PIT-ROAD 1/700 JMSDF LST - 4151 MIURA

[Bill Clarke]

This arrived today along with Maya, and a great book titled "The World of Unfamiliar Ship Models that no one ever knew about".

The ship was one of three built for JMSDF in the early 70's and decommissioned in 2000.
This is a reissued with new box art, the vessel is a close match to the Atsumi class LST's but is 9 metres longer and 500 tons heavier. Pit Road also produce the Atsumi class.

You won't be building this for long, there are just two sprues, and one of these is dedicated to the ship itself. Unlike Pit-Road's other kits ( including the Atsumi LST-4101), this one does not have the colour chart on the back of the box there is a seperate sheet inside the box with the painting details.

The other sprue is dedicated to the tanks, trucks, and LCM's for the ship, there is also a 4 page instruction sheet that's easy to follow.

The hull has great deck detail, hull sides are smooth, but then so was the ship herself. Front face of the bridge and superstructure sides are also well detaielde, and with a wash will really stand out. There are no doors moulded to the sides of the upper superstructure.

The large crane over the well deck is nicely done. It appears possible that the bow doors could be posed open, but they both have a small knockout pin mark on them, also as there is no ramp included (strange huh?) you will need to scratch build one.

There is a tiny bit of flash on the bow doors and tiny sink marks on parts A9.

I found these links for the ship and the Atsumi class:
http://www.seaforces.org/marint/Japan-M ... -class.htm
http://www.seaforces.org/marint/Japan-M ... -class.htm

[D-Boy]

"The World of Unfamiliar Ship Models that no one Ever Knew About"

Got to love the Japanese - English translations. The above-referenced publication is in softcover and is published by the same publisher as Navy Yard magazine, a Japanese quarterly devoted to ship modeling. Most, if not all, of the builds featured in the new publication have appeared in Navy Yard issues 1-22. "Unique and Alternate Builds" might have been a better translation. While nice to have these builds collected in one place, if you own Navy Yard back issues, you've already got access to what is collected here.

The publication features 1:700-scale builds of:

Finnish coastal battleship Ilmarinen
RN Monitor Albercrombie (full hull)
IJN turret transport Kashino
USN Anti-aircraft gun-trainer AG-17 Wyoming
RN Monitor General Wolfe
USN repair ship AR4 Vestal
IJN Gunboat Suma
RTN Armored Gunboat Thombri
RTN Armored Sloop Maeklong
IJN Whiff AC/Oiler Takano
IJN Corvette Yamato
IJN Gunboat Hashidate
IJN HC Kako
RN AC Ark Royal (WWI)
USN Oiler Neosho
IJN Corvette Kongo
IJN AC Chikuma
Kuamintang Chinese Fleet Flagship Dan Yang
USN Fast Attack Transport APD-16 Ward
IJN Second Class BB Fuso
RN AC Hermes
IJN Targetship Yakaze
IJN AC Hosho (late war)

[Dan K]

Thank you for another fine look-see, Bill.

Incidentally, if anyone wants a purchase a copy of the cited publication as outlined by D-Boy, I'll sell you mine. Since I have all the NY Specials, I don't need it. I paid 3800y (US$43.54 plus shipping) but I'm happy to let it go for $35 plus shipping. Just PM me.

[Bill Clarke]

"The World of Unfamiliar Ship Models that no one Ever Knew About"

Got to love the Japanese - English translations. The above-referenced publication is in softcover and is published by the same publisher as Navy Yard magazine, a Japanese quarterly devoted to ship modeling. Most, if not all, of the builds featured in the new publication have appeared in Navy Yard issues 1-22. "Unique and Alternate Builds" might have been a better translation. While nice to have these builds collected in one place, if you own Navy Yard back issues, you've already got access to what is collected here.

The publication features 1:700-scale builds of:

Finnish coastal battleship Ilmarinen
RN Monitor Albercrombie (full hull)
IJN turret transport Kashino
USN Anti-aircraft gun-trainer AG-17 Wyoming
RN Monitor General Wolfe
USN repair ship AR4 Vestal
IJN Gunboat Suma
RTN Armored Gunboat Thombri
RTN Armored Sloop Maeklong
IJN Whiff AC/Oiler Takano
IJN Corvette Yamato
IJN Gunboat Hashidate
IJN HC Kako
RN AC Ark Royal (WWI)
USN Oiler Neosho
IJN Corvette Kongo
IJN AC Chikuma
Kuamintang Chinese Fleet Flagship Dan Yang
USN Fast Attack Transport APD-16 Ward
IJN Second Class BB Fuso
RN AC Hermes
IJN Targetship Yakaze
IJN AC Hosho (late war)

I never knew that , well looks like you saved me a review mate. Here are some pics from the front cover.

[D-Boy]

I never knew that , well looks like you saved me a review mate. Here are some pics from the front cover.

Dan Kaplan and I did not know that either until the publication arrived on our shores!

[sirpaul]

Thanks for the review Bill. This class looks alot better than the kit i got(Atsumi). I thoght they were the same class until see your review. I never bothered to look it up. I noticed they come with the same vehichles sprues.

[Bill Clarke]

You are welcome guys, yes sirpaul, more spares as you wont get all the supplied vehilces and Armor on the deck - I don't think.
I notice that this kit now has a status of Discontinued, I should have ordered 2.