Calling all IJN Takao-class (高雄型) fans

[Dan K]

Chuck - my take is yes. There's a photo of Atago on 11/12/42 showing her aft port 12.7cm twin mount with one of the the stop bars in front of it. This is on the CW Warships Pictorial book on the Takaos. Haven;t found any other photos, though.

donalyah00 - the strips are invisible in 1/700 and barely so in 1/350. I think (as I suggested somewhere previously) that one would be better served by marking the molded strip with a gold pen, taping it off with ultra thin tape, and spraying on linoleum. No less wide and much less effort. FWIW

[mw 1378]

Hi Marek,

forget these stripes,they are all very much out of scale. Use the one moulded on and paint them as Dan said. But don�t do them real golden. I think no one polished them every day , so they where quite grey after a very short time.

Best regards Marc

[mopy]

Hello, guys!

Need some help here, please! I am looking at Aoshima's 1/700 Takao kit range and have got the two finalists:
http://www.hlj.com/product/AOSWL337
http://www.hlj.com/product/AOS043264

For the #337 (waterline) it says that it is in Hlj's catalog since 2001, and says "All-new retooling", as for #43264, it has been there since 2008, and says "A new tooling".
Has anyone got any idea is it the same mold with just different hulls (#43264, says it can't be built waterline - at least not just OOB), or is the full hull a completely new model?
I don't care much for the full hull because it's going on a water plate anyway.
I am planing on buying the Flyhawkmodel set:
http://www.hlj.com/product/FLM700035

So, If anyone knows how good the set goes on any of above mentioned kits, the information would be appreciated.

Regards,
mopy

[Dan K]

Both sets are newly retooled. If the full hull version follows what Aoshima did with its Yukikaze-Kagero kits, then its a new full hulll mold, done in cooperation with a Chinese injection molding company. However, some details were reversed.

Stick with the first kit. There's also a 1942 version out of the same tooling, also a "clear bridge version, which would help with the bridge window PE but is tough to find these days as its OOP.

[mopy]

Both sets are newly retooled. If the full hull version follows what Aoshima did with its Yukikaze-Kagero kits, then its a new full hulll mold, done in cooperation with a Chinese injection molding company. However, some details were reversed.

Stick with the first kit. There's also a 1942 version out of the same tooling, also a "clear bridge version, which would help with the bridge window PE but is tough to find these days as its OOP.

I thought it would be like that.
I figured I would go for Aoshima rather than Pit-Road. I've read that Pit-Road Takao is a little disappointing, and that Aoshima kit is superior.

Thanks for the info.
Sorry, but what do you mean by "reversed" details? Are you referring to the full hull model?

Regards,
mopy

[Dan K]

Yes. The full hull Yukikaze kit comes with recessed brass strips for the linoleum. Should be raised, though, it's so small, it really doesn't matter.

I can't speak to the overall accuracy of the PitRoad vs Aoshima Takao, only the Chokai, of which Aoshima's was far more accurate. To my eye, the Aoshima Takao is still superior. For reference, here's link to the clear bridge version: http://www.hlj.com/product/AOS03614

[mopy]

Thanks Dan,

Too bad the version with transparent windows seems to be long out of stock (at Hobby Search, HLJ, RB10, ...).
They seem to be very difficult to find.
Although here I found a suspicious label:
http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10016413

For the Aoshima kit #337 it says "IJN Cruiser Takao w/Clear Parts (1944) (Plastic model))

Hmm, makes me wonder.

Too bad there are no images of kit parts.
But here is something else:
http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10043339

Aoshima's kit #339 - Heavy Cruiser Maya w/Windows Parts 1944 (Plastic model)

Have a look at the picture:
http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/image/10043339n/40/1

At the far left part of the picture - between the hull parts you can see the bridge parts, that look to me like transparent plastic.

If wee would be led by the Aoshima's kit numbers, it looks like #339 Maya and #337 Takao are from the same series.
And that could mean that the #337 also has transparent parts.

Regards,
Andrej

[Dan K]

Well, I have the new tool Aoshima Chokai, Maya, and Atago, though I've only built the Chokai. All are clear bridge versions. The clear brdige version are worth it if you plan to use PE window fittings - it eliminates the need to cut out those portions of the bridge.

The kit hulls for the Maya and Atago (and Takao) are identical. The Chokai's hull is singularly different - no bulges. The Maya kit has many different parts then Atago/Takao, particularly the upper bridge, though they use the same basic hull and HA deck. Unfortunately, you can't substitute Maya parts for Takao.

Best bet is to search on Amazon or Ebay, probably.

[mopy]

Thanks for the info Dan!

I'll try to get the clear window version, and if not successful, I will take the #337 kit.

Regards,
mopy

[mopy]

Just a little update.

Today I have received the Aoshima Takao #337, or #45367 (other number), and it's got the "T" sprue containing two parts for clear bridge windows, like in the picture bellow (here it's not the #337 kit, but the image shows the transparent sprue):
http://www.hlj.com/product/AOS03614

Although, #337 is not labeled as clear bridge version it does contain these parts.

[Dan K]

That's very good. Gonna make your life just that much easier. I don't know if it's true for the Takao-Atago bridge but Aoshima did update some minor details on the Chokai-Maya bridge version when they issued those two kits with clear windows, as they had to issue a new version of the parts anyway. Added to the kits accuracy. I assume that this would be true for Takao-Atago as well.

[chuck]

IMHO transparent windows looks wrong because the transparency pieces provided by the kits are far too thick. It is better to install PE window frames without any transparencies, or using any one of the bottled liquid that drys to a clear transparent film available in most hobby stores to close up the PE window frame.

[Dan K]

I agree. The point of buying these versions was to ease the installation of the PE window frames - those sections have already been altered to accept the clear piece. Works like a charm. Nothing to cut away.

[apfelzra]

Hi Takao fans,

I'm getting close to completing my Aoshima 1:350 full hull 1944 Takao, and have a somewhat esoteric question. I have both the standard and Plus GMM photoetch sets, and in the latter there are a pair of boat booms with jacobs ladders for use when the ship is in port and at anchor. GMM's instructions are to install these two booms on either side of the hull opposite "X" turret (turret No. 4). However, I want to portray the ship at sea as she was in October 1944. Should these booms be completely omitted, or would they have been stowed longitudinally along the hull, parallel to and just below the deck? Would the small cranes that operated them be upright, or collapsed? If these structures are to be shown attached to the hull, I assume the attached ladders and hanging lines should be removed prior to gluing them in place. Thanks for your suggestions.
On another matter, I have installed brass 8-in. gun barrels to replace the kit's plastic ones, but to match the correct length I had to cut away the plastic blast bags when attaching the barrels to the plastic base that snaps into the turret. I was able to substitute small strips of tissue paper, fastened around the barrels with diluted Elmer's white glue, and then paint them very light gray. This not only achieved a satisfactory visual effect of the somewhat bulky bags, but still permitted each gun to individually raise or lower and yet show the barrel fully enclosed at the turret by the bag, which remained flexible enough to do this.

[Dan K]

As you suspect, the boat booms are stored against the hull, horizontally. They pivot at the attachment point to the hull. The davits are collapsible and are also stored up against the hull. Go to the first page of this thread and view some of the builds for an idea of how they are positioned. Booms, too.

Good solution on the blast bags.

[SRC]

Wondering about the midship structures on the Takao-class ships - the ones with the ventilator grilles and various AA platforms (they vary from ship to ship in that class). On the Chokai especially, with only one AA station per side in that area, there is a lot of unoccupied surface on the top of those built-up areas. Did they have railings? It seems strange if they were unused or if personnel were unsecured if they were used for anything...? I have found no pictures or diagrams in any of my references that address this detail. ?? Thanx, Steve

[Dan K]

Did you have a year/fit in mind? There is information in the AOTS Takao book (the sisters were 98% identical prior to the 1938-39 refits of Atago and Takao); also in the Miyukikai plansets.

Prior to her refit with additonal AA and platforms in this area in mid 1943, much of this area was used for storage of damage control lumber. Some photos prewar and of my 1942 1-700 build, vs 1944.

[src]

OK; super, thanx, Dan. I want one of those Gakken #16 Takao-class books. Anyone got one for sale, new or used, but with all pages intact? And I note the damage control timber, which I could not identify on your 1/700 build pix. Steve

[Dan K]

Unfortunately, I don't have an extra Gakken for sale, Steve. Amazon or Ebay is probably going to be your best bet, Unless Pacific Front Hobbies has one.

The photo above was just an in-process shot. Below is a view of Chokai finished. It's late 1942 fit so, the raised platforms either side of #1 funnel used previously for saluting guns were changed over to an emplacement for a twin 25mm AA.

[mozartgarage]

Thanx so much for the pix, Dan; I know that was some trouble for you and I appreciate it. The Gakken #16 pic is, along with the rest of the magazine, unknown to me, so thank you for that, too. I have been working from the AOTS, the Model Art, and the Kagero books, none of which show the 1943+ add'l AA mods, etc. I find this interesting and would like to incorporate them into my 1/350 Aoshima build - maybe. Thus: what are the large structures behind each funnel that the Gakken pic shows, and what would be the other major alterations for that version?

I've been asking questions for quite a while now, this inspires me to try and tackle the picture posting routine and share a few of my own efforts to date.

Can you supply an ISBN for the Gakken and Fukui items, if available? That would help for my searches, which are too clumsy for the foreign item (not in hand by Pacific Front).

Ciao,

Steve