IJN Mikasa 1/350 + Eduard und Master

[Christian M.]

Hi,

I thought about Lion Roar Set too before and wanted it, but it was not available anywhere for me to get. So I took Eduard Set and settled my claim about down. I will build her with that set and some minor improvements only.

Point is, too, that I'm at least really disappointed about quality of kit in general, because major parts are totally warped! Sure, it is an older kit and not made with newest tools and so on, but even when I count this in my rating too, it stays disappointed.
It is for example unacceptable that there is a gap of 5mm between both hull parts when sticking together. It is also not ok, that the 3 deck plates do not really fit on the hull then,. again with gaps which are about same span!
However, work is still in progress. I corrected yesterday the funnel top cages so far and painted parts with Airbrush. Today evening I will start weathering effects on them.

Cheers,
Christian

[sotter]

Point is, too, that I'm at least really disappointed about quality of kit in general, because major parts are totally warped! Sure, it is an older kit and not made with newest tools and so on, but even when I count this in my rating too, it stays disappointed.

Hmm... sounds bad. I was sure that the kits from hasegawa are one of the best. Anyway, Mikasa is still in my schedule. I read somewhere that Potos plans is planning to release set dedicated to Mikasa.

[Christian M.]

Czesz Sotter,

I thought this about Hasegawa in the past too. Hasegawa had a reputation of making high quality kits and the average high(er) prices in comparsion to most other manufactures was reasoned with it mostly.

For a while I thought that I only had bad luck by getting a bad batch of the kit, but in interim this was changed too. I'm not the only one complaining Hasegawa kits in the moment, because lousy quality:

- 1 friend is angry about his 1/350 US Escort carrier kit, because flight deck is warped like a ski jump!
Also he bought IJN Nagato in 1/350 too and has same problem as I have with hull and deck plates + masts are only bananas!
(both he bought for trading issues and offered me for some trading against AFV tank kits from me, I said clearly "no thanks!" after looking in the box!)
- a colleague built rare 1/450 Akagi kit and had also fitting problems of parts.
- another one has bought some plane kits and here again warped halfes / long items which are mostly warped and which do out of this not fit together.

No idea who is to blame for this ... Hasegawa because lousy production and qualitiy management? Transport company because lousy packed or lousy conditions during transport? The importer with lousy stocking conditions? ... Who knows, but my thoughts about Hasegawa = quality is destroyed now!

[Christian M.]

Hi guys ...
I made some further progress with kit, for example funnels painted, weathered and installed, but kit is for a moment on hold. Reason is simple that I have a gain a kit which is wrong in configuration and where new sources and pictures causing trouble. My personal claim on my kits I build is, as most of you have too, to build as most as correct as possible and here I have (on one side fortunatelly!) the situation to get these new informations not too late ... particiularly from Darius and here I'm very thankfull for him and his knowledge!
To make it short: Until the correct configuration of the small guns (76mm and both types of 47mm guns) is not clear enough, I stop this build here. Sure is in moment that kit's instruction is telling bullcrap and is missing the necessary 47mm 2.5pdr Hotchkiss guns too. Clear is also that the PE shields from Eduard set are bullcrap and wrong in shape (I have them removed now).

Cheers,
Christian

Really ... is there any ship kit as far as correct enought to be build mostly straight out of the box with only upgrading things and some minor corrections / improvements? I have slowly doubts...

[Timmy C]

Really ... is there any ship kit as far as correct enought to be build mostly straight out of the box with only upgrading things and some minor corrections / improvements? I have slowly doubts...

Most of Dragon's new WWII destroyers

[Christian M.]

Really ... is there any ship kit as far as correct enought to be build mostly straight out of the box with only upgrading things and some minor corrections / improvements? I have slowly doubts...

Most of Dragon's new WWII destroyers

Sure Timmy?
Isn't there any "complaint" expectable that configurations of all the Oerlikons and Bofors is wrong for the ship in named time area?

[Timmy C]

Not really, because the only people who would know the answers to those questions are the very same people who advised on the kits As long as you build them exactly as per the kit's intended ship and time frame, you'll be fine.

[Captain pugwash]

Christian I am sorry you have stopped this build.

I am in the same position as you, thats why I to have givern up on this ship, there are to many conflicting comments on what and what was not on at the time.

Its on the shelf I see each day and only needs the rigging, but it also is not up to the period its surposed to be from the comments here and other sites.

Hope you find something soon to build.

[Christian M.]

Hello Captain,

no worries ... issue is solved now and I made decision so far.

... so time for a new update from IJN Mikasa build. After the positions and sort of light armament (76mm and 47mm guns) was clarified � both existing Mikasa kits are wrong as also many books tell wrong too about this � with many thanks to DariusP for his help, I made them.
General problem: 76mm are enough in kit included, but only 4 x 47mm 3pdr. Necessary are 8 x 47mm 3pdr and 4 x 47mm 2.5pdr.
Missing guns were made by cannibalism of my wrong painted Varyag (47mm 2.5 pdr + new base) and 4 47mm 3pdr made out of the superfluous 76mm left from Sevastopol + things from spare box (those from Mikasa are not useable to rebuild a 47mm out of them!).
Further, as visible, I made both bridges, bots masts and some little things too � but this is all still in painting and weathering process and far from ready.













Further I started with one of the many small boats in matter of detailing �




I have soon 1.5 weeks holiday and so more time to build my Mikasa.


Cheers,
Chrisitan

[LE BOSCO]

HI Christian

it really is a beautiful work you do on your Mikasa
bravo
nicolas

[Christian M.]

Thank you Nicolas

[DariusP]

Excellent work Christian! Your Mikasa looks just great!

[Christian M.]

Thank you Darius.

Without your help I would have made for sure a wrong small gun armamanet on my Mikasa.
About hammock splinter guard I make in moment some trials about, which will be the best solution to make in 1/350. Until now no pleasing results ... maybe I buy from Ishida / Japan the resin one if no better result suddenly found.

[DariusP]

Glad I could help Christian but it was you who caused me to start researching Mikasa a bit more. And I have managed to find some sources I didn't know about before so both sides benefited!

Hammocks - yes, hammocks from Hasegawa's kit are VERY over scaled and clumsy. I will wait with interest how your experiments with resin will go. Have you got a link to Ishida's ones?

[Christian M.]

Hello,

time for next little update. Particularly I made the hammock splinter guard around both masts in first steps and I started with canvas around railing both bridges. Further I started with the bigger motorized boats � but all is not yet ready and so a real in the middle of process picture.

The hammock splinter guard was made out of tissue. You know, they have several layers of thin paper and I used 1 layer, cut them in strips of about 1cm and rolled them up. After this I used glue and yarn. The brown yarn is maybe too thick or looking too thick, but as told, the work is still in process and after final works I will rate again.
The canvas have the first of two layers of paint only � 1 is not enough, because Gunze sail color will not cover above Revell Contacta Clear made canvas directly.




Here an example piece of my hammock making... The piece will be cut to pieces before installing:









Here the starboard side. I left space for the ladder on both masts, because simple question: When also covered with hammocks, how will crew climb up to platform and searchlights? Well � so I let them unprotected.



And finally a picture of the starting painting job on motorboats. I just started with deck painting of the wooden planks � much detail painting left over here!






Cheers,
Christian

[LE BOSCO]

HI Christian

splinter guard with hammocks really effective
as usual, a great job
Nicolas

[Christian M.]

Hi Nicolas,

As far as I investigated, only few Navies beside Japanese used them for some time and I only remember a photo of a British Pre-Dreadnought showing her in WW-1 or before. But the Japs used them until end of WW-2 and they are visible on many photos.
I think they gave some safety at least. When an enemy grenade explodes, there are many splinters and fragments flying around from gremade itself as from steel or other things of the ship itself. Because even Mikasa has as all battleships a Conning Tower, there were still pilot house, rangefinders and small guns, search lights etc. manned too and such hits by grenades had at least an effect like a grapeshot to crew and officers (and btw, Admiral Togo and staff officers were always on open bridge in battle too).
Masts were saved with hammocks, because they were importat for lookouts on searchlight platforms, as well masts hoist the antenna too. Such fragments and splinters can work like a flying sawblade ...

[Christian M.]

Hello,

and the next little update ... slowly Mikasa takes a final look.
The ship's boats were almost finished (at the rowing boats still missing the helm, I have to scratch from plastic sheet), and also some more weathering and aging effects and detail painting with a brush and oil paint. Finally, the hull has already gotten the first (still wet) oil color mixing ... still looks a bit desolate, and is far from finished of course.

Here are the pictures ...






















Cheers,
Christian

[Christian M.]

Hello,

about 95% of rigging is done, aqs about 98% of the ship in total. Some Details missing as for example search lights or the rest of hammocks on both bridges. On rigging some lines are missing yet and all must be straighten ... and after all, the final Job must be done: Matt Code from Humbrol and ready!











The finish is in sight!

[Captain pugwash]

Very nice Christian.
Glad you persevered on this build.

Mikasa is looking good.

Mine is still sitting on the shelf unfinished .