Calling all IJN Kuma-class (球磨), Nagara-class (長良) & Sendai-class (川内) fans

[MatthewB]

I've been eyeing up the Fujimi 1/700 kits of Kuma and Tama (new ones) on both HLJ and Hobby Search. Has anyone got any experience of them in the flesh? They look nice in pics but what about up close? Any accuracy issues? If you model them waterline is the split of the lower and upper hulls in the right place? Is it better to get the Tamiya kit and the expensive and extensive Five Star etch set or are the new Fujimi kits good enough to just enhance with things like etch catapults + railings etc? You can't get the kits in the UK, so I'm just after more info before I decide whether or not to order them

thanks
Mike

This is much belated.

I think that you are thinking of the Rainbow PE kits for either the Kuma or Tama.

I have both, but need to get another copy of the Tama set, as I am going to cannibalize the current one to create the appropriate aft deck at the #7 Gun position for a 1942 Nagara (in 1/700).

Five Star does only a Detailing/Upgrade set for the Sendai, Naka, and Tenry? as far as the IJN�s smaller Light Cruisers go (They also do excellent Oyodo, Yahagi, and Y?bari upgrade sets � the set for Yahagi can be used for the other Agano-class CLs with the addition of a few other PE Detailing parts. Five Star also does the Training Cruisers)


I was working on the Nagara when I last was able to build anything, and thanks to advanced in Medical Science, I have had the use of a paralyzed arm restored (still going through Physical Therapy, but I can at least now hold things with it, even if precise motion is difficult).

And I intended to build all of the IJN�s 5,500dt CLs in a 1942 Outfit, which took a bit of doing. I discovered that Tamiya does produce some kits for a �Not Military� line (Anime, for an Anime Titled Arpeggio of Blue Steel), where they have actual Early-War outfits for many kits that have not previously been available (such as a supposed 1942 Ch?kai and Maya, which I have seen the kits existing, but cannot find any for sale, given it was a very limited run of the models).

But getting PE for the 1942 Nagara was a challenge.

But for the other kits, like the Kuma and Tama in the 1942 outfit for the deployment of the ships to the Aleutians Campaign, the existing Tamiya and �Fujimi NEXT� kits are pretty good, especially if going with the PE Detailing Kits.

And the Rainbow PE Kits are for the Tamiya Kits, with the Tama in 1942 outfit, and the Kuma in 1939 outfit (which is an easy conversion to 1942 outfit).

They are worth every penny.

MB

[MatthewB]

Have the �new� 1/700 releases (Full Hull) of 1942 Kuma and 1944 Tama by Fujimi been listed to the New Models in Plastic Coming out (or recently released)?

[url=�Hobby Search Fujimi 1/700 1942 Full-Hull Kuma + Photo Etch�]https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/11117190[/url]

And

[url=�Hobby Search Fujimi 1/700 1944 Full-Hull Tama + Photo Etch�]https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/11117198[/url]

Does anyone have any more information about these?

The detailing on Tama looks really good, and I wish they would freaking do these for the Nagara-class.

MB

[Dan K]

These are just their NEXT kit versions released with a full hull option and PE.

I've never understood why a snap-together kit would be bundled with a PE fret. Isn't the point of a snap-together kit to avoid using glue?

The NEXT kits are typically very sharply molded.

[MatthewB]

These are just their NEXT kit versions released with a full hull option and PE.

I've never understood why a snap-together kit would be bundled with a PE fret. Isn't the point of a snap-together kit to avoid using glue?

The NEXT kits are typically very sharply molded.

Pity they have all those gigantic holes in them.

But I get what you mean about the �Snap Together with P-E.�

Can we have the PE with a regular kit that doesn�t have enormous holes for all the parts.

MB

[Hen]

I'd love to build a 1/700 Kiso in her late 1944 fit as sunk. The basis for that will be the pre-war kit from Tamiya and the info found in the "cruiser bible" by LaCroix/Wells.
I found some pictures of the sunken Kiso in Manila harbor and I have two questions:

1) at least funnel #3 looks very bright, if not white: could this be paint or is it a result of heavy fires?
2) there seem to be small elevated platforms over the aft torpedo tubes. Are these for the additional 25mm guns? The sketch in LaCroix/Wells puts the AA right onto the deck.

[Dan K]

Hi, Hen -

1) at least funnel #3 looks very bright, if not white: could this be paint or is it a result of heavy fires?

It's unlikely to be paint. There would be little sense in heightening its visibility at this point in the war. It's most likely the angle of the light. Plus fire.

2) there seem to be small elevated platforms over the aft torpedo tubes. Are these for the additional 25mm guns? The sketch in LaCroix/Wells puts the AA right onto the deck.

No. There's some debris over the tubes but no platforms for AA. Raising the center of gravity on these ships was not encouraged. There are raised platforms down the centerline, including at least one searchlight platform. I think that's what you are most likely seeing.

HTH. Dan

[Hen]

Thanks a lot for your feedback and the photo, Dan!

[ijnfleetadmiral]

Newly discovered in an IJN newsreel. Screenshots of either Kitakami or Ooiin TORPEDO CRUISER FORM! First fairly-clear shots of them in this guise!

[Dan K]

Wow. Thx for posting!

The mounts appear to be shielded. There's always been some debate about that.

[Dan K]

Elsewhere, Eugin Pinak has correctly pointed out that all the funnels are the same height, marking her as Ooi. THere is some debate about the timing of the film. Also present are Aoba and Kinu after their refits.