1/350 Tamiya IJN Kagero

[skypirate]

Un-bloody-believable!
And bloody well done!

David

[Tim Reynaga]

Un-bloody-believable!
And bloody well done!

David

Thanks David, but really I am mostly just doing basic assembly with aftermarket add-ons. I still appreciate the positive waves, though!



Another midships detail is the torpedo reload handling winch. One is included in the kit, but this resin version from Five Star Models is quite a bit better.



Also, the Kagero class destroyers actually carried two of these, but the kit provides only one – and it is undersized. It took substantial winches to shift those 6,000 pound torpedoes!



Here the starboard winch is test fitted in place. The slot at the deck edge will be the base of the torpedo handling overhead gantry crane, and the rectangular box above it is the reload torpedo stowage.

[Cardinal]

Way better than the one provided in the kit. Such small details that are hard to find in most kits.

[ShaunW]

The difference between the kit winch and those Five Star replacements is like night and day, the detail in such tiny parts is amazing.

[Tim Reynaga]

Way better than the one provided in the kit. Such small details that are hard to find in most kits.

The difference between the kit winch and those Five Star replacements is like night and day, the detail in such tiny parts is amazing.

I agree guys, these little aftermarket gems are miles ahead of the kit parts. Fortunately there are already quite a few of these brand new-technology fittings available for 1/350 IJN ship models too. I am even contemplating picking up more 3D printed parts to use in lieu of some of the upgrades in the older Infini set already in my possession. Madness I know, but how can I resist?

Returning to the kit...



Tamiya’s 7.5 meter motor launches are nicely done with accurate shapes and good detail – but they can still be improved!





Here I’ve plumped up the kit bumpers with putty and added the etched brass details from the Infini set.





The brass fittings are quite small, but these kit-specific parts fit perfectly!



The Infini set comes with life rings as well, but the etched parts are a bit two-dimensional. Test fitted here are a couple of different resin rings: a slender one from North Star Models and a more substantial rendition by Blue Fatty Models. Each looks good, but the Blue Fatty ring on the right is (to my eye at least) slightly more convincing, so I’ll probably go with those.

[Tim Reynaga]

Now, on to the boat davits!





The Tamiya kit’s davits for the 7.5 meter boats aren’t bad, but the brass davits from the Infini set (apparently inspired by the Tamiya parts) are better. Even better than these are the Fine Molds injection molded davits whose more slender profile, lightening hole depictions and other details more closely resemble the real fittings.







Not only are the Infini brass davits a bit too wide in profile, but even more importantly, the etched brass parts are just too thin.



They aren't perfect, but the Fine Molds injection molded plastic davits (from set WZ1 of their 1/350 “Nano Dread” series) have the best combination of scale solidity and delicate detail.

[Clashcityrocker]

They really are, "Fine Moulds"

Nigel

[Stuart]

Absolutely amazing work on this build thus far - your PE work is 1st class and some very nice choices of Resin upgrades.

[B4en]

Simply stunning stuff Tim! What sort of magnification do you use? I think I'd need watchmakers specs to even see some of these parts.

[Tim Reynaga]

Simply stunning stuff Tim! What sort of magnification do you use? I think I'd need watchmakers specs to even see some of these parts.

Thanks. Those small PE bits are a snap with my (home modified) high-tech Dollar Store glasses!

[Tim Reynaga]

They really are, "Fine Moulds"
Nigel

Absolutely amazing work on this build thus far - your PE work is 1st class and some very nice choices of Resin upgrades.

Nigel and Stuart, thanks!



The kit 7 meter cutters are improved by Infini’s brass oars, thwarts, and rudders.





Even better are their cutter davits. Their fold-together design enables detailing on both sides and keeps the etched brass parts from being too flat, and in the case of these smaller davits this approach works perfectly.



Combined with their cone shaped turned brass bases, they are big improvements over the kit parts.

[B4en]

Thanks. Those small PE bits are a snap with my (home modified) high-tech Dollar Store glasses!

Like, crazy. Dig it man!

[iggie]

Snazzy glasses!

[Tim Reynaga]

Thanks guys!

Now that the Super Bowl is over I'll put my glasses on and spend the rest of the evening playing with the foredeck.



This anchor cable from YXModel is among the really cool aftermarket parts I've found for it...!

[JamesPerrin]

I’ve almost got a complete set of you fingerprints could you balance the next item in your thumb please