Choosing ship model kits starts with one question: do you want a display-focused naval collectible, or a box of parts you can assemble and detail? The USS Missouri BB-63 1944 and Tamiya Yorktown are nearly even in price, but they answer that question differently. Missouri is a 1/1250-scale diecast model, while Yorktown is a 1/700 plastic model kit with ship components and aircraft. That format difference matters more than the $0.16 price spread.
Quick verdict
Choose USS Missouri BB-63 1944 for a collectible centered on a named 1944 Iowa-class battleship, with gun turrets, superstructure, and deck fittings already defining the subject. Choose Tamiya 31712 1/700 US Aircraft Carrier Yorktown Plastic Model Kit for hands-on assembly, optional detailing, and an aircraft carrier build with multiple included aircraft types. The price difference is minimal, so the right pick depends on whether your priority is display identity or building activity.
Price and format comparison
| Model | Price | Stated format |
|---|---|---|
| USS Missouri BB-63 1944 | $29.99 | 1/1250-scale diecast model |
| Tamiya 31712 1/700 US Aircraft Carrier Yorktown Plastic Model Kit | $29.83 | 1/700 plastic model kit |
Where each model wins
- USS Missouri BB-63 1944 wins for a history-first display choice. Its 1944 designation, BB-63 identification, and Iowa-class battleship subject give it a specific naval story rather than a generic ship profile.
- Tamiya Yorktown wins for build scope. The waterline hull, flight deck, island superstructure, ship's boats, cranes, and aircraft give an assembler several distinct areas to work on.
Product notes
USS Missouri BB-63 1944
USS Missouri BB-63 1944 suits shoppers who want a collectible display piece focused on a historically identified battleship. The model is presented at 1/1250 scale and uses a diecast format, with finely detailed gun turrets, superstructure, and deck fittings finished in historically accurate naval colors. That combination gives the subject a clear visual and historical identity. The limitation is equally concrete: diecast is a different format from a plastic ship model kit, so it is a weaker match for anyone specifically seeking an assembly project with parts to build and detail. At $29.99, it is also $0.16 above Yorktown, although that narrow gap makes the format choice more important than the price.
Tamiya 31712 1/700 US Aircraft Carrier Yorktown
Tamiya Yorktown is the more suitable direction for a shopper who wants a plastic ship model kit with a clearly defined construction brief. Its waterline hull, recessed portholes, raised and engraved flight-deck details, island platforms, anti-aircraft battery, cranes, and optional brass-wire detailing create several ways to engage with the build. The kit also includes four TBD Devastators, 12 SBD Dauntlesses, and eight F4F Wildcats, plus aircraft insignia decals. The trade-off is its assembly-focused format: anyone wanting a diecast collectible rather than a project will find USS Missouri more closely aligned with that goal. Yorktown is priced at $29.83.
Final choice by use case
For a display-led purchase centered on a named 1944 Iowa-class battleship, choose USS Missouri BB-63 1944. For an assembly project featuring a waterline carrier, optional brass-wire detailing, and included aircraft, choose Tamiya Yorktown. The $0.16 spread should not decide this comparison; the meaningful divide is collectible display focus versus component-rich model building.