IJN Hashidate and Itsukushima 1/700 scale Seals models

[DanCinSD]

I like ships of this era and since SMS Derfflinger is stalled this looks like a good ship (or pair) to start.
When I ordered this I did not realize there were 2 ships in the box. Sister ships and only slight differences between them.

Construction to start soon!
Kit box art.


2 sprues per ship, 4 spres total for both ships.




Close up of a sprue.


Color chart of the two ships..... look close for the differences!


Interesting design, they will look different from the ships I have built so far. Off to try and find any pictures or info on these ships......

[mabmanu]

I like this boat .

[maxim]

Very interesting ships!

I recommend Sankeikan: Japan�s coast defence ships of the Matsushima class by Jiro Itani, Hans Lengerer und Tomoko Rehm-Takara in Warship 1990 for this class.

There is also a Russian publication: Kreisera Typa Matsushima by A.A. Below (BKM Series?).

Already wikipedia has some photos:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Categ ... uselang=ja

You can also use the Japanese title from the wikipedia articles to search for photos: ?? ????? = Japanese(?) cruiser Itsukushima and ?? ????? = Japanese(?) cruiser Hashidate.


Seals Models depict them in the fit after 1901/02. In the refit 1901/02 refit four 12 cm guns were moved to the upper deck (originally they had ten 12 cm guns on the main deck and one aft) and the mast lost his legs.

The main difference between the ships are the ports of the 12 cm guns on the main deck. Itsukushima had simple ports, whereas Hashidate had sponsons. These difference is depicted by Seals Models (you can see on the drawings for the colours).

[DanCinSD]

Maxim, thank you for the info, it will help in these builds.

[Devin]

Very unique looking ships. I'm intrigued. I don't believe I've hears of Seals Models before, but it looks as if they do some nice molding.