Pit Road's release in plastic of the IJN "Turret Conveyance"/Munitions Ship Kashino is now shipping and my kit arrived in the US today from Japan.
Until I am able to take pictures of specific sprues and details, the kit content pictures at Hobby Search Japan will have to suffice:
http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10289522Hobby Link Japan also features some additional photos of the kit:
http://www.hlj.com/product/PITW-160And here's the original release in resin, circa 2005:
http://www.hlj.com/product/pitspr-08/Nav. The Hi-Mold resin kit, also by Pit Road, is now OOP and rarely seen on the second-hand market, so this new release in plastic will be welcomed by modelers.
Unlike the original resin release, the new Pit Road release in plastic has a full hull option, and includes the main and auxiliary armament turrets for the Yamato Class BBs, and hatch covers.
Launched in early 1940, KASHINO was specifically built to transport the YAMATO-class battleships' main and secondary armament guns and turrets from their point of manufacture (Kure Naval Arsenal) to the shipbuilders' yard. The Japanese "40 cm/45 Type 94 naval gun" was the largest bore gun ever mounted on any warship (they were actually 46 cm (18.1 in) guns, but were designated 40 cm (15.7 in) in an effort to hide their true size). These turrets and barrels were too large to transport by road, rail or conventional ship transport. Kashino was equipped with two large cargo holds which could embark the turrets and required more ballast than comparable ships to provide stability when she was not carrying these heavy loads. The ship also carried the 15.5 cm/60 3rd Year Type gun used by the Yamato Class as auxiliary armament (also used as main armament on the Mogami-class cruisers (as completed) and on the light cruiser Ōyodo).
Once the Yamato and Musashi were complete and the third hull of the class re-purposed as the aircraft carrier Shinano, the Kashino was converted to covered holds in 1942 to carry ammunition and supplies, and briefly served in this capacity in the summer of 1942 before being sunk by USS Growler (SS-215) off Formosa/Okinawa in September 1942. At over 10,000 tons, she was the largest of the IJN's ammunition carriers.
Pit Road's kit includes detailed instructions, a color diagram for paint and decal instructions, a stand for full-hull display, seven parts sprues, and eight additional parts. Several sprues are wrapped in Styrofoam padding to prevent damage. A small decal sheet provides flags and ship's name. Every sprue in the kit appears to be specifically made for this kit
This kit provides an option for a full hull, and the fit between the waterlined hull and the full hull is near-exact, with the lower hull possibly requiring some sanding at the bow to conform to upper hull length. There is no waterline plate. The hull above waterline depicts a considerable flare from bow to near stern to accommodate the width of the holds. Pit Road's narrative with the instruction notes the hull extending 55 cm on either side, providing Kashino with a unique hull shape that appears well-captured in plastic. I don't recall the Hi-Mold resin version of this kit depicting this, but will check and report back.
There is no hull plating depicted on either the upper or lower hulls; the lower hull has two very delicate mold lines that should be removed near the stern (The instructions show more detail re hull and hold plating than molded in the actual model). Portholes will need to be drilled open, but have gutters molded in place above - these don't appear to be oversized and are more apparent to touch than to sight.
Detailed parts are available to depict both assembled and unassembled 40 and 15 cm turrets, and instructions depict which holds, and in what arrangement, the unassembled turrets and barrels were transported. Given these choices, there are certainly some shipyard diorama possibilities with this kit, with a 350-ton capacity derrick required to lift parts out of the Kashino's hold and swing them aboard the Yamato or Musashi. The molding of the 40cm and 15 cm turrets is detailed, but may not match the Yamato or Musashi turrets released by other companies, should you model your Kashino alongside the BBs.
The main deck is cast in three pieces, and unlike the Hi-Mold resin kit (which implies a linoleum deck), this Pit Road kit depicts a treaded deck from bow to stern.
So, first glance, a very detailed kit with clear instructions of a singularly unique IJN trip. Will post some photos and do more of a comparison with the Hi-Mold resin kit, as well as compare turrets with the Yamato and Musashi kits I have on hand.
Login
Register
FAQ
