Calling all IJN Takao-class (高雄型) fans

[Guest]

Hello

I thing soon build a Takao , i have buy the Lion Roar PE set 1/350 Lion Roar IJN Heavy Cruiser TAKAO 1942 Super Update Conversion already

Do you think it possible to use it with Aoshima 44 or Chokai 44 ?

Or it need really the Takao 42 version also ?

thanks

Dom

[Atma]

Most of the PE set (70%) is compatible with the 1942 IJN Takao.
So I guess it will work better with IJN Takao than IJN Chokai.

[mike powell]

Has this kit reached any distributors in the US? Or has it come and gone?

[Atma]

Dont know if the kit has been on the USA yet, but in Europe and in Japan is already a month out. Same with the IJN Takao "Retake".

[Mike W]

Are the Aoshima 1/700 Takao class cruisers any good? I want to replace my Skywave ones I made years ago but want to know if the Aoshima ones are worth getting seeing as they are loads cheaper.

thanks
Mike

[Dan K]

They are fairly accurate, certainly more so than the PitRoad versions, but require a fair amount of detailing to make them truly shine. You can see what Richard Price's Takao, or my Maya, have taken in terms of details if you are looking to go the extreme route.

Fujimi's new Takao kit comes with many more details molded in and on, but it's not perfect. It's also limited to a 1944 fit. They have a Maya scheduled to come out soon, with some improvements, if I understand Atma's annoucement correctly.

[Mike W]

Thanks for the info Dan.

Actually 1944 Takao is just fine by me, same goes for Maya. I'd prefer a 1942 Atago and Chokai though. Question is though, will Fujimi's be better than Aoshimas? If it's anything like some of Fujimi's latest, it will be really nice.

thanks
Mike

[Atma]

Question is though, will Fujimi's be better than Aoshimas?
thanks
Mike

Light years ahead. Trust me.

[Atma]

Found that on internet, is IJN Maya:

[Dan K]

cool.

[Mike Lowe]

What are the difference between the old kits Chokai and Takao 1942 and the re-issued kits ?

[Atma]

The red circle is the new parts for IJN Takao and the blue circle the new parts for the IJN Chokai.

Plus some more closeups:
The bridge of the IJN Takao is the partial model on the bottom.



and

If you are talking about the new 1/350 kits from Aoshima, check the above quote.
Partial retooled parts as you can see, if you have the old 1/350 kits dosent worth in my opinion to buy the new ones as they are not completely new tooled. With a nice PE set the old kits are going to be fine.They are not actually that old, 5 years ago Aoshima released the first IJN Takao class in 1/350.
Of course if you dont have any of the kits then buy the "Re-Take" version as Aoshima is saying.
Here you can see whats in the box:
IJN Chokai:http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10160974
IJN Takao:http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10160971

[J.F.S.]

Hello,
Is there major differences between 1942 Takao and 1942 Chokai?
Thankyou
Joe

[Dan K]

Well, they have somewhat different silhouettes. Takao/Atago were reconstructed in 1938-9 with changes to the bridge, improvements to fire control, bulges, placement of the mainmast, deletion of the hangar and the addition of an aircraft handling dekc, improved AA.

Chokai/Maya were scheduled for the same but, the war scuttled that plan.

[Atma]

Hello,
Is there major differences between 1942 Takao and 1942 Chokai?
Thankyou
Joe

Your are from States, so you are gonna understand that easy, they are like USS Colorado and USS West Virginia in 1945. Almost tottaly different ships.

[J.F.S.]

Thankyou!

[J.F.S.]

Hello,
I see that Aoshima has a 1944 Takao Leyte Gulf version,which states that it is new tooling.Is the entire kit new or is there just a few upgrades? The scale is 1/700!
Thankyou
Joe

[Atma]

New tool IJN Takao is only this one in 1/700, the Fujimi offering:
http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10133602
and this for a full hull mode:
http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10161556

The Aoshima WAS new tooling 6-7 years ago.


Since Fujimi, released the IJN Takao in late mode, this is the only kit that you need for a IJN Atago or IJN Takao post 1943. Everything else is old.

[Marco_Trigo]

Thanks... I had the same doubt.

Damn... Fujimi is no longer the ugly duckling of the waterline world, is it? These models are light years away from Aoshima's from a few years ago. A shame about the price, but I just can't bring myself to buying Aoshima or Hasegawa's alternatives even at a lower price.

Marco

[Dan K]

THe new Fujimi kit has a few errors in it but it's not bad. Certainly, it has plenty of detail molded in. COmes down to the amount of pain you want to indure. The Aoshima kit shapes are still better, IMHO, but adding the detail is more work.