Aoshima Nagato 1933 - First Impressions

[D-Boy]

Aoshima's Nagato 1933 ported here in Albany, NY today. PE should arrive within the week.

Deep box, the size of recent kits of the IJN carriers. Most of the depth appears to be to accomodate slide molding and/or sprue protection of distinctive pieces in the kit. Parts count is relatively modest - approximately 180 parts, I would estimate.

One piece hull, with seperate WL plate - the seam where they join is visble in the standard way (compare to several of Fujimi's recent offerings, such as the Amagi, where the plate seam is interior to the hull sides). Portholes and gutters are delicately done and do not draw any attention that screams "overscale" or "heavy-handed."

Four main deck pieces. Scribed deck, with no cross-hatching of planks - just straight plank runs on each piece. Minimal obstructions will make for relatively easy masking - just vent covers and other minor superstructure parts.

Interesting engineering choice re turrets - first time I've seen this approach in the WL series: the round base of each - what would elevate a turret from the wood deck and represent the armored plating descending to lower decks - is cast seperately, meaning no need to mask around turret bases to paint the deck. The turret bases are molded into the hull piece, so you'll have to be mindful to cover this area when painting the hull. Likely will also provide more rigidity to deck, but only assembly will tell if it leaves any gaps at the deck/hull joint.

I'm impressed with the turret molding. Lots of detail there, including distinct range finders for the #2 and #3 turrets. Slight flare in barrel ends. Delicate castings in plastic of funnel caps and searchlight towers. Many will likely replace these towers with PE, but the plastic is a distinct improvement over solid towers of older (and even fairly recent) IJN BB kits.

Bent funnel, as expected, is a beautiful thing to behold. Most external piping is molded seperately for the funnels.

Transparent sprue for searchlights and four levels of bridge windows.

A handful of parts go unused in this kit - we now know these are for the circa 1927 Nagato announced by Aoshima for release in April.

Will not be able to provide any pictures this evening - sorry.

[Atma]

Thank you D-Boy.
Waiting for the pictures !

[Bill Clarke]

Mine arrived last week and I'm really impressed with it. As stated the lattice work for the search light towers is really well done. I thought that the catapult looked a little short, and on this I wonder how long it will be till we get a open catapult structure like the search light towers.

I'm hopeing that Aoshima will produce her as built as well that will give us the chance to display her throughout her life

[Atma]

The catapult is the old model, compressed air-propelled Kure Type No.1 Model 1.
After the modification to one funnel, torpedo bulges, etc the catapult was replaced with the larger Kure Type No.2 Model 1.

[D-Boy]

Okay, some quick shots, with apologies for some less-than-crisp macro photography:

Bow, showing portholes, gussets, and armor plating:



Stern, showing same:



Bow decking:



Stern decking:



New design/engineering for turret bases, which should make for less deck masking/easier painting:



Dry-fit bow deck, showing fit around new turret engineering:



Dry-fit stern deck, showing fit:



Turret details:



Barrels:



#1 and #4 rangefinders/optics for turrets:



#2 and #3 rangefinders/optics for turrets:



Bent funnel detail:



Detailed plastic funnel cap:



Molding for searchlight towers:



Bridge windows are cast in transparent plastic...:



... for use in four seperate bridge levels:



Significant degree of cast on detailing throughout the kit:





And an initial dry-fit of the hull and deck pieces:





And finally, this little tease at the back of the box art:



Hope this helps!

[D-Boy]

Edit of duplicate post - sorry!

[Dan K]

Thx for posting, nice. The new method of molding the turret barbettes is fascinating.

[D-Boy]

Thx for posting, nice. The new method of molding the turret barbettes is fascinating.

Here's a photo of the missing link in the new engineering. Part on right fits inside turret base coming up from hull, and part on left is underside of turret structure. This kit includes polycaps which fit inside the hull part and are covered by the left-hand piece in the photo here:

[D-Boy]

Although shipped a week apart, the PE and wood decks for the 1933 Nagato arrived a day after the kits did themselves.

PE covers:

Anchor chains and metal plating beneath.

All railings, including replacement of plastic railing at stern hull opening.

Railing for turret tops.

All four levels of bridge windows.

Radio and weather masts at top of forward bridge.

Davits (including some specialized davits mid-ship that replace parts I-15) and staircases.

Supports for bent funnel and searchlights.

Louvres and caps for funnels.

Aircraft catapult and aircraft handling rails.

Range clock on stern mast (the kit provides a decal)

Aircraft propeller and dolly.

Bridge part replacing part E6.

The PE set is combined with the wood deck option for this build. Laser-etched wood deck does include markings for plank ends, and provides decking for all main deck levels, as well as wood decks on bow and stern superstructure. Quite nice.

[Bill Clarke]

That gap at the stern turret might be tricky to fill. I'm thinking PVA glue.

[Atma]

The only fitting problem that I encounter so far is the aft platform for the double 12,7. The aft AA platform (D-1 part) is engineered in a way so that will "embrace" the 1927 old platform. There is some openings at the base that must to be closed.