Aoshima 1/350 heavy cruiser IJN Atago 1944 Updated Edition

[SilverGhost]

Silver Ghost wrote:

==>>> I think my bow is much better than Aoshima's ugly fat bow <<<==

oh yes!--I fully agree-- a sharp bow can make or break!.

excellent progress with good detailing!

Jim B

Nicely done!

That bow is literally, so fine. Well done.

Thanks to all of you!

[SilverGhost]

A few days ago, I got a Japanese photoalbum from Ebay

THE IMPERIAL JAPANESE NAVY 6 Heavy Cruisers Takao-class, Aoba-class, Furutaka-class.

1989, 260 pages, 300 photos (148 photos Takao-class, 87 photos Aoba-class, 63 photos Furutaka-class)
~100 $

Highly recommended for Japan cruiser fans and modellers!




I started work on scratchbuilding new hawses.

Anchor - 5.5 t resin anchor from North Star Models

Above - 2 versions of Aoshima's hawse
Left - old version 2008-2018, Right - new version from 2018 (only one issue - Atago) with additional detail

Unfortunately, the form of hawse are wrong in both versions

Below - prospective form of new hawse from Anatomy.
There will be a lot of work - all the walls of the hawse will need to be done anew.
The new hawse is smaller and deeper than the old hawse



closed up the hawses with Evergreen sheet plastic. Made a template for a new plastic hawse

[SilverGhost]

Takao-class cruisers have 2 different variants of hawses


Variant 1.

Chokai's hawse


Maya's hawse


Atago's hawses



Variant 2.

Takao hawse




So, I need to make new hawse template...

[MartinJQuinn]

Really fine work on the bow and keel!

[Dan K]

Are you sure that it's not just a matter of light angle and shadows in the photos? It was a standardized form for the class.

[SilverGhost]

Really fine work on the bow and keel!

Thank you Martin!

[SilverGhost]

Are you sure that it's not just a matter of light angle and shadows in the photos? It was a standardized form for the class.

Each naval yard made differences into initial project of cruiser. It was at Myoko cruisers - all sisterships had many differences - turret roofs, funnel pipes, main masts, portholes, ventilators, superstructure, etc

Those naval yards build 4 Takao-class cruisers and they had many differences too.
For example, Maya and Takao had another pattern of linoleum brass stripes than Atago and Chokai
All 4 cruisers had 4 variants of grill at ventilation duct of boiler rooms #1 and #2 at main superstructure
And etc...

Therefor, 2 versions of hawses don�t look something unusual at one class cruisers

For example, Mogami had another form of hawse... It was smaller

[SilverGhost]

Yesterday, I got from Ebay Flyhawk detail set for Takao.

My impressions are still very positive.
I will replace handrails at funnels - they are wrong
The correct handrails are only given in Aoshima/Ironclad detail set

I take a photos of the resin parts later
Almost all resin are similar Veteran resin
But 25 mm Type 96 machine guns are made very simple.
They should be replaced with machines from the Veteran.

But 5 Veteran resin sets with 25-mm machine guns are cost similar to these Flyhawk big detail set

[Dan K]

Thank you for posting pics of the Flyhawk set. I was always curious to see the details. Overall, it seems very nice.

[SilverGhost]

current state of work in progress


I need to make new hawses and draw Atago drawings (9 drawings - 1932, 1939-1941, late 1944 and portside, straboard, topside).
And finish editing scans of literature and 3D (Kagero and Japanese 3D)

Last weekend I draw 3 new Takao portside drawings (1932, 1939-1941, late 1944) using Skulsky's starboard drawings on Takao and my photoalbums
In Anatomy we can see only starboard and topside drawings
Preview of my Takao drawings. Details of superstructure need improvement, but portholes are all done

[Alex SZ1996]

I corrected the bow and keel. 1 hour work with abrasive 270 - and everything is complete
It is not as difficult as it seems





I think my bow is much better than Aoshima's ugly fat bow

i dont think the kit bow and keel would be too noticeable when built and finished, but your reshaping work does look great. will consider doing the same with my Atago and Maya kits

[SilverGhost]

i dont think the kit bow and keel would be too noticeable when built and finished, but your reshaping work does look great. will consider doing the same with my Atago and Maya kits

If think that the bow for ship like the face for people.
If the bow is incorrect, the ship looks like another.
It is really matter

I agree with you, that the keel is don't matter. It is hard to see when the ship is on a stand.
After my work with aicraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov I want to correct keel and all details near. This is my feature

You can see the real difference between the real Takao and its model


Mr. Fujimoto and Mr. Hiraga (head constructors of these cruisers) would be unhappy with the work of their descendants

[J. Soca]

Nice to see you went up in size this time! Looking superb





Jose

[SilverGhost]

Continue posting photos of Flyhawk Takao detail set

Overall view of details
14 PE plates, 23 resin sets, 12 brass sets.
1459 PE parts, 251 resin parts, 241 brass parts
Total - 1951




12.7cm AA-gun Type 89.
like Veteran clone












Resin parts

Ammunition boxes, 25-mm shell boxes, 6-cm, 8-cm, 12-cm binoculars, binoculars with signal lamps, binoculars with infrared transmitters, searchlight directors, searchlights, 25-mm AA guns and some over parts.

25-mm AA-guns should be replaced by Veteran AA-guns. They are much better.


















Brass parts

203-mm and 25-mm gun barrels, bollards, 3 types of cable reels, 25-mm AA-guns stands, 4 types of deck ventilators and voice pipes.
Brass deck ventilators should be replaced by resin North Star Models deck ventilators for Takao.

[SilverGhost]

Review of Aoshima Ironclad 1/350 Takao RETAKE detail up parts












Instruction









Compare with Flyhawk





And review of old Aoshima Ironclad 1/350 Chokai 1942 etched parts









In general, it is useless, except for etched corrugated aft deck

[SilverGhost]

1. Flyhawk (FH) crane is better than Aoshima (A). But A crane is more simple in assemble.
2. FH railings are more better than A. But A railings have correct step of racks
3. FH davits are more better than A.
4. FH ladders are much correct than A ladders. A ladders have incorrect Handrails.
5. FH imitation of corrugated flooring at turning plates for seaplane carriages is more correct than A
6. FH seaplane carriages are more better than A. But they have strange proportions
7. A rails for seaplane carriages are more better than FH.
8. A seaplane propellers made more interesting than FH.

And 4 big advantages of Aoshima detail sets
1. Aoshima made correct Railings at funnels. FH made them incorrectly. And Aoshima's railings are more simple in assembling
2. Aoshima made window bindings at bridges. FH don't made these details
3. Aoshima made details inside funnels. FH don't made these details
4. Aoshima made imitation of corrugated flooring at the deck at stern.

[Dan K]

Thank you, very, very helpful.

[Nino]

Thank you, very, very helpful.

Ditto, Ditto, Ditto!
A primer on "How To" and a History lesson with the finest pictures and examples ever.

My hat is off for your fine research work.

I picked up the kit when FreeTime had their "Moving sale". You can bet I will be an avid follow of your work.

Thanks.

Jim. (Nino)

[SilverGhost]

Small review of 2 Gold Medal Model detail sets - Takao detail set, Gold plus Takao set













Compare GMM (G) with Flyhawk (F) and Aoshima (A)

[SilverGhost]

I Completed drawings of Atago 1932




Today I got Voyager resin gun turrets

This turrets - the best solution to Takao class cruisers



Aoshima plastic, Lion Roar resin and Flyhawk PE gun turrets - are incorrect
Only Voyager made correct gun turrets

Photos of these turrets with AB&K blast bags for Mogami heavy cruisers
These blast bags are the most correct the IJN heavy cruisers
















The difference between Lion Roar resin turrets and Voyager resin turrets


Unfortunately Lion Roar turrets is a copy of plastic turrets with early version of gunhole loopholes for (1932-1938)
and they have incorrect door and side shields
Voyager made late version of turrets - 1939-1945 with correct door, gunhole loopholes and side shields