by Dan K » Thu Nov 03, 2011 11:55 am
The Fujimi kit has arrived. I think it�s great, and superior to the PitRoad kit.
The detailing is very sharp and very much to scale, more on a par (scale-wise) with the revised Aoshima Kagero class kits. In fact, while I certainly don�t know who, I would almost suspect that the person who mastered the Aoshima kit a few years back is responsible for this one as well. I see a lot of similar touches in the detailing. Some short takes:
Hull � beautifully rendered, nice, sharp, portholes with eyebrows (always out of scale in 1/700 but at least not so overwhelming here), no covers so the hull represents early/mid war fit. Well defined degaussing cable with sharply molded brackets, both cable and brackets are very subtle in scale. Bow form is excellent, particularly in silhouette AND (hurrah!), Fujimi chose not to mold the upper prow separately as with its Kagero kits, so this DD kit�s bow is much cleaner.
IMPORTANT HULL NOTES - A) PitRoad Shiratsuyu kit forecastle is 3mm too long, and therefore out of scale. Fujimi appears to be spot-on dimensionally. B) Fujimi kit, as with all its new kits, doesn�t use a waterline plate. It has a bottom plate hidden with the contours of the hull bottom. The result is that the hull freeboard is lower. If you want to show some hull red, you would have to add some styrene strip as a waterline plate. It�s not inaccurate, just a matter of preference. I, for instance, am likely to add a waterline plate.
Forecastle deck � In truth, both the PitRoad and the Fujimi kits are in error in depicting how the sloping steel bow plate meets the flat linoleum deck just in front of the base for #1 mount. There should be a cutout, as the PitRoad kit has, but there should also be a rounded breakwater, as the Fujimi kit has. The Fujimi breakwater is a little too wide, but can be trimmed. The meeting point is a small error for both kits but, hardly a deal breaker. This is more of a nitpick.
The Fujimi kit gets very high marks for smaller to scale treading, ditto the linoleum tie down strips and major kudos for correctly depicting the turtleback rounded sides of the rear of the foredeck where it meets the hull. The Aoshima Kageros were the first to get this aspect right and it�s nice to see Fujimi pick it up. The PitRoad kit wanes in comparison.
Main deck � also very nicely done. As with their previous Kagero kit, all the superstructures are molded separately, which makes for neater subassemblies, construction and painting. Same comments apply to treading and linoleum tie-down strips. Fujimi also correctly completed the torpedo reload trolley rails; PitRoad omitted a short connector.
There is an issue with the mine rails at the stern. As built, the Shiratsuyus had mine rails that extended unusually far forward, past both sets of athwarships depth charge racks. The rails were also splayed slightly outward as they extended forward. They also hung slightly over the stern. To the best of my knowledge, these rails were removed when additional stern roll-off racks were added to the class from mid 1943 on.
Both the Fujimi and PitRoad kits have the splayed out mine rails. However, the PitRoad kit correctly shows the elongated rails for a pre/early war fit whereas the Fujimi kit rails only extend forward to the start of the stern steel treading. The Fujimi kit also has alignment holes for roll off depth charge racks to be placed between the rails.
I don�t believe the Fujimi kit to be correct in this respect. At the very least, either the mine rails have to be extended for an early war fit or removed completely for mid to late war fit so as to fit the roll off racks with unimpeded clearance.
Main turrets � nice, almost identical to the Aoshima Kagero class versions. The single 12.7cm mount turret is the nicest version I�ve seen, better than PitRoad�s.
Quad TT mounts � molded in two pieces, the tubes and the shields. Very high marks to Fujimi for getting the profile shape of the shields correct, particularly at the rear. Later DD classes had TT mount shields where there was slight declining slope to the shield at the rear, not so for the Shiratsuyu and Asashio classes, which was more square in profile. This is the first kit to get this right.
Funnels, structures, masts, etc, - all nicely molded. Masts are nicely scaled but probably too flimsy to support stretched rigging. I would be replacing anyway with brass rod. Compartment bulkheads are nicely detailed. Lots of vents, intakes, etc. The #1 funnel air intake at its base looks a bit simplistic. The kit comes with a 25mm bandstand mount for the front of the bridge, but no replacement structure for the additional AA that replace the single 12.7cm mount. No radar or revised tripod mast to carry it either, so the kit is correct for early war to mid 1943 versions, in that respect.
Bridge � square bridge versions only, also very nice, with slightly fewer parts (and easier construction) then the earlier Fujimi Kagero kits. The bridge windows are molded as a separate strip, which makes replacing them with PE ladders very easy. The main director is scaled and detailed like the Aoshima Kagero version, which is correct but means some detail is lost. I�d probably replace it with a PitRoad version.
IMPORTANT BRIDGE NOTE � Fujimi markets this box as Shiratsuyu/Harusame. It could be used for Harusame, but only until January, 1943. After that, she was torpedoed, lost her entire forecastle and bridge, then gained a Yugumo style bridge when rebuilt. For anyone who wants one of the four rounded bridge sisters (Yamakaze, Umikaze, Suzukaze or Kawakaze), you could wait for the inevitable offering from Fujimi or, if impatient, kit bash a Kagero type bridge from one of the Aoshima/Fujimi/PitRoad Kagero kits. The PitRoad Asashio class kits would also work.
That�s enough for now. Great kit, certainly the best Fujimi DD to date, in my mind one of the best Fujimi kits all around, and by far the best Shiratsuyu kit out. Late war and round bridge versions are certain to come. I�ll probably unload my PitRoad kit. Takers?
The Fujimi kit has arrived. I think it�s great, and superior to the PitRoad kit.
The detailing is very sharp and very much to scale, more on a par (scale-wise) with the revised Aoshima Kagero class kits. In fact, while I certainly don�t know who, I would almost suspect that the person who mastered the Aoshima kit a few years back is responsible for this one as well. I see a lot of similar touches in the detailing. Some short takes:
Hull � beautifully rendered, nice, sharp, portholes with eyebrows (always out of scale in 1/700 but at least not so overwhelming here), no covers so the hull represents early/mid war fit. Well defined degaussing cable with sharply molded brackets, both cable and brackets are very subtle in scale. Bow form is excellent, particularly in silhouette AND (hurrah!), Fujimi chose not to mold the upper prow separately as with its Kagero kits, so this DD kit�s bow is much cleaner.
IMPORTANT HULL NOTES - A) PitRoad Shiratsuyu kit forecastle is 3mm too long, and therefore out of scale. Fujimi appears to be spot-on dimensionally. B) Fujimi kit, as with all its new kits, doesn�t use a waterline plate. It has a bottom plate hidden with the contours of the hull bottom. The result is that the hull freeboard is lower. If you want to show some hull red, you would have to add some styrene strip as a waterline plate. It�s not inaccurate, just a matter of preference. I, for instance, am likely to add a waterline plate.
Forecastle deck � In truth, both the PitRoad and the Fujimi kits are in error in depicting how the sloping steel bow plate meets the flat linoleum deck just in front of the base for #1 mount. There should be a cutout, as the PitRoad kit has, but there should also be a rounded breakwater, as the Fujimi kit has. The Fujimi breakwater is a little too wide, but can be trimmed. The meeting point is a small error for both kits but, hardly a deal breaker. This is more of a nitpick.
The Fujimi kit gets very high marks for smaller to scale treading, ditto the linoleum tie down strips and major kudos for correctly depicting the turtleback rounded sides of the rear of the foredeck where it meets the hull. The Aoshima Kageros were the first to get this aspect right and it�s nice to see Fujimi pick it up. The PitRoad kit wanes in comparison.
Main deck � also very nicely done. As with their previous Kagero kit, all the superstructures are molded separately, which makes for neater subassemblies, construction and painting. Same comments apply to treading and linoleum tie-down strips. Fujimi also correctly completed the torpedo reload trolley rails; PitRoad omitted a short connector.
There is an issue with the mine rails at the stern. As built, the Shiratsuyus had mine rails that extended unusually far forward, past both sets of athwarships depth charge racks. The rails were also splayed slightly outward as they extended forward. They also hung slightly over the stern. To the best of my knowledge, these rails were removed when additional stern roll-off racks were added to the class from mid 1943 on.
Both the Fujimi and PitRoad kits have the splayed out mine rails. However, the PitRoad kit correctly shows the elongated rails for a pre/early war fit whereas the Fujimi kit rails only extend forward to the start of the stern steel treading. The Fujimi kit also has alignment holes for roll off depth charge racks to be placed between the rails.
I don�t believe the Fujimi kit to be correct in this respect. At the very least, either the mine rails have to be extended for an early war fit or removed completely for mid to late war fit so as to fit the roll off racks with unimpeded clearance.
Main turrets � nice, almost identical to the Aoshima Kagero class versions. The single 12.7cm mount turret is the nicest version I�ve seen, better than PitRoad�s.
Quad TT mounts � molded in two pieces, the tubes and the shields. Very high marks to Fujimi for getting the profile shape of the shields correct, particularly at the rear. Later DD classes had TT mount shields where there was slight declining slope to the shield at the rear, not so for the Shiratsuyu and Asashio classes, which was more square in profile. This is the first kit to get this right.
Funnels, structures, masts, etc, - all nicely molded. Masts are nicely scaled but probably too flimsy to support stretched rigging. I would be replacing anyway with brass rod. Compartment bulkheads are nicely detailed. Lots of vents, intakes, etc. The #1 funnel air intake at its base looks a bit simplistic. The kit comes with a 25mm bandstand mount for the front of the bridge, but no replacement structure for the additional AA that replace the single 12.7cm mount. No radar or revised tripod mast to carry it either, so the kit is correct for early war to mid 1943 versions, in that respect.
Bridge � square bridge versions only, also very nice, with slightly fewer parts (and easier construction) then the earlier Fujimi Kagero kits. The bridge windows are molded as a separate strip, which makes replacing them with PE ladders very easy. The main director is scaled and detailed like the Aoshima Kagero version, which is correct but means some detail is lost. I�d probably replace it with a PitRoad version.
IMPORTANT BRIDGE NOTE � Fujimi markets this box as Shiratsuyu/Harusame. It could be used for Harusame, but only until January, 1943. After that, she was torpedoed, lost her entire forecastle and bridge, then gained a Yugumo style bridge when rebuilt. For anyone who wants one of the four rounded bridge sisters (Yamakaze, Umikaze, Suzukaze or Kawakaze), you could wait for the inevitable offering from Fujimi or, if impatient, kit bash a Kagero type bridge from one of the Aoshima/Fujimi/PitRoad Kagero kits. The PitRoad Asashio class kits would also work.
That�s enough for now. Great kit, certainly the best Fujimi DD to date, in my mind one of the best Fujimi kits all around, and by far the best Shiratsuyu kit out. Late war and round bridge versions are certain to come. I�ll probably unload my PitRoad kit. Takers?