by D-Boy » Sat Dec 17, 2011 11:17 pm
Some additional notes on the most recent Aoshima (2009) and Fujimi re-release (2011) with PE of the IJN Oyodo. I retrieved all three kits from the cellar stash and am looking at them side-by-side
The Aoshima kits are lovely kits of this distinctive cruiser, hands-down winners over the Fujimi mold. The only reason to purchase the 2011 Fujimi kit, it would seem, is to secure the comprehensive PE set. Even with the PE, there are significant liabilities to the Fujimi kit - at the very least, ALL heavy and light armament will need to be replaced.
The Fujimi hull sits higher above waterline than the Aoshima hulls and is about 1 cm shorter than the Aoshima molds. Aoshima's kits depict a more prominent bow flare and more detail along hull sides. The Fujimi hull looks relatively plain in comparison. Degaussing cables are not represented on any of these hulls.
The Fujimi deck is cast in two pieces, with a seperate bow deck to add to the one-piece hull.
The Aoshima decks are cast in three pieces, with the mid-section common to both the '43 and '44 builds. All sorts of details mid-deck on the Aoshima kits, including aircraft handling rails. It appears that hangers can be posed open for both Aoshima kits (although interior walls will need clean-up and nominal detailing). Both bow deck sections appear alike; it is the stern decks of the '43 and '44 builds which differ radically. These kits share all main superstructure parts.
The '43 Aoshima kit includes sprue "D," which contains the distinctive catapult and unique Kawanishi Shiun seaplane that denote this version of the ship. Components for 3 Shiun floatplanes are included.
The '44 Aoshima kit substitutes sprue "E," which contains a stern deck with different catapult mount, alternate aircraft handling rail configurations, and numerous single barrel AA weapons, as well as an additional AA platform at the rear of the shortened catapult.
These Aoshima kits share sprue "C," which contains cranes, davits, tripod and other masts and antennae, main armament and heavy AA weapons. All of the armament parts are significant upgrades over the equivalents in the Fujimi kit.
Both Aoshima kits include polycaps that would allow one rotate guns and catapults freely.
As noted in an earlier post, Aoshima sells a dedicated PE set for both the '43 and '44 versions of this ship. The PE for the '43 version of the Oyodo includes the unique catapult, unique aircraft handling dollies for the Shiun, replacement tripod masts, bridge windows, boat davits, and aircraft cranes as well as some additional deck details. The PE set for the '44 build includes a replacement catapult and single AA weapons, as well as aircraft dollies, masts, bridge windows, davits and cranes, and additional deck details. Notably, NO deck rails are included in these PE kits. These are nicely detailed and finely cast, but as noted below, the Fujimi PE takes these details a step further.
In comparison, the PE kit for the latest re-release of the old Fujimi mold is comprehensive. While the Fujimi mold in plastic represents a '44 build of the kit, the PE supplied in the kit appears to be intended to back-date the Fujimi model to 1943, as it includes the longer catapult intended for the Shiun seaplane (worth noting that the Shiun seaplane is NOT included in the Fujimi kit).
In general, the Fujimi PE appears more finally cast and thus more detailed than the Aoshima PE. This is clearly evident in the catapult, but also reflected in the antenna, yardarms, and bridge windows, for example. And the Fujimi PE includes all railings, stairways, davits and cranes, a funnel cap, funnel grabholds, ventilator hoods for the hanger structure, and numerous deck components intended to replace parts on the older Fujimi mold. A significant amount of plastic on the Fujimi molds will need to be removed or altered to accept this PE.
I do not believe this PE set is available seperately from the model at this time.
I suppose the one remaining question is how adaptable is the Fujimi PE to the Aoshima kits, given how much more detail is represented in the Fujimi PE. I'll try to puzzle that out a bit more tomorrow.
And Pagodaphile, I've realized I have not answered your bridge structure comparison - will take a look at that, too.
- D-Boy
Some additional notes on the most recent Aoshima (2009) and Fujimi re-release (2011) with PE of the IJN Oyodo. I retrieved all three kits from the cellar stash and am looking at them side-by-side
The Aoshima kits are lovely kits of this distinctive cruiser, hands-down winners over the Fujimi mold. The only reason to purchase the 2011 Fujimi kit, it would seem, is to secure the comprehensive PE set. Even with the PE, there are significant liabilities to the Fujimi kit - at the very least, ALL heavy and light armament will need to be replaced.
The Fujimi hull sits higher above waterline than the Aoshima hulls and is about 1 cm shorter than the Aoshima molds. Aoshima's kits depict a more prominent bow flare and more detail along hull sides. The Fujimi hull looks relatively plain in comparison. Degaussing cables are not represented on any of these hulls.
The Fujimi deck is cast in two pieces, with a seperate bow deck to add to the one-piece hull.
The Aoshima decks are cast in three pieces, with the mid-section common to both the '43 and '44 builds. All sorts of details mid-deck on the Aoshima kits, including aircraft handling rails. It appears that hangers can be posed open for both Aoshima kits (although interior walls will need clean-up and nominal detailing). Both bow deck sections appear alike; it is the stern decks of the '43 and '44 builds which differ radically. These kits share all main superstructure parts.
The '43 Aoshima kit includes sprue "D," which contains the distinctive catapult and unique Kawanishi Shiun seaplane that denote this version of the ship. Components for 3 Shiun floatplanes are included.
The '44 Aoshima kit substitutes sprue "E," which contains a stern deck with different catapult mount, alternate aircraft handling rail configurations, and numerous single barrel AA weapons, as well as an additional AA platform at the rear of the shortened catapult.
These Aoshima kits share sprue "C," which contains cranes, davits, tripod and other masts and antennae, main armament and heavy AA weapons. All of the armament parts are significant upgrades over the equivalents in the Fujimi kit.
Both Aoshima kits include polycaps that would allow one rotate guns and catapults freely.
As noted in an earlier post, Aoshima sells a dedicated PE set for both the '43 and '44 versions of this ship. The PE for the '43 version of the Oyodo includes the unique catapult, unique aircraft handling dollies for the Shiun, replacement tripod masts, bridge windows, boat davits, and aircraft cranes as well as some additional deck details. The PE set for the '44 build includes a replacement catapult and single AA weapons, as well as aircraft dollies, masts, bridge windows, davits and cranes, and additional deck details. Notably, NO deck rails are included in these PE kits. These are nicely detailed and finely cast, but as noted below, the Fujimi PE takes these details a step further.
In comparison, the PE kit for the latest re-release of the old Fujimi mold is comprehensive. While the Fujimi mold in plastic represents a '44 build of the kit, the PE supplied in the kit appears to be intended to back-date the Fujimi model to 1943, as it includes the longer catapult intended for the Shiun seaplane (worth noting that the Shiun seaplane is NOT included in the Fujimi kit).
In general, the Fujimi PE appears more finally cast and thus more detailed than the Aoshima PE. This is clearly evident in the catapult, but also reflected in the antenna, yardarms, and bridge windows, for example. And the Fujimi PE includes all railings, stairways, davits and cranes, a funnel cap, funnel grabholds, ventilator hoods for the hanger structure, and numerous deck components intended to replace parts on the older Fujimi mold. A significant amount of plastic on the Fujimi molds will need to be removed or altered to accept this PE.
I do not believe this PE set is available seperately from the model at this time.
I suppose the one remaining question is how adaptable is the Fujimi PE to the Aoshima kits, given how much more detail is represented in the Fujimi PE. I'll try to puzzle that out a bit more tomorrow.
And Pagodaphile, I've realized I have not answered your bridge structure comparison - will take a look at that, too.
- D-Boy