Fujimi 1/700 IJN Kaga is Here!

[D-Boy]

This kit is not a big upgrade from the old kit. The new kit also takes several hours more to build. If you spend the hours on the old kit with the proper upgrades????

IMO, with both kits in my stash, a side-by-side comparison would have me favor the new kit time and time again, whether an OOB build (overwhelmingly superior) or as a platform for mods and PE upgrades. Can't lose with the new Fujimi kit.

[Dan K]

It's an arguable point. I have been told that the new kit is based on drawings done in 1940 during a refit. It's been separately confirmed by a colleague who was told by a former (first?) director of the Kure Maritime Museum) that there are at least two copies of that 1940 refit in existence, in private hands.

So, I would tend to believe that the new kit hull reflects some subtle changes and it certainly is sharply molded. OTOH, I don't see the new kit flight deck as a major improvement over the old one, though it doesn't have all the raised lines that the old one has. The foredeck channels of the new one can be filled easily. You could also sand down the old flight deck and add the new Fujimi/KA wooden sticker on it, or the KA generic wooden decking cut to size, or just some V-grooved styrene sheet cut to size. And, I would think the new comprehensive Kaga PE fret could be used with some adjustment on the old kit as well.

It all depends on what your up for.

[sirpaul]

This kit is not a big upgrade from the old kit. The new kit also takes several hours more to build. If you spend the hours on the old kit with the proper upgrades????

IMO, with both kits in my stash, a side-by-side comparison would have me favor the new kit time and time again, whether an OOB build (overwhelmingly superior) or as a platform for mods and PE upgrades. Can't lose with the new Fujimi kit.

Don't get me wrong. I love the new Fujimi kits. But i think in this one they could of raised the bar a little bit. Like the Kongo in both scales are excellent kits. My next look will be at the Tone 1945 from Fujimi

[Dan K]

Fujimi raising the bar - Tone, probably. Taiho - mostly. Shokaku-Zuikaku-Hiei - definitely. Upcoming Kirishima, almost a certainty.

[Pagodaphile]

Does anyone out there still have both the new and old Kaga's kits unassembled ? I am looking for a comparison between the footprint between the old and new flightdecks. I have one of the brass PE Midship Models decks for the old Hasegawas and wondering if it will lay down well on the new Fujimi deck without having to cut it up.

I haven't bought the new Fujimi yet, and am trying to decide if I want to expend it on the old school Kaga or save it for the new one. I couldn't talk Dan K into tearing up the deck on his old Kaga to compare it

[Dan K]

You should touch base with my 4 yr old son. I'm certain he would be happy to oblige your need to rip apart that Kaga.