Japanese Navy 1/350 triple build (Isuzu, Shimakaze and I-400)

[ArnoldAmbrose]

Gidday, I'd have been happy with the kit type 89 guns but once painted I think the resin upgrade mounts are definitely better. That whole model is extremely well done. Regards, Jeff.

[IJNfan]

Really nice job on the ship. I have added it to my buildlist as it seems a nice build of a rare ship and the flyhawk set adds some nice detail. The only thing I wonder about is why you did not replace the flyhawk 25mm triples with some others that have proper brass barrels?

[MRMRL]

9 hours ago, ArnoldAmbrose said:

Gidday, I'd have been happy with the kit type 89 guns but once painted I think the resin upgrade mounts are definitely better. That whole model is extremely well done. Regards, Jeff.

Thanks Jeff, I'd agree that the kit type 89s aren't bad, I'd not have upgraded them if they hadn't been in the flyhawk set, I've built IJN kits before that didn't have them and they looked fine.

 

8 hours ago, IJNfan said:

Really nice job on the ship. I have added it to my buildlist as it seems a nice build of a rare ship and the flyhawk set adds some nice detail. The only thing I wonder about is why you did not replace the flyhawk 25mm triples with some others that have proper brass barrels?

 

Thanks, I appreciate that. It is a nice ship, I like how clean the lines are. I know the etch 25mm guns are a bit "bendy", but the simple answer for keeping them comes down to cost and laziness, I didn't want to buy more upgrades for one kit. I'm happy that the PE triples are better than those in the kit 😉

[Courageous]

Lots of lovely detail, smashing.

 

Stuart

[MRMRL]

Hi all, I've been so bad at updating this thread, but then I've been pretty bad at doing any work on these ships at all, especially since the new year. With a very little one in the house, I'm finding myself struggling to get my head into the high levels of detail needed for ships and have been taking the chance to do some armour and aircraft instead (sorry I know, how dare I right). For today I've got some pictures of Isuzu now she's finished, I'll do a proper ready for inspection once the trio is complete, hopefully I can start getting my head back into it soon, hope you enjoy these in the meantime  

 

 

 

 

 

 

[S-boat 55]

Sheet looks great, lovely job,  don't worry about updating us lot,  enjoy the time while the little'n is small,  they get very not small pretty rapidly,  

[MRMRL]

I'll bring this log up to date with the small amount of progess I've made on Shimakaze so far this year.

 

Adding some detail to doors and portholes

 

 

And the supports under the depth charge rails, some of these are getting very much on the tiny side (1cm squares on the cutting mat)

 

 

Never had this before, tiny tiny wheels on the fore deck, related to raising the anchors no doubt (I don't do much homework on what a lot of this stuff is for)

 

 

An overall shot and a view after airbrushing the linoleum deck brown sections

 

 

 

And a start has been made on the structure around the funnels, plenty of detail to add still..

 

 

Finally, here's the main reason I've got bogged down on this one somewhat, the level of detail. While stunning when finished, it's a slog to get through at the time. Here's the instructions for the 25mm AA guns, they are clear is the ony thing I'll say about them - better than some etch sets, but wow, that's a lot of fiddly work for tiny guns.

 

 

Here's one next to the plastic version and two with a paint pot for scale.

 

 

 

Anyway, that's me up to date pretty much, I've built a couple more of these guns since then, still got a few more to go though. I'm going to try to get going again on this ship once I've finished my Harrier Gr7.

[ArnoldAmbrose]

Gidday, that's a superb job you've done on those guns, plus the other PE too. I's waaay out of my league. Regards, Jeff.

[S-boat 55]

That pe gun is brilliant! 

[MRMRL]

I'm finally managing to get myself going on Shimakaze, it's been a slog recently but my attention level in the evenings is a bit higher now (the little one in the house is starting to learn how to sleep a bit) so I've got my head back in it. So I wanted to test that first by getting through the remaining AA guns, starting with the only Type 96 twin mount in the kit...

 

 

 

And then the triple mounts (there's four of these)

 

 

 

Only 20 parts each for these little monsters, a test of my new found concentration. Here's a shot with a My Hobby paint pot for scale

 

 

And that leaves me with a complete set of AA guns, I've been working on the ammo boxes as well

 

 

In the corner of that shot, you can see one of the rear structures for the Shimakaze, the rear mast and the superfiring rear turret both sit on top of it, I haven't got roung to those yet, but here's the structure all finished

 

 

Thinking ahead to getting painting started, I'm working on things for the hull or central areas that will all get covered by the Sasebo grey, starting with the funnels. Incidentally, this is one of the jobs I hate most, so I'm pleased to have it out the way (bending the top bits and attaching all the little rails on the sides I find so tricky)

 

 

Finally for this update, I've been working on the portholes and other details for the side of the hull - I don't suppose anyone can tell me why there is a semi-circle of holes on the kit (I can't imagine they would have been on the ship) and while on the subject, anyone know what the bump on hull in the bottom right of the next picture is?

 

 

 

[S-boat 55]

I believe the semicircular hoke pattern was some kind of listening device the Japanese used, they're also on my Taiho build so must have been widespread in their use  

 

there's almost more etch on that bit of superstructure than plastic, and those aa guns are really rather fab btw

[MRMRL]

On 4/27/2022 at 7:09 PM, S-boat 55 said:

I believe the semicircular hoke pattern was some kind of listening device the Japanese used, they're also on my Taiho build so must have been widespread in their use  

 

there's almost more etch on that bit of superstructure than plastic, and those aa guns are really rather fab btw

That's good to hear - I don't have to contemplate filling in the holes in that case  

And thanks, the etch is pretty challenging on this one, but it's coming along well so far.

[MRMRL]

Well, I can safely say that the ship building mojo has been pretty difficult to maintain this year, I've been doing more armour than anything else. I'm learning with those, but its still easier than the ships which are just so fiddly. I do have some more progress to report, and hopefully more to come shortly so I'll post it while I have a few minutes peace and hope my mojo continues for a few more days or weeks to actually get this one finished.

 

I've been making progress on some of the superstructure, with the bridge and lower half of the structure mostly completed.

 

 

 

 

And here's the front platform from these pictures with ladders and ammo boxes added

 

 

I've also been wokrking through some of the smaller parts, miscellaneous sized cable reels all completed

 

 

And finally getting some gray paint laid down, that made a big instant difference getting that on

 

 

And now I can start adding some of the smaller deck parts, and the deck strips (which look a bit scruffy in this picture, I'll tidy them up a little later on). They were a complete joy (sarcasm) to add on, I thought painting them was a pain, not sure I can say which option I prefer, although these will hopefully look a little better once I clean them up

 

 

Now to get going on the main armaments for the destroyer, starting with the torpedo launchers, one of three completed, some fiddly parts on here - man I struggle with those little rails

 

 

 

[Jerry L]

Looking quite good, the PE work is really great!

[beefy66]

looking very well detailed.  👍

 

Stay Safe

beefy

[ArnoldAmbrose]

       Gidday, good luck with the mojo reboot. I certainly understand the loss of mojo from time to time, and my models are nowhere as detailed as yours. This is looking very good, I hope you keep going with it. You might be having trouble with the ladders and railings but they look terrific when done, something I'm not game to try.       Regards, Jeff.

[robgizlu]

I think it's good to switch genres from time to time - need to check out the GR.7.  I'm flirting with startign a GR.9 in 1/72, strange to think that these are already "historic" aircraft.

So back to ship modelling - your attention to detail and your precision are remarkable as is your rigging 

Rob

[MRMRL]

Right, we are getting there with this one now, it's taken longer than any (plastic) ship model I've built, crazy for such a little one but I think the end may finally be in sight. Where were we....

So I've build all three torpedo launchers now, in place for storage as much as anything else

 

 

And all three turrets

 

 

And they've all had a coat of paint added along with the top of the bridge and the larger AA guns

 

 

Next step, the AA platforms that I built seemingly a lifetime ago, can now be added to the ship

 

 

A bit of detail painting and I've got most the rear deck sorted, just the railings, splinter sheilds, AA guns and depth charge rack to add, not much really  

 

 

Speaking of AA guns, finally got those all airbrushed now along with the remaining ammo boxes

 

 

Now I can move on to putting it all together, main bridge structure with the dual AA gun in front

 

 

And the triple AA guns on their platforms, with a wide shot to see it all filling out

 

 

 

Detail painting completed on the main weaponry now, and I've got them all slotted into place. This really starts to make it look more complete, amazing how much difference that makes to the feel of the ship.

 

 

 

Well. it's been a slog, but I finally think we're going to get there soon, most the remaining work is straightforward (for me at least) so I can start mopping that all up in the next week or so I hope.

[Courageous]

That's some nicely detailed and painted armament there.

 

Stuart

[MRMRL]

I'm so behind in updating this build log (probably why I don't do them often, the builds get ahead of the updates (sorry about that anyone who's been reading it). The good news - we're pretty much finished with Shimakaze and hence the whole build - finally. Let's get to it...

First off, I've now constructed the main mast, a fair bit of detail here, but it went together really easily

 

 

And a main coat applied

 

 

The rear mast was even easier, not a lot going on here to be fair

 

 

Most the final details have been added to the rear deck and the railings started as well

 

 

Added some storage thingies to the middle of the ship - sorry I have no idea what these are for, feel free to enlighten me anyone who knows  

 

 

Railings and other details added to the foredeck and the superstructure

 

 

AA platform inbetween the torpedo launchers completed (other than painting the searchlight)

 

 

Davits for the ships boats

 

 

Smoke launchers added and railings complete at the back - just the single AA guns to go in the remaining holes here

 

 

Ships boats - these always end up being left to last. For some reason, it's my least favourite part of building any ship

 

 

Got a pair of torpedoes on the railing system - and the single AA guns are going on now as well

 

 

 

Boats painted (with some artistic license). I need to try the aluminium foil trick for the tarpaulin at some point, the plastic versions end up looking a bit naff

 

 

Rigging - its a small boat so at least this bit is relatively quick

 

 

 

All done - I'll post some pics of the finished ship in the next day or two and then a "Ready for Inspection" post for the trio.

[bissyboat]

Killer work on those vessels. No shortage of details. ⚓🙌

[MRMRL]

Finally I can add some finished pictures of Shimakaze - thus completing the triple build, Ready for Inspection to follow, here's a few tasters of the last addition for now though, hope you enjoy.

 

 

Need to learn the lessons of keeping up with a build log if I do another one, thanks for persevering anyone who has done so.

[S-boat 55]

Looks great, well doe for making it through and especially with such high quality output, 

 

Look forward to the rfi, 

[bissyboat]

It certainly has the Wow-factor. ⚓🙌

[MRMRL]

Finally - a ready for inspection page is complete: IJN triple build