Calling all Akagi (赤城) and Kaga (加賀) fans

[Peter H]

Hi Dan / Guys

My 1/350 Kaga has arrived. Will post a pic here and can e-mail / send a few more if wanted.

Plenty of etch for under the forward and aft flight deck, similar to the Akagi. Degaussing comes in the larger etch set (#40) as an option, does not appear to be on the hull. Rearmost struts for the flight deck do not seem to be an etch option, they will need to be drilled out for accuracy (or wait for an aftermarket option). A single etch fret comes with the kit and includes nets, arrestors etc. Standard etch set (#39) covers all railings, ladders and colored landing lights. Will add 1 pic now and post another of deck/s when I get home this afternoon.
Looks to be a very, very nice kit.

Rgds
Peter H
Sydney, AU

[Peter H]

Some pics of the deck detail as requested, hope this helps

[Dan K]

Confirmation accepted.

It should be a great build. How does the island look?

[Peter H]

Hi Dan / All

The Island looks pretty much like that on Akagi, the photo etch brings it to the next level as would be expected. I have added a pic so you can hopefully see how it is on the instructions.
Putting the Kaga hull against my Akagi shows Kaga is a bit shorter but also "taller" by about 10mm.
Have also taken a pic of the hull with my half completed USS Fort Worth as reference.
Rgds
Peter H

Sydney, AU

[Dan K]

Thx for posting those, Peter. Who would have ever thought - CarDiv 1 in 1/350.

[Michael Mulvaney]

After studying the photos on page 8 of this thread, I am not 100% convinced they prove Kaga had 6 support struts under the forward part of the flight deck. I believe the "outboard" set of arrows might be the shorter supports to part K-33 of the 1/350 kit (the broad forward bulkhead to the hangar decks). The photos seem to match up well to the forward view of the painting diagram in the kit, which depict the ship with only 4 support struts.

Just my thoughts

[Peter H]

Guys, fair point re only 4 support struts under the forward flight deck, the large full size poster that comes with the kit only shows 4? Not that that is by any means proof, but I think its good that we are given the option of 4 or 6 as per my pic of the instructions. At the moment I am probably going to use all 6. The Kagero 3D book (which is excellent) has all 6.
If anyone want's a pic of a part posted let me know.

Rgds
Peter H
Sydney, AU

[Peter H]

Kaga Kit, Etch sets & both Kagero Books. I haven't read the Hardcover yet but will post if it states anything about when the extra pair of supports may have been fitted.

Rgds
Peter H

[KSuM3]

There is a photo on pg 123 of the hard bound Kaga book that shows her at Staring Bay sometime after the start of hostilities. There appears to be 6 supports under the forward flight deck, which would support the notion she had the extra pair added during her last refit.

[Dan K]

Yes, this photo. According to her recently updated TROM, the third set of pillars was added in November, 1940 during a refit. The other thing is, in looking through her TROM, there really is no interval long enough for a major yard refit between Pearl Harbor and the Staring Bay photo

[KSuM3]

Thanks for posting that photo. That's the one I was referring to.

[Michael Mulvaney]

That photo of Kaga at Staring Bay works for me. 6 support struts it is! Research and sharing of knowledge like this is one of the things that make this hobby so enjoyable.

[DennisJP]

I maybe wrong!!! Does it seem that Kaga's island has been moved farther back then before? The Island is almost even with Akagi's island position almost midships

[Dan K]

It depends on the angle off the bow. As the bow rotates toward you, the angle shortens the stern, as seen here, prewar:

[garyrunnalls]

Love the Kaga, looks like a Great kit. For a really good read and I'm sure a lot of you have already, you can't beat "Shattered Sword". That poor ship took a pounding and a direct hit on her island or within a few feet that killed almost all on the bridge. Thanks for taking time to post pics. I would be so into the kit that I'd have food sent over and grow a beard.

[Dan K]

I would be so into the kit that I'd have food sent over and grow a beard.

So, what's stopping you?

I confess to having always preferred Kaga over Akagi, based purely on aesthetics.

[garyrunnalls]

You are right Dan, not really anything. I'm still working on my 1/700 Zuikaku in her green glory but not rushing it. As well as WW2 ships, I have have a fascination for late war German Panzer tanks. I can complete these kits with PE in a fraction of the time that a ship would take. I think the Kaga kit might win over a 1/16 scale King Tiger kit after the 1st week in July.

[Peter H]

Thought I would take a few more pics, more I look at the parts, etch etc more I want to rush in and start.
Would have liked the very rear pair of deck supports (see pic) to have come in etch, but not so, either a very small drill or wait for A/M.

[ryanb]

Anyone here building the 1/350 Kaga yet? I'm about to dive in to mine and was wondering if there were any work-in-progress pics I could look at for pointers.

Also, any word on the rumored Pontos detail set? Curious what that would bring over the Fujimi PE sets.

[Dan K]

Isn't Gaston working on the kit?