Aoshima's late 2012 release of the IJN Chitose represents this ship later in its career as a seaplane tender. Laid down at Kure in 1934, it served as a seaplane tender through 1942, before beginning conversion to a light aircraft carrier at Sasebo in early 1943. Chitose was part of the Midway invasion fleet, but saw no direct action in that naval battle. The loss of four Japanese carriers at that engagement prompted the ship's conversion to a carrier, an upgrade that was planned for during the ship's initial construction under the restrictions of the Washington Naval Treaty.
No need to hold on to your older Aoshima mold of the Chitose now that this kit is out. I'll post photos to supplement this review, but here's an initial report of all the improvements that come with this new mold/new release.
1) A far higher parts count, resulting in greater detail from bow to stern, and the thirteen sprues barely fit in the box which literally bulges with parts.
2) PE included with the kit provides detailing for top and bottom of seaplane handling shelter roof/deck, that large elevated structure mid-ship.
3) Hull is one piece, with significant porthole detail. Deck is molded in four pieces, with the seams at the transition from metal to linoleum and back again. Have not yet dry-fit these parts to assess how tight the fit is, but I expect Aoshima got it right. These seams are at deck paint transitions, and their appearance will be further disguised by parts assembly above or adjacent to them.
4) Stern elevator can be posed in up or down position, and the various aircraft handling platforms above deck level have significantly upgraded detailing. Tracks for moving aircraft on deck are seperately molded, easing painting.
5) Aircraft handling shelter detail is significantly upgraded on all faces in new kit - you'll find new pipes, funnels, and vents in this kit that provide vastly improved detail over the old.
6) Transparent plastic for the bridge windows, and a more detailed assembly sequence and therefore more detailed shape to the bridge and superstructure as a result.
7) New molds for all four aircraft types that come with this kit. These molds include folded wings for all of the planes (yes, including the bi-planes). In fact, you can only build a folded-wing set-up from this kit for each of these aircraft. These include the E7K1/E7K2 Kawanishi Navy Type 94, the E8N1/E8N2 Nakajima Navy Type 95, F1M1/F1M2 Mitsubishi Navy Type 0, and the E13A1 Aichi Navy Type 0.
The kit's only weakness is that the ships boats and the AA weaponry that serve as main guns on the bow are from the ubiquitous W2 sprue that Waterline Consortium companies all share. Options from Fujimi and Finemolds will provide much greater detail, matching the improvements that Aoshima has made elsewhere.
9) Decals included for heinmarus and float markings for all seaplanes, as well as a scale heinmaru for the top of the aircraft handling shelter. That decal is smaller in diameter than the 1:48 scale decal that I borrowed for my build of the earlier version of this kit.
10) A dedicated accessory PE set for the Chitose is sold seperately by Aoshima and includes pre-cut railing lengths, masts, antennae, catapults, ships cranes, funnel caps, funnel rails, seaplane propellers and wing bracing for the bi-planes, aircraft dollies, gun platform bases, and staircases.
I am not yet aware of plans for new releases of the Chiyoda, a sister-ship, but as Bill Clarke notes below, the Mizuho, with its matching hull, but distinctly different hanger apparatus has now also been released by Aoshima. That kit does not come with PE included, but I suspect the accessory PE from Aoshima for the Chiyoda will be compatible with the Mizuho as well.
This Chitose "Super Detail" kit is a welcome upgrade over the first mold of this kit, and will build to a distinct and colorful ship in your collection.
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