Calling all IJN Fubuki-class (吹雪) fans

[Dan K]

The FineMolds site has started an OOB build of the Amagiri. A nice point of differentiation with the Ayanami is the Amagiri's armor plating on the bridge facing. If you use Google's translator function, you get a somewhat decent translation of the commentary. See: http://finemolds.co.jp/kinsangatukuru/k ... kuru3.html

[davidwaples]

This looks interesting and the build thread looks very good. I have no knowledge about Japanese ships. Is it me or is the anti skid plating way out of scale? It looks grossly oversized to me.
Dave

[Dan K]

If you are referring to the brass tiedown strips that hold down the linoleum sheeting, then, technically, yes, these are overscale. There was some variation but these were usually 30mm wide x 5mm high.

Personally, it bothers me less in 1/350 than in 1/700. And FineMolds has rendered it finer than most other 1/350 kits.

The real thing was visible up to a point, particularly because of the brass surface. In the first two pics below, notice the tiedowns at Oboro's stern, in the upper, center left of the photo. The perspective is probably 175' away.

The third photo is just from above, and closer. It's instructive to compare the tiedowns in the center left to the size of the crewman's feet. Ignore the white arrow - from another discussion

[davidwaples]

Thanks for the information and helping me understand what this feature is all about. Again, I'm not familiar with Japanese ships so this was quite helpful.
Dave

[john53]

Thank you. I ordered Fine Molds Amagiri and has just been
shipped.Does the kit include PE?---John

[Dan K]

Unfortunately, no. FineMolds does offer main barrels, deguassing cable and railings separately. These PE components can also be had from other PE manufacturers, though in generic form, not Fubuki kit specific form.

[Dan K]

I'm going to add some more info. on light AA armament, specifically those mounted in front of funnel #2, based on some discussions off-line, and on another forum.

A very close examination of the photographic record shows (to my surprise) that the Type IIs, which were built initially with a small AA platform in this area identical to the Type Is, retained this smaller AA platform in front of #2 funnel as late as 1939-1940, while mounting either one twin 13mm or two singles. This platform was not widened to accomodate two twin 13mm mounts until sometime in 1941(probably during the same yard visit that their degaussing cables were installed). The photographic record for most of the Type IIs is fairly complete and in agreement in this regard.

A good example is taken from Sagiri, below, in which an exceptional view of her in 1940 shows one twin 13mm AA emplaced on a narrow platform. A year later, while she is on manuevers in October, 1941 with her DesDiv 20 sisters, the widened platform can be seen.

As a side note, it appears that the FineMolds 1/350 Shikanami may be in error on this point as the model shows the widened platfrom, yet the kit is supposed to depict her fit between 1936 & 1939.

While the photo record on the Type Is is a bit more sparse for the immediate prewar and wartime periods, I don't think it unreasonable that the same mods be apply to the Type Is as the Type IIs. We know Shirayuki sports the widened platform in March, 1943. My sense is that the platfrom was modified for all the Type Is and IIs during 1941.

[Steve]

Dan- Is the 1/700 Skywave W-106 kit the only Type 1 with the early type 5" mounts available (other than the old Tamiya kits)? Steve G

[Dan K]

Hi, Steve:

If you are referring to the Type A turrets, like on the pic of Uranami below, than all the Type I kits comes with a version of this turret (in fact, all the PitRoad kits come with a sprue with this turret on it, IIRC). Problem is that it's a bit small. The older PitRoad E-5 Equipment set has the best version of it. HTH.

[falcon04]

On pre-war Fubuki class, a long pipe or tube arches back on centerline from the bridge and over the torpedo mounts, ending at the aftmost platform. Was this a voice pipe - or what was it ?

[Dan K]

Excellent question; I've never gotten a satisfactory answer. I always thought they were electrical conduits but they could be voice tubes.

[falcon04]

Here's a cropped scan of a beautiful 1:50 Ushio model from a Gakken Destroyer book of 2010.

http://www.hlj.com/product/GAK05959

I've indicated the description of this conduit or pipe - the same description is in "Mechanism of Japanese Destroyers".

Perhaps one of our Japanese linguists can translate ?

[Timmy C]

Voice communication tube. Figured it after running through several likely English words through Google translate and seeing which characters come up that matched.

[falcon04]

Yup - amazingly quick - thanks for the google tip.

"speaking tube":

http://translate.google.com/?hl=en&tab= ... ing%20tube

[falcon04]

Interesting build(s)

http://forum.modelship.com.tw/phpBB2/vi ... ca86efe590

http://forum.modelship.com.tw/phpBB2/vi ... .php?t=380

[Dan K]

Thank you, Timmy. I appreciate it.

The links are to Jeff Lin's superb as-built Ushio, using the PitRoad kit. I believe I listed it among the links on p.1 of this thread. It's a smart build, because one doens't have as many corrections to perform if you build it as-built, enhancements aside.

[Philip LaVoie]

Hi Dan, have you ordered the Fine Molds Amagiri yet? I just have and was wondering your opinion on any fixes to the model. That will be my next build I think, also my first IJN project, so I have a lot to learn.

Also, I�m amazed there are no after market detail sets for the Fubuki class so far with three kits out. I assume someone will eventually release one.

[Dan K]

Actually, I haven't, Phillip. I am choosing to wait for a late war version (hopefully, Ushio or Akebono). Given the cost, I prefer to wait for a little more differentiation from Ayanami.

Having gone over the Ayanami pretty thoroughly while in the box, and knowing that there isn't that much differentiation with either Shikanami or Amagiri save for the changes in fit, I feel that, correction-wise, these kits are extremely accurate.

Accuracy is not the same thing as providing for better detailing via PE or aftermarket accessories. As good as the kit is, there is certainly room for better detailed torpedo loading girders, and depth charge racks, and the like.

Of all the companies out there that work in 1/350, I suspect that a LionRoar, Voyager, FlyHawk or evan Rainbow may eventually take a crack at it. FineMolds does make specific railing, degaussing cable and main barrel sets for the class.

[Philip LaVoie]

Thanks Dan, appreciate the reply. I�ll probably wait until one of those aftermarket sets pop up before I tear into it. I know I touched base with you before on the differences if I wanted to convert the Ayanami into the Amagiri, but I can�t find that old thread for some reason. It looks like the Amagiri has that forward platform in the kit, wonder if I could ask a couple more quick questions.

Do the kits have the correct main turrets? I believe it was mentioned these ships mounted both the type A and B turrets.

And there was a change in the AA guns, some triple mounts were needed for the Amagiri I think.

Also the box art does not show any striping on the stacks, do you think this is correct?

Thanks again for the info!

[falcon04]

FineMolds instructions, FYI:

Ayanami

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10115392

Shikinami

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10145073

Asigiri

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10161534

The FineMolds p.e and brass 12.7 cm's are very expensive, to say the least !