Various 1/700 IJN Accessory Sets

[Quincy]

Fresh home from my cruise to NZ, and look what we have here;

http://www.hobbyeasy.com/en/data/nrapog ... bxkuo.html

Wow! They look gorgeous!!



Thanks Bill!




Bob Pink.

[Dan K]

Yes, they do.

[Dan K]

FineMolds has released several more sets in its NanoDread line. Among them is WA29, IJN AA Fire Control Set, which is really just dedicated to the various 25mm AA directors.

Each tree comes with 5 open directors, 2 enclosed versions (typically found among the starboard aft enclosed weapons mounts on IJN CVs and CVLs), and one armored version as found on the Yamato class tower bridge. Each box comes with 4 trees so, that's more than several ship's worth. For example, a late war Shokaku class CV would require 2 enclosed directors and 6 open directors.

These directors are pretty much ubiquitous on the larger warships. I find this new accessory set a very welcome addition. While there are several PE renditions available for the open mount version, I find most of them time-consuming to assemble, and often not very representative of the actual device. This version seems spot on to me. Amazing detail.

The first two images are courtesy of Finemolds.

[Bill Clarke]

Thanks Dan,

I bought these when they were first advetised.

Where else would the open mounts be situated on BB's CA's and CL's ?

And would they be present on DD's?

[Dan K]

No easy answer here, Bill. Aside from saying that these directors are generally located on the bridge superstructure, around the funnels, and around the mainmast, it varies by class and type ship. I do see more enclosed versions on CA and BBs than I would have expected. Is there a specific ship that you have in mind?

Interestingly, I've never seen one on a DD.

[Bill Clarke]

No, no specific ship Dan.
I'll go through my references when I'm home next.

I'm hoping that they will bring out other equipment like search light controllers, and other optical equipment.

[Dan K]

You and I, both.

[Bill Clarke]

Here's the 18in and 5.5in turrets from Pitt Road's Kashino
http://www.hlj.com/product/PITNE-08/Nav

And some new TT's
http://www.hlj.com/product/PITNE-09/Nav

[Dan K]

Personally, I find these the release of the quintuple TT tubes for Shimakaze as a separate set to be puzzling. Their new Shimakaze kit already comes with them. These mounts are too big to be used for upgrading the old Tamiya kit and besides, why not just buy the new kit if you;re going to spend the money? I suppose it could be a boon to anyone working on a what-if ship but, it seems like a waste of marketing money on PitRoad's part.

Same could be set of the other set unless the 18" and 6" turrets are more detailed than what already comes with the current Yamato kits.

[Bill Clarke]

Just found this: http://www.hlj.com/product/NKMZW7052J/Nav

Make a nice addition to a dio or loaded on the deck of a maru or landing craft

And this: http://www.hlj.com/product/ADNANN-0015/Nav

[Dan K]

The torpedoes look nice. Gonna have to think about those.

Earlier this year, PitRoad finally released the specially designed NE07 accessory set for its Fubuki class DD kits as a stand alone item, and I finally picked up a set. All I can say is that it would have been really nice to have this set available when I was building my own Fubuki DesDiv a few years ago. It would have saved me from a lot of scratch-building of turrets and torpedo mounts.

This set follows the same format as the earlier NE05 set for the Kagero/Yugumo class kits. While some parts of this new set were offered previously in other NE sets (like the ships boats and torpedo tubes) , a fair number of parts are specific to this class, particularly the Type A & B turrets, the triple TT mounts for the 61cm torpedoes, and the 13mm AA weapons. (note: in the same way that some parts of the NE05 kits, notably the turrets, can be used for earlier classes as well as the later Shimakaze, the Type B twin turrets from the NE07 set could be used on the succeeding Hatsuharu class kits.) Illustrations courtesy of the PitRoad website.

[Dan K]

I�m just going to focus on the turrets with some comparisons. Before I do, I will say that the TT mounts are very nice, and have the stagger which was unique to the Fubukis, in which the center tube was mounted a little higher than the outside tubes. A really nice detail.

First, the Type A mounts. The Fubuki class introduced a heavier main armament, the 12.7cm 50 cal gun, in a twin, fully enclosed, weather and splinter proof turret that was far ahead of its contemporaries. The first ten vessels (the Type I subgroup) mounted this turret, three per ship.

[Dan K]

There have been several versions available over the years from PitRoad and its various accessory sets, in addition to the original version produced by Tamiya for its Type I kit. Each succeeding version was an improvement (usually), and the same can be said for this latest version, which is nicely detailed and, I believe, more properly proportioned. (note: Yamashita Hobby is about to release its own injection Type A turret. based on the photo, there may be some improved details. We�ll see.) I�ve put together a key to follow for identification purposes:

A) The original Tamiya Version
B) PitRoad NE07 version
C) PitRoad Fubuki Type I kit version (which comes with every kit)
D) PitRoad E-5 IJN equipment set
E) Same as D, completed with brass rod barrels (this is an extra from my Fubuki Type I builds)

[Dan K]

Then, there are the Type B mounts. In fact, there were actually three variations on the Type B mount: The original B, the B1, and the B2. The original Type Bs were installed in the Fubukis (and Hatsuharus) as built. They had a sloped, high domed aperture with a louvered shield that opened for the gunlayer. There were no stiffening rails installed as of yet, and all the ventilation apertures on the sides of the turret were rectangular.

This initial version turret is not part of the NE07 set. I'm including them here for completeness sake. One version has been offered for years with PitRoad�s original E-5/38 equipment set, and a new version comes with all of their Fubuki class kits. Unless Tamiya offered one as well with its original Fubuki kits, I�m not aware of another version. The version that comes with the new PR Fubuki kits is better in every respect save for the height of the dome. The actual unit had light rails to support awnings for heat shading, which added height to the overall appearance of the dome (see the Shikinami example), and it looks like the kit part was mistakenly mastered for that extra height. It can be sanded down a little. Key:

A) PitRoad Fubuki Type II & III kit versions (which comes with every kit). Good for as built configurations only.
B) PitRoad E-5 (earlier marked as #38) equipment set

More to come on the last two versions, both which are included with the NE07 set.

[D-Boy]

An invaluable thread, Dan K, and all contributors. Thank you.

[Dan K]

Thx, D-Boy.

I guess I should add that one of the reasons for a change from the Type A to the Type B turret was that the new turret enabled a higher elevation for the gun, so as to better use it as an AA weapon as well as a surface weapon.

Between 1935 and 1937, most of the Fubuki class underwent refits that included adding covered shields for the torpedo tubes and, for the Type IIs and IIIs, changes to the B model turrets. These changes included a simplification to the gunlayer�s aperture, which removed the louvered cover while replacing it with a set of hinged doors, and reducing the domed top to a flattened, more squared appearance. #1 turret (or A turret) had reinforcement stiffeners added to its front and sides, to help with the effect of heavy seas. All were referred to as the Type B1 turret.

[Dan K]

At some point in the late 30�s, #1 turret was altered yet again, with the addition of round ventilation ports on the sides in place of the rectangular ones. I�m guessing these allowed a better seal against heavy seas. This was the Type B2 turret. Additional grab bars were also added on top of the flattened dome. There were no further changes to the turret after this.

[Dan K]

The new NE07 set supplies two of each of the B1 and B2 turret, both very nicely rendered. Like I said, I sure wish these had been released a few years ago. The only complication is that stiffening bars have been molded around each of them, regardless of which model they are. So, to be correct, careful removal with a blade and some fine sanding is recommended for the B1 turrets.

I�ve prepared another comparison between available turrets. Unfortunately, I did not have a turret from one of the original Tamiya Fubuki kits readily available at the time to add to the comparison. The key:

A) PitRoad NE07 B2 version
B) PitRoad NE07 B1 version
C) Waterline Consortium (ex-Leviathan) Small Ship Accessory set B1 version
D) PitRoad E-5 IJN equipment set B1 version
E) PitRoad E-10 IJN equipment set B1 version
F) Same as E, completed with brass rod barrels & stiffening strips (this is an extra from my Fubuki Type II/III builds)

[Dan K]

I borrowed a couple of images off the internet to complete the review. First is a Tamiya Type B turret; it is molded in a slightly generic fashion to enable early or late fit.

The other image is from HLJ and is a graphic of a Pit-Road Fubuki Type I with the NE07 set parts in place.

[Bill Clarke]

Dan, as always a comprehensive in depth review, thanks mate.