Fujimi 1/700 IJN Ryuho 1942

[Bill Clarke]

This kit arrived yesterday, I have to admit I'm becomming somewhat addicted to these wonderfull kits Fujimi are producing these days.

The kit has 11 grey sprues, 5 clear, 1 set of decals and hull plate. Instructions are clear and easy to read and understand.

The hull has rain gutters over the port holes and minimal raised detail. No de gaussing cables is moulded on, nor are there any walkways, gun emplacements, or crew stations.
On the inside of the hull halves are hollow tubes in to which go rods (sprue E). This will make for a secure hull for the deck.
No ejector pin marks are evident on the outside of the hull or for that matter on any of the parts that I could find.

Ships boats are nicley done, 3 have oars moulded on and ther are 2 different types of Dihatsu barges, though only 3 in total, again no ejector pin marks on any of the boats.
All of the various platforms have anti skid tread plate moulded on areas where there would have been lots of traffic. Linoleum decking is also represented where required. The larger gun tubs have bracing on the insides of the thin splinter shields and all platforms have bracing underneath which looks quite good.

At the aft end of the flight deck, the "wings" are flat on the on the top side and rounded underneath. Deck detail here is excellent, rain gutters, tie down points, and fine plank detail are all represented.

There are moulded on stairs on on various platforms, but honestly these look ok, replace them if you wish.
Also included are gun directors (parts K28) and what I take to be binoculars or landing lights (parts K29) happy for someone to jump in here and advise on this, there is a practice loading machine on the forward bow under the flight deck.

The covered 25mm mounts are plain but the 12.7's have good detail on them. All the open mounts are the same as provided in Fujimi's previous releases, you could swap the m for Fine Moulds parts if you wish.
Clear parts, these consist of 7 aircraft, 12 search lights, and the canopys for 2 of the ships cutters (can someone explain this to me please ? )

This is a superb little kit, and will build up just great OOB, add some PE and you'll have a show stopper.

[Bill Clarke]

Some more pics:

[Dan K]

Thx for the review, Bill. Looks like a very nice kit (except for that flight deck planking, of course )

[D-Boy]

Thx for the review, Bill. Looks like a very nice kit (except for that flight deck planking, of course )

Dan, time to establish an international prize for accurarate IJN deck-planking, in your name of course. I'll throw $10.00 in the pot.

[Dan K]

That much? Do I have to match it?

[D-Boy]

That much? Do I have to match it?

I thought the price of your IJN flight deck pattern sanity far higher.

[Dan K]

My sanity will never be maintained........regardless of price.

[JasonW]

The Ryuho is the only IJN carrier I am missing at this point. I've methodically managed to check the rest off my list over the years.

I have found the Fujimi kit online as well as the Pit-Road kit. The Fujimi kit looks great based on this review but is there a pro or con list for the Fujimi kit against the Pit-Road? I have Pit-Road's Chiyoda which looks pretty good in the box and I would assume their Ryuho will be the same type of detail and quality. Other than price is there another factor that may help me decide on either Pit-Road or Fujimi Ryuho kits?

What are the thoughts of the resident IJN carrier experts here?

[Dan K]

I have neither kit but, I do know just from photos that PitRoad's flight deck planking is much more accurately scaled than Fujimi's. Based on prior recent examples of each, I would also think that PitRoad's molding to be more crisp/less soft than Fujimi's. Fujimi may have a few more details overall.

[JasonW]

I have neither kit but, I do know just from photos that PitRoad's flight deck planking is much more accurately scaled than Fujimi's. Based on prior recent examples of each, I would also think that PitRoad's molding to be more crisp/less soft than Fujimi's. Fujimi may have a few more details overall.

Thanks Dan. I appreciate the reply.

[Dan K]

As we don't have a dedicated CASF thread for Ryuho, this seems the most appropriate place for the following post from Motoyuki-san, who has just done a comparison review of the PitRoad and Fujimi versions for a Japanese publication:

I send some photos comparing Pitroad (1942 and 1945) and Fujimi (1942 w/PE)�s Ryuho. Hull shape and fitting parts of the former are better, on the other hand the latter surpass in detail mold and are well proportionate for photo etching parts. Pit�s forward 01-level deck is slightly wide at fwd end because of lack of knuckle flair. F�s stern boat deck is much narrow. Although Fujimi�s wooden deck sheet is not so bad, additional PE in the set has serious problem; arresting wire is too short for ship�s width and barrier have to be stood due to thickness of wood sheet (I bended it forcibly). Eventually the winner will be depended on each modeler.

[Atma]

At the end, whats the most accurate ? Dan.
Fujimi is going to release anyway a PE set of the flight deck plus a wooden deck too.

[Dan K]

I think Motoyuki-san thought they were both pretty good, each with just some small errors. He feels it's up to the individual modeler about their preferences and desire to make any corrections.

Everyone knows how I feel about Fujimi's standard planking pattern for their flight decks so, if I were going to paint the deck (my personal preference) instead of using a wood deck sticker, I'd opt for the PitRoad version. But that's me.

[Atma]

Whats the correct version Pit Roards square guns tube(Yellow Arrow) or Fujimi rounded guns tube(Red Arrow):

Thanks in advance.

[Atma]

Also:

The deck(s) on Pit Road looks bare compared to Fujimi.

[Timmy C]

And the difference in the forecastle on the treadplating.

[Dan K]

I can't speak to the treading; will have to check available photos for the 25mm emplacements.

[Dan K]

Fujimi's rendition for the forwardmost 25mm tubs is correct. OTOH, it's hard to tell from the available Ryuho photo whose version for the rear tubs us correct. I would think that the front and rears tubs would be similar but, in the 2nd pic, the sides look angular, which would mean PitRoad versions are correct. (credit: #1 - KMM CV volume; #2 - Adm. Bogan Collection)

[Geno the Viking]

Great photos and info. Thanks for posting.

[Geno the Viking]

I finally recieved my 1/700 Fujimi Ryuho 1945 and it is excellent.

I havn't studied the airplanes too much yet but they are molded clear and the canopies are separate. Can anyone identify what the airplanes are? I'm lazy but I can do it myself with a little research.

Fujimi is sure making some nice stuff now.