fit in the catagory of "ok" for a rookie. Battlersconnection has three class 4 boats: Von der tann- good manuverabilty, 26 seconds. VDT manuvers about as well as the allied boats at 26 seconds. (such as QE, and SD) But is lighter. Fairly easy to build. If built and battled well it is a boat that can effect the battle. Andrea Doria- Lower manuverabilty, 26 seconds. Manuverabilty limits this boat. Tends to get hammered by fast allied ships. Very good looking ship. No match for a QE or SD. I would not suggest one. Lion- Rather bad manuverabilty, 24 seconds. If carefully built, and battled, could be OK. Speed allows it to stay away from more manuverable ships, for the most part. It preforms best on the edges of the battle- it is no slugger. Good for chasing things around when they are on five. The captain of a Lion cannot aford to be over confident, or distracted. Class 4 that were avaible from Swampworks: Invincible- pretty much like VDT, but British. 26 seconds Handles more dammage, but takes more too. Moltke- A larger type than VDT. Does not turn as well. Much like Doria in preformance, but not as pretty. 26 seconds. Michigan- 28 seconds. Slow target. Derflinger- Some what like Lion, except it has a good stern sidemount. So it can make those that don't give it respect pay. 24 seconds. A good rookie boat. Kongo (b)- Again like Lion, but can carry all sidemounts (that is 3 of them) very nasty in that configuration, but limited by no stern guns. Rookies would be best use 2 sidemounts and 1 stern gun. Supperstructure is a major pain- so I would not recomended it. 24 seconds. Also Swampworks used to make probibly the two best rookie cruiser hulls- Houston and Lutzow. I would say in order "goodness" for a rookie the best 3 class 4 boats would be: 1) Invincible 2) Von Der Tann 3) Derflinger
Swampy has moved on to things. Last I heard, the RC Combat busniss was for sale. From time to time you can still get hulls.
He wants an utterly rediculous sum of money for the business. I talked to someone who approached him about it, and it was a multiple of $10, and not the first multiple, either... The I-boats are good ships if you can find one. Of course, HMS Invincible is a British ship, so if you're not into those that would be a factor. My I-boat took more damage than any other ship at nationals (that stayed afloat)... 34 belows and 110 +/- on and above. They turn well, and they can dance even though they're slower than the modern ships (at 26sec). I may make an I-boat mold someday, after I meet other obligations (and finish moving to where I'll have a workshop).
Sometimes one gets put up for sale. I don't think the Lion is a bad ship, I had one and now my friend's son drives it. It maneuvers just fine, I drove it like a big cruiser to hunt down cruisers and convoy ships. Occasionally, I'd get it in with the sluggers but not really what it's designed for The Lions aren't too expensive, either.
"I would say in order "goodness" for a rookie the best 3 class 4 boats would be: 1) Invincible 2) Von Der Tann 3) Derflinger" You forget the Ralph Coles Indefatigable, another brit BC along the same lines as an Invincible. She's a little bit longer, which makes it a little easier to build, and can take that much more damage. She should still turn just as well. I've got a Swampy Invincible, and a buddy has a Coles Indefatigable hull, and honestly, I have to say that I think the Indefatigable is a superior ship for most situations. Indefatigable is what I'd recommend to any new guys getting into the hobby. Mike D
