I think that the basic kit is important and for me it is amazing to see the difference between today and 25 years ago when I did my last airplane. The amount of parts and the amount of detail has greatly improved.
But the biggest step are the after market products! The lack of those parts (unknowingly) put me off the ships because they didn't look right to me. No imprinted wooden deck (and the difficulty to paint them correctly), no rails, no small parts, big and distorted gun tubes with blobs at the end.....
With the wooden decks, the photo-etched parts and the metal gun barrels one can attempt to build a real good model. The price nearly triples, true, but I think If I want to do it, I want to do it right. I rather spend $ 250.- and be satisfied with the result than $ 80.- and after the build it's gone ...
With the nice paint one has today it is very easy to give shades to the wooden deck (after sealing them) in certain areas and around the structures to give even more depth.
But the biggest step are the after market products! The lack of those parts (unknowingly) put me off the ships because they didn't look right to me. No imprinted wooden deck (and the difficulty to paint them correctly), no rails, no small parts, big and distorted gun tubes with blobs at the end.....
With the wooden decks, the photo-etched parts and the metal gun barrels one can attempt to build a real good model. The price nearly triples, true, but I think If I want to do it, I want to do it right. I rather spend $ 250.- and be satisfied with the result than $ 80.- and after the build it's gone ...
With the nice paint one has today it is very easy to give shades to the wooden deck (after sealing them) in certain areas and around the structures to give even more depth.
You have been busy. Looks great, and I am sure Birgit is happy you have something to keep you quiet! 
. A perfect distraction from writing books.
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