The Ship Model Forum

Aoshima 1/350 Takao class cruiser kits

I dont know if any of you care to know some of the details about the new upcoming Aoshima kits in 1/350 of the Takao and the Chokai, but I thought I would list a few for those who are.

I am currently working on my next book in the Warship Pictorial Series on the IJN Takao Class Cruisers, which I hope to print in July, along with the cover to the following book, South Dakota Class Battleships, for November? In my research on the Takao class warships, there are a few points of interest that should be modeled in the upcoming plastic kits.

Both warship kits are stated in Aoshima's announcements as being depicted in their 1941-42 configurations. At that time Takao would have had her major modernization, finished in 1939, which made her different from Chokai in the following areas;

The hull had a large anti-torpedo blister fitted.
The bridge was changed significantly.
The aircraft handling facilities were changed significantly.
In March 1942, Takao was refitted with twin 5in. AA mounts.

The Chokai was not so fitted in 1942, as the above list of differences, in fact, she never had the anti-torpedo blister, or the single 4.7in. AA mounts upgraded to the twin 5in. mounts.

What does this mean?

It means you could take the Chokai kit and build her into any one of the other ships of the class (Takao, Atago & Maya) in their pre-1938 configuration without too much work. It also means you could take and build the Atago in 1942 from the Takao kit, and build a 1942-43 Maya by kit-bashing the Takao kit hull with the rest of the Chokai kit. A late war (1944) Chokai could also be built from the Chokai kit without too much trouble. A late war Takao would also be possible from the Takao kit, but we may very well see this issued in the near future. I would also be willing to bet that we will see a late war Maya kit from Aoshima in the near future, with all of her major differences from her damage repairs and refitting during 1943-44.

Just a little food for thought,
Steve Wiper
http://www.classicwarships.com

MODERATOR EDIT: Addiing list of available Takao class kits. Thanks to Dan Kaplan for offering to gather the info. This list is very extensive!
Kit listing updated 4/3/2025

1/700

1971 (Waterline Consortium 1st generation) – Aoshima issued (and also sold under the Minicraft label in the US)

Takao 1944 – item #014912, WL #02, released 1971 item #014 ? , WL #327, re-boxed with new Leviathan/WL Consortium Large Vessels weapons sprue, released January, 1994

Atago 1944 – item #014936, WL #17, released 1971 item #01492?, WL #326, re-boxed with new Leviathan/WL Consortium Large Vessels weapons sprue, released 1994

Maya 1944 - item #014943, WL #22, released 1971 item #014 ? , WL #327, re-boxed with new Leviathan/WL Consortium Large Vessels weapons sprue, released January, 1994

Chokai 1942 – item #014929, WL #05, released 1971 item #014 ? , WL #325, re-boxed with new Leviathan/WL Consortium Large Vessels weapons sprue, released 1991


2000 new tooling - Pit-Road issued

Takao, 1942 – item # W54, released December, 2000 Item # W54S, with a small fret of photo etched parts, released June, 2002

Takao, 1944 – item # W57, released mid 2001 item # W57S, with a small fret of photo etched parts, released September, 2001

Atago, 1942 – item # W55, released January, 2001item # W55S, with a small fret of photo etched parts, brass barrels, released late 2001

Maya, 1944 - item # W58, released May 2001item # W58S, with a small fret of photo etched parts, released January, 2003
Item # W58SP, limited edition, with a fret of PE parts, and improved armament parts from Yamashita Hobby, released March, 2011

Chokai, 1942 - item # W59, released June, 2001 Item # W59E, with a small fret of photo etched parts, released August, 2003

Basic versions also sold as part of the Pit-Road “Navy Field” sets


2001 new tooling (WL Consortium 2nd generation) – Aoshima issued

Takao 1944
item #045367, WL #337, “Leyte Gulf”, with clear bridge window parts, released July, 2001
item #036143, Super Detail version with PE fret, released May, 2005
item #036140, WL #337 with PE fret and clear bridge window parts, released June, 2005
item #037570, WL #337 with clear bridge window parts,, released March, 2006
item #043264, Full Hull version, FH series #8, released Oct, 2008
item #009307 (under Aoshima label) Arpeggio of Blue Steel-Ars Nova, #2, Full hull molded in red, released January, 2014
item #010433, Kantai Collection, No. 8, released February, 2014

Takao 1942
item #029213, “Indian Ocean” version, released November, 2001

Atago 1942
item #045374, WL #338, “Solomon Islands 1942”, released July, 2001
item #036150, Super Detail version with PE fret, released May, 2005
item #037580, WL #338 with clear bridge window parts, released March, 2006
item #043271, Full Hull version, FH series #9, released October, 2008

Atago 1944
item #029220, “Leyte Gulf”, released November, 2001
item #036150, Super Detail version with PE fret, released May, 2005
item #009949, Kantai Collection, No. 2, released December, 2013

Maya 1944
item #028919, WL #339, “Battle of Marianas”, released September, 2001
item #031025, Super Detail version with PE fret, released September, 2002
item #045381, WL #339 with clear bridge window parts, released June, 2005
item #043295, Full Hull version, FH series #11, released December, 2008
item #00808 (Limited Edition) WL version with USS Dace (Gato class sub) and B-24, released May, 2013
item #009314 (Under Aoshima label) Arpeggio of Blue Steel-Ars Nova, #3, Full hull molded in pink, released January, 2014
item #012178, Kantai Collection, No. 19, released September, 2014

Maya 1943
item #029244, “Attu Island” (Battle of Komandorski Islands), released December, 2001

Chokai 1942
item #028902, WL # 340, “Solomon Sea”, released September, 2001
item #031018, Super Detail version with PE fret, released September, 2002
item #045398, WL #340 with clear bridge window parts, released June, 2005
item #043288, Full Hull version, FH series #10, released December, 2008

Chokai 1944
item #029237, “Leyte Gulf”, released December, 2001


2011 new tooling – Fujimi issued

Takao, 1944
item # 401713, SWM (EX)-45, released February, 2011
item # 401720, Full Hull version, FH-16, released October, 2011
item # 430660, Full Hull DX version, FHSP-9, with full PE fret, released May, 2014
item # 431291, SWM (EX)-SP43, WL DX version, with full PE fret, released April, 2015
item # 470147, EASY (EX)-15, WL with colored parts, released January, 2016
item # 431789, SWM (EX)-SP77, WL with deck mask/deck sticker, released Sept, 2017
item # 431789, SWM (EX)-SP77, WL with building dock & ways, released April, 2018

Atago, 1944
item # 401208, SWM (EX)-80, released June, 2013
item # 421797, Full Hull version, FH-27, released December, 2014
item # 431734, SWM (EX)-SP74, WL DX version, with full PE fret, released July, 2017
item # 430660, Full Hull DX version, FHSP-23, with full PE fret, released August, 2017

Maya 1944
item # 431147, SWM (EX)-68, released December, 2012
item # 421704, Full Hull version, FH-23, released August, 2014
item # 470153, EASY (EX)- 16, WL with colored parts, released March, 2016
item # 451275, EASY (EX)-SP4, WL with colored parts full hull option, released September, 2016
item # 470252, EASY (EX)-SP7, WL with colored name plate, deck mask/deck sticker, released July, 2017
item # 431796, SWM (EX)-SP78, WL with deck mask/deck sticker, released Sept, 2017
item # 451312, FHSP-27, with with building dock & ways, pending release June, 2018

Chokai, 1942
item # 431239, SWM (EX)-84, released May, 2014
item # 421780, Full Hull version, FH-26, released December, 2014
item # 431338, SWM (EX)-SP45, WL DX version, with full PE fret, released September, 2015
item # 451213, Full Hull DX version, FHSP-17, with full PE fret, release pending February, 2017
item # 432038, SWM (EX)-84, EX-1, WL Ltd. Edition kit with alternate parts for 1938, 1941, or 1942 fits, released May, 2018


1/500

Nichimo, full hull. Originally released circa late 1960s -1970s. SKU #s for earlier iterations are unavailable.

Takao
#NCMU-5004, released June, 2000
#NCMU-3054, with brass stand, released November, 2003
#NCMU-6075, # 060750, released November, 2009, now OOP

Atago
#NCMU-5003, released January, 1994
#NCMU-3046, with brass stand, released November, 2003
#NCMU-6071, #060712, released November, 2009, now OOP

Chokai
#NCMU-5005, released June, 2000
#NCMU-3947, with brass stand, released November, 2003
#NCMU-6073, #069736, released November, 2009, now OOP

Maya
#NCMU-5006, released June, 2000
#NCMU-3048, with brass stand, released November, 2003
#NCMU-6077, #060744, released November, 2009, now OOP

1/350

Aoshima

Takao 1944
item #042984, Ironclad series, released May, 2008
item #000540, Ironclad series, Retake version, released December, 2011

Atago 1944
item #038857, Ironclad series, released November, 2007
item #000540, Ironclad series, Retake version, released December, 2011
item #054055. Ironclad series, Retake version #2 , with '41 and '44 fit parts, released November, 2018

Chokai 1942
item #038840, Ironclad series No. 2, released September, 2007
item #000564, Ironclad series, Retake version, released December, 2011

Chokai 1944
item #042991, Ironclad series, released June, 2008

Maya 1944
item #038864, Ironclad series, released December, 2007
item #048253, Ironclad series, Retake version, released October, 2009
item #009437, Ironclad series, Retake version 2, released December, 2013


VeryFire

Takao 1944
item #BELBV350904 Base version, released March, 2025
item #BELBV350904DX Deluxe version, released March, 2025

Hey Steve, I took the liberty of moving your post into our "Calling All Ship Fans" section for permanent archiving and expansion.

Here are some Gallery Links: Updated 10/16/18

1/200
Maya
Ronald Chan


1/250
Takao early 1930s paper model by John Dohman: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html


1/350
Maya (Aoshima), Takao class by Yu-Chu Lien: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm
Aoshima's 1/350 Maya Retake Version by Bernard Chan: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm
Hyun Soo Kim's Aoshima Maya (1944): http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm
Not sure if this is a second gallery, or a second Maya from HS Kim: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html
James Bradshaw's Chokai 1942: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm
IJN Maya 1944(A)by Bill Fu, 2021,: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm


1/500

Takao
Mario Grima

Atago

Maya
Mario Grima

Chokai
Takumi Akiharu and John Bange


1/700

Takao
Alex, Shen Ke and Peter Van Buren

Atago
Waldo Silva

Maya
Takumi Akiharu, Andrey Zhukov, Claudio Matteini, Brilliant Tang, and David Fraser.

Chokai
Dan Kaplan

Additional 700th scale links:

Takao 1944 (Aoshima) by Richard Price, (a fantastic build): http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... ao-700-rp/
Maya 1944 (Aoshima by Dan Kaplan: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm
Takao late war, (Aoshima) by John M Johnsey: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm
Takao 1944 (Aoshima) by Luqmanul Hakim: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm
Chokai 1942 (Fujimi) by Vladimir Karen: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm
Maya (Pitroad) by Anthony Perrotta http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm
Won-hui Lee's Atago 1944 (Fujimi) at Leyte Gulf: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm
Takao 1944 rebuilt from the original tool Aoshima Chokai kit by Manuel González: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm
Maya 1944 (Pit-Road) by Bob Nandell: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm
Takao 1945 (Fujimi) by Marek Gil: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm

Kit Review Links:

Pitroad/Skywave 1/700 IJN Takao
1/350 Takao (original issue, Aoshima): http://www.modelwarships.com/reviews/sh ... eview.html

_________________
Tracy White -Researcher@Large

"Let the evidence guide the research. Do not have a preconceived agenda which will only distort the result."
-Barbara Tuchman

One slight correction to Steve's points on Maya: she's almost identical to Chokai (save for aux. funnel pipes, upper manimast, etc) until late 1943. Then, upon rebuilding, she gets the bulged Takao type hull and fittings, though her forward superstructure remains similar to Chokai. Maya also loses her aircraft hangar at this point. FWIW.

Just a quick note, but I noticed that Model Art's Super Illustration: Heavy Cruiser Takao is on backorder at Hobby Link Japan. This is a good addition to the Anatomy of the Ship series volume, or a very cheap alternative. I don't know if it has been out-of-print lately, but I hadn't noticed this volume was available before.

Hello,

well I have one question about difference between IJN Takao and IJN Chokai:

I have book Anatomy of the ship: Takao, and I wanted to build IJN Takao as it was in the time of the second battle of Savo island - night battle between american battleships and japanese battleship Kirishima and cruisers. But there is a problem - considering that I want to build model in scale 1/200, I must also make plates on the hull of the ship, but in the mentioned book there is plan of shell plating from 1932. but in 1939. Takao was on modernization and bulges were built on it's hull. But there are no plans of new plates.

But Chokai had it original plating during war and also in the first battle of Savo island.

So, my question is:

1. Is it possible that two ships of the same class (Takao and Chokai) had same arrangement of hull plates?

2. Is it possible to build Chokai as it was during first battle of Savo island using plans from mentioned book? If it is possible can someone say which plans from that book I need to use to build IJN Chokai?

To question #1: Probably. In their original configurations, save for minor details, the sisters were nearly identical They were built in different yards, so there will be some variation, but probably not much, IMHO. And, who alive could possibly point this out otherwise?

To question #2: As I discovered in my recent 1/700 build of Chokai, summer 1942 : http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html , there is no complete guide to doing so for this timeframe. The AOTS Takao shows her bridge and superstructure arrangements prior to to the 1938-39 rebuilding, which account for most of Chokai's arrangements in 1942, but not all of them. There were many detail and fit changes in those few years. You need to combine input from L & W and the photographic record.

At the risk of sounding pompous, I really believe my version to be the most accurate that I've come across for this particular fit, mid - late 1942.

IIRC, the Model Art Super Illustration takes Takao up thru 1939 only, but I could be wrong about that.

Profile Morskie produced a volume about Chokai: it was number 7 of this series.

Does somebody know, which 1/700 kit of the Chokai is better: Pit-Road or Aoshima (new tooling).

Here is a (German) review of the new 1/350 Takao kit by Aoshima:
Takao (Aoshima, 1/350)

_________________

The Profile Morskie book is not entirely correct on details. It really depicts a mix of versions, mostly 1939.

The Aoshima version is much more accurate for the Savo Island time period. The PitRoad version is actually more correct for any of the sisters as ORIGNALLY built.

Could you explain the problems of the Profile Morskie book in more detail?

Thank you for this hint. But again: could you provide more details?

Currently I am building Takao in her 1944 fit using the Pit-Road kit, Pit-Road etch parts and the AOTS about Takao as the main source. I would like also add Chokai in her 1942 fit to my collection. Therefore it would be good to know which problems the kit and the literature have.

_________________

I'll try to check the book tonight.

As to the kits, photos clearly show a different series of hull apertures and details for any of the Takaos after their first major refit as opposed to their original configuration. The PitRoad kit hull matched the original configuration hulls, but none of the later configurations for Chokai, Maya thru late 1943, or Takao/Atago thru 1938-39. The Aoshima hull does, and it's better detailed.

The same hold true for depictions of Chokai's bridge structure for the late 1930s/1942. The Aoshima is more correct. If you have a copy of Skulski's AOTS Takao, you can (as I did) compare the drawings to each kit's bridge levels. THe PitRoad is original configuration. Aoshima Clear bridge is 1942. I hope I'm being clear.

does anybody know the catalogue number of the newest maya(or takao,for that matter) kit from pit-road? just so I don`t get an old tooling(if it exists..)

_________________
Matija

@ Dan K: thank you. Yet I know, where I have to look.


There are only one tooling of the Maya by Pit-Road. There two different kits by Aoshima.

_________________

that is nice to know, so I can`t miss with maya or takao. I`ve read that it`s a fine kit, but on the pit-road`s web page, there is a picture and it looks wimpy...

Since we are at the subject of Pit-road, Chokai kit comes with a PE set inside. Is it worth it,i know I still have to buy some more sets to complement it, but i can`t seem to find out what this PE contains..?

_________________
Matija

Ok, maxim, I've had a chance to review the PM Chokai volume. It is useable for 1942, with caveats. Looking at the center spread foldup waterline plan dated 1941, its very good for mid 1942 except for

1) there should be a twin 25mm AA mount with gun tub, on the platforms on either side of funnel #1 (and yes, theose underlying structures/compartments) are assymetrical in layout when viewed from above

2) The upper part of the maninmast is wrong - that's how it looked until mid 1941. It was cutdown, and the base raised, more like the rebuilt Atago/Takao. There is no photo in this volume that shows it correctly.

3) There's a pair of rolloff depthcharge racks on either side on the very stern.

Regarding hullerrors, go to the photo pn P.27. Those rectangular ports aft the torpedo bay, and supports under the small sponson that holds the catapult, are not on the PitRoad kit, but are molded correctly onto the Aoshima kit. THere's some other things as well.

Hth, Dan

Lisec: I gotta be honest - the Aoshima version for Maya is better than the PitRoad versions for much the same reasons. No quite certain about Takao/Atago as I haven't fully examined them or built them - yet.

Ok, would that be the kit with the clear bridge?

A little OT, if I might...I saw a Tone kit from A that comes with brass barrels- any good overall?

_________________
Matija

Right, the Aoshima Clear bridge version of Maya.

I believe the Aoshima kit with barrels is the same as the retooled Tone released several years ago. It's a good kit,. I have it but have not built it as yet. There are some corrections necessary.

@ Dan K:

The hull of the Takao by Pit-Road in 1/700 has also a problem, at least, if one want to built the 1944 fit. A lot of scuttles have to be removed, because they were plated over during the war.

I will check the other points you mentioned.

_________________

Hi, Maxim:

I don't believe that any of the kits, Aoshima or PitRoad, come with covered scuttles for a late war hull. These need to be added.

my technical vocabulary is quite small, so what are those scuttles? excuse my french...

_________________
Matija

Technically, a scuttle is a lid or a cover and in this case, I use it to refer to the solid covers that were welded over the portholes late in the war in increase watertight integrity of the lower decks.