Bandai 1/700 Deep sea drilling vessel CHIKYU

[D-Boy]

News from the "Plastic New Releases" thread reveals a 1:700 scale kit of the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) research vessel Chikyu from Bandai.

Photos of the kit here: http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10197223

Completed in July 2005, the deep sea drilling vessel, CHIKYU, features the most advanced drilling capabilities in the world (7,000 m below the seafloor). With these capabilities, CHIKYU allows drilling of the previously unreachable mantle as well as the seismogenic zone. Acting as the principal vessel of the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP), the main objective of CHIKYU is to facilitate a wide range of activities that once achieved will contribute to the future of humankind. These activities may include revealing the mechanism to develop the giant earthquake, the origins of life, future global environmental changes, and new deep sea resources.

Length 210 m
Beam 38.0 m
Depth 16.2 m
Draft 9.2 m
Gross tonnage 56,752 tons
Cruising speed 12 knots
Range 14,800 nautical miles
Accommodation 200
Main propulsion system Diesel electric propulsion

Photos of the ship itself: http://www.jamstec.go.jp/chikyu/eng/Chi ... whole.html

Ship's mission:
Observation and direct sampling of the seismogenic zone

Investigating the earthquake mechanism requires surveys, direct observations, samples and monitoring under the earth at the plate boundary. D/V CHIKYU, because it can drill to the seismogenic zone, is the primary tool to obtain these crucial pieces of information.

Research into life in the earth's crust and in the sub-sea floor environment

Enormous amounts of microbes, more those of the earth's surface, live in the crust, which is a completely different biosphere than the surface. Research into these microbes in extreme environments may resolve the origin and evolution of life on Earth.

Investigation of the internal structure of the earth

The main objectives of D/V CHIKYU is to drill through the earth's crust and reach the mantle, where no one has ever explored before. We will open the door for direct understanding the relationship between global-scale environmental change and mantle processes.

Investigation of the record and causes of global environmental change

Sediment cores obtained by D/V CHIKYU are valuable records of global environmental change.

Detailed analysis of such records enables the understanding of global change mechanisms and prediction of future change.

Another ship in the JAMSTEC fleet was sold pre-assembled and pre-painted in 1:700 as part of a Takara series accompanying the releases of a Japanese TV series called the "Sinking of Japan"... the Yokosuka, mother ship to the Shinkai 6500 submersible. The kit occassionally shows up on US Ebay: here is a current listing with photo: http://www.ebay.com/itm/JAPAN-SINKING-D ... 0462342033

[D-Boy]

Upon getting a look at this kit today, I am very impressed at the size of the vessal in 1:700 and the fact that a ship like this was even manufactured in plastic. Its vertical dimensions will dwarf any ship in your collection: ship measures 12" bow to stern and just over two inches wide for most of the length of the hull, and appears to build to about 7" in height.

Full-hull or waterline options. Full hull snaps into place tightly on WL hull. Some effort needed to pull those parts apart again

This is a kit you will never find in another scale, and while some of the kit features (multi-color molding, adhesive stickers for some lines that you'd typically mask and paint, and some snap-tight assembly design) might suggest a more toy-like build, you will be able to dress this kit extensively should you wish. While it is doubtful there will ever be a dedicated PE set for this, it would benefit from added railings and replacement stairs. Stairs are cast-on detail on the horizontal surfaces, which may or may not make them easier to remove for the purpose of PE replacement. But they are cast well enough that one might decide to just add railings, rather than replace outright.

Hobby Search Japan does their usual photographic treatment of box, sprues and directions: http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10197223

I ordered this kit from Hobby Link Japan, which shipped last week and arrived today. HLJ had the best price I saw... it is listed also on Ebay by several Japanese sellers at twice retail. Big box, which kept me from shipping it over SAL.

I've taken a vow to thin my collection and not order anything new. Violated that policy for this kit, and it was well worth it.

- D-Boy

[sirpaul]

This is an awesome kit D boy. I hate full hulls but with this set up it might look nice with some drilling going on. Are you going to do a WIP? The kit really is a great deal too!

[PetrolGator]

This is truly a fantastic kit. Being that I work in the oilfield, I think I may have to build her.


I will say this, though. Considerable detail will have to be added as I spent a lot of time inspecting drillships in the US Gulf of Mexico region.

[D-Boy]

This is an awesome kit D boy. I hate full hulls but with this set up it might look nice with some drilling going on. Are you going to do a WIP? The kit really is a great deal too!

When I get to starting this kit, I will post Work in Progress report, promise. Trying to get through a long line of started kits first! I'm so good at starting builds...

- D-Boy

[indigodave]

I accidently ended up with two of these kits as I had it on preorder from HLJ and then saw it really cheap on Ebay. I am more than Happy though as it is a Great kit. I'm trying to find out though if she has any sister ships I could convert one into. I have seen pictures of very simillar vessels and wondered if it was a standard design. If not a What if beckons lol

[D-Boy]

I accidently ended up with two of these kits as I had it on preorder from HLJ and then saw it really cheap on Ebay. I am more than Happy though as it is a Great kit. I'm trying to find out though if she has any sister ships I could convert one into. I have seen pictures of very simillar vessels and wondered if it was a standard design. If not a What if beckons lol

Out of curiosity, what was the Ebay price? The prices on the US Ebay site are higher than the HLJ price.

[maxim]

Are PE parts for Chikyu available?

[Skiper]

As far as I know, there isn't any "dedicated" PE set for this ship available. I am making a complete list of what can be upgraded and from which set (at least to my level of abilities). I can post the list here when it's ready if you want.

[maxim]

Yes, I would be interested! Chikyu will be one of my next models.

Problems are in my opinion e.g. the upper part of the drilling tower (part I1 18), many platforms made from perforated plates on the drilling tower, the structure below the helicopter landing deck (F3), the nets on the landing deck, the lattice structure in parts E1/E2, E17, the net-like structure (not glass) of parts M3 and M4...

[D-Boy]

Yes, I would be interested! Chikyu will be one of my next models.

Problems are in my opinion e.g. the upper part of the drilling tower (part I1 18), many platforms made from perforated plates on the drilling tower, the structure below the helicopter landing deck (F3), the nets on the landing deck, the lattice structure in parts E1/E2, E17, the net-like structure (not glass) of parts M3 and M4...

Maxim has completed a lovely build of this kit: http://www.modellmarine.de/index.php?op ... d=112:lars

[D-Boy]

Here's the second build of this kit posted to this forum: viewtopic.php?f=60&t=157853&p=641341#p641341

[ssjm3]

i am coming from building U.S. ARMOR and i have seen most of all the shows on the history channel and the smithsoian channel and i have fallen in love with the drill ships and off shore drill platforms i would like to know how hard it is to build this ship and will she look as great as the picture i kind of need a change ....with all my thanks.....steve

[Timmy C]

Steve, which thread did you want to put this under? You need to hit "New Reply" and not "New Topic" if you want your post to show up in an existing discussion topic.

[ssjm3]

this thread is about the drill ship and i was wondering how hard it is

[Timmy C]

Yes, but which drill ship? The Chikyu? Anyways, I put it in the Chikyu thread.

[D-Boy]

this thread is about the drill ship and i was wondering how hard it is

Without seeking to enhance the kit with aftermarket items or upgrades, the kit looks to be a very straight-forward build. If building out-of-the-box, it looks to require minimal glue, and you could forego painting, as parts are molded in various colors. Check out my initial impressions of page 1 of this thread.

[maxim]

It is very easy to assemble - but there are a lot of parts, which can be improved. But there is no aftermarket set available to my knowledge, therefore I had many parts myself, e.g. the structure below the helicopter deck or the top of the drilling rig. See also the link to my model above.