1/700 Five Star IJN No 53 Auxiliary Sub Chaser

[Harpy]

Thought I'd test the waters of 1/700 with small Five Star Kit. No 53 was in a small class of 3 vessels built from the Maru 2 Program. The first two ships of the were diesel powered while No. 53 was steam power due to the complexity of the diesel engines. The ships were deemed too small by the Navy and relegated to training in the Mine Warfare School operating out of Tokyo Bay. No. 53 was renumbered to 253 when the number was assigned to an active Sub Chaser. Later 253 was assigned as a tug boat and survived the war.


The kit contains 4 resin pieces and a nice set of photo etch.


On the bow a bit and windlass were added. They are not included in the kit, but the part number were referenced in the instructions. I added a 25mm, but the ship was delivered with a 40mm.


Someone had mentioned the Niko made a 40mm, so I searched and found a set. I tried to jazz up the gun a bit with a PE mount, added little seats, and a barrel 1/350 25mm.




Pretty much ready for painting. Added an ammo locker, flag bags, a search light, and vents.

[shipclambake]

Wow shes pretty and tiny, Cant wait to see her painted are you going to rig her?

[Dan K]

What, you couldn't start any smaller?

That is impressive work. That thing is tiny.

[Harpy]

Cant wait to see her painted are you going to rig her?

Her she is in Tamiya Maizuru Grey Bottled Lacquer (LP-14). I didn't prime and missed a lot glue bumps, sanded the worse of them, but will have to go over it again. For rigging I got some 0.048mm Lycra.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2jAs2cN]Paint

What, you couldn't start any smaller?

To be honest I didn't think the ship would be that small, but I haven't enjoyed a kit this much for a long time.

[Silenoz]

looks good so far... and yes, I made the same mistake about the size... but as you say, it is fun...

[Harpy]

Thanks Silenoz

Still plugging away...

Dd

At the magnification limits of my camera, but here is a picture of the rigging. I used Infini Ultra Fine Lycra Rigging with Coral Frag Glue (IC-GEL) Ethyl Cyanoacrylate Gel. My thin super glue would wick up the Lycra creating problems. I just touched the end of the line with the Gel and then applied the line to the ship. It was ready to be stretch to the next point in a couple of seconds. I put the Ship Pennant for Sub Chaser (Maru (KU)) on the port side and the Interrogatory Classification Pennant on the other side (meaning not understood by itself?). Still needs a few finishing touches and a wash or two. Maybe try to hide or fix some blemishes but, will have to be more careful next build.

[Harpy]

253 got knocked off the table and was smashed. IJN Subchaser 51/251 was the same hull, but diesel powered. Thought I would include that place of 253.

Ff by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/186314166@N04/]

[K494]

Very well done.

Scott

[Harpy]

Thanks Scott.

Just doing some catchup. Two of the three members of the IJN 251 Auxiliary Sub Chaser. 51 was diesel while 53 was the steam version. Neither saw combat and both survived the war as tug boats.

251 class by

[Silenoz]

Bit late with a response, but still a nice result...