IJN Light Cruiser Agano. 1:350 Etched sets from Eduard

[Shar2]

IJN Light Cruiser Agano

Eduard 1:350

The Hasegawa IJN Agano has been out for quite a while now, but Eduard have seen fit to release these two etched brass sets for it anyway. This is in fact a good thing as Hasegawas own detail sets are, shall we say, rather expensive. So if you’re on a tight budget and yet would like to detail your Agano, these will fit the bill perfectly.

(53096) The single largish sheet in the pack may not be as comprehensive as the Hasegawa sets, but is still filled with very nice relief etched items. There are a plethora of replacement hatches, grilles, watertight/armoured doors, which can be posed open should the modeller wish, vertical and inclined ladders, replacement davits and crane jibs, plus the tops of the bollards. Also included are replacement aerials and the D/F mast, doors and hatches for the rangefinder and direction controller stations. The main mast receives new yardarm ropewalks, aerials and access ladders along with a new starfish platform for the centre section. The ships cutters receive new oars, thwarts and gunwales, rudder and replacement cradles, whilst the motor boat are fitted with a new bulkhead for the cabin, two new masts, replacement anchor, foredeck guardrails, rudder, propeller and a lifering. The turrets 2 and 4 are fitted out with replacement aerial masts, whilst the torpedo launchers have a full complement of handrails fitted. The funnel has a very complex cap arrangement which will need some patience and careful assembly to get right, along with the foot and hand rails that are fitted on several levels either side of the funnel. Another complex structure, with numerous parts is the replacement catapult, which will not only be more detailed, but will look a whole lot more in scale, with a finer structure than the kit part it replaces. The aircraft also get new handling trolleys and launch cradles. The final parts that complete the set are new cradles for the spare aircraft floats, searchlight tower bases and supports, searchlight faces main crane platform braces and if the model is to be shown in a seascape Eduard have even provided Jacobs ladders for the boat booms so that they can be shown deployed correctly and a very nice accommodation ladder with separate deckside platform.

The railing set, (53094) contains all the railings required to complete the ship. Each railing is pre-cut to the correct length for their respective positions, although some careful folding and rolling will still be required to fit some of the more awkward positions.

Conclusion

This should be a very welcome release for those who have the Hasegawa Agano, but can’t afford or want to add the supper amounts of detail contained in the separate detail sets Hasegawa have released. These sets are more than enough to enhance the Agano and take to another level of detail from that contained within the kit box. Highly recommended.

Review sample courtesy of