Ahoy mates!
Frank Portela (clanky44) gives us a detailed "First Look" review of Fujimi Models, 1/350 scale IJN Kongo!
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If you have comments or questions please post them here.
Thanks!
~Gunny
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REVIEW
Fujimi Models Kongo
Gunny
Joined: July 13, 2004
KitMaker: 6,705 posts
Model Shipwrights: 4,704 posts
Posted: Monday, May 12, 2008 - 03:43 AM UTC
goldenpony
Joined: July 03, 2007
KitMaker: 3,529 posts
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Posted: Monday, May 12, 2008 - 04:26 AM UTC
Impressive looking kit. Love those figures they have done as well.
Makes me almost feel the need to go buy one. Going to look impressive built as well. Thanks for sharing her with us!
Makes me almost feel the need to go buy one. Going to look impressive built as well. Thanks for sharing her with us!
JMartine
Joined: October 18, 2007
KitMaker: 1,698 posts
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Posted: Monday, May 12, 2008 - 05:06 AM UTC
Very impressive, maybe I should have gotten this one instead of the Nagato.... and NO i am not getting both (yet!) 
gator
Vendor
#027
Joined: April 13, 2005
KitMaker: 5,422 posts
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Posted: Monday, May 12, 2008 - 05:26 AM UTC
I'm not trying to be a wise guy, but did Fujimi sculpt butt cheeks on the figures? 
Clanky44
Joined: September 15, 2005
KitMaker: 1,901 posts
Model Shipwrights: 934 posts
Posted: Monday, May 12, 2008 - 05:27 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Very impressive, maybe I should have gotten this one instead of the Nagato.... and NO i am not getting both (yet!)
I feel your pain!
but do yourself a big favour and pick up the Kongo, it is a stunningly beautiful model, the vintage design is more reminiscent of the Dreadnought era than of WW2 BB's, which looks odd with this late war versions overwhelming array of AA mounts scattered throughout the ship. Frank
Clanky44
Joined: September 15, 2005
KitMaker: 1,901 posts
Model Shipwrights: 934 posts
Posted: Monday, May 12, 2008 - 05:30 AM UTC
Quoted Text
I'm not trying to be a wise guy, but did Fujimi sculpt butt cheeks on the figures?
Really Kenny.... of all the things you could of concentrated on... you chose butt cheeks!?! ! 
skipper
Joined: February 28, 2002
KitMaker: 5,182 posts
Model Shipwrights: 4,070 posts
Posted: Monday, May 12, 2008 - 06:00 AM UTC
Hi Frank
EXCELLENT REVIEW!
It's the best I can say right now
Looking forward to a MOD of it
Cheers and congratulations,
Rui
EXCELLENT REVIEW!
It's the best I can say right now
Looking forward to a MOD of it
Cheers and congratulations,
Rui
Gunny
Joined: July 13, 2004
KitMaker: 6,705 posts
Model Shipwrights: 4,704 posts
Posted: Monday, May 12, 2008 - 06:08 AM UTC
Quoted Text
I'm not trying to be a wise guy, but did Fujimi sculpt butt cheeks on the figures?
OMG Gator...........I'm still laughing, mate!
I can honestly say, yes, from the fine close-ups from Mr. Portela, it does appear so!
goldenpony
Joined: July 03, 2007
KitMaker: 3,529 posts
Model Shipwrights: 2,419 posts
Posted: Monday, May 12, 2008 - 06:13 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Quoted TextI'm not trying to be a wise guy, but did Fujimi sculpt butt cheeks on the figures?
OMG Gator...........I'm still laughing, mate!
I can honestly say, yes, from the fine close-ups from Mr. Portela, it does appear so!
Now that is funny.
gator
Vendor
#027
Joined: April 13, 2005
KitMaker: 5,422 posts
Model Shipwrights: 5,079 posts
Posted: Monday, May 12, 2008 - 06:13 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Quoted TextI'm not trying to be a wise guy, but did Fujimi sculpt butt cheeks on the figures?
I'm looking at figures to populate my 1/350 Alabama and I-400. The figures was the first thing I looked at.
Quoted Text
OMG Gator...........I'm still laughing, mate!
Hopefully you weren't drinking anything at the time.
gator
Vendor
#027
Joined: April 13, 2005
KitMaker: 5,422 posts
Model Shipwrights: 5,079 posts
Posted: Monday, May 12, 2008 - 06:22 AM UTC
Very nice detail indeed. I'm glad to see the bracing on the splinter shields and finally a separately molded funnel grating. With all the things they can do with molding 1/48 and 1/72 aircraft engine parts makes you wonder why they haven't tried this before.
Gator
Gator
Clanky44
Joined: September 15, 2005
KitMaker: 1,901 posts
Model Shipwrights: 934 posts
Posted: Monday, May 12, 2008 - 06:35 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Very nice detail indeed. I'm glad to see the bracing on the splinter shields and finally a separately molded funnel grating. With all the things they can do with molding 1/48 and 1/72 aircraft engine parts makes you wonder why they haven't tried this before.
Gator
It looks like they finally are.... I've been very impressed with the increasing amount of fine detail in recent releases, in both 700th and 350th scales. Nothing like competition to bring out the best.
Frank
Karybdis
Joined: December 27, 2006
KitMaker: 846 posts
Model Shipwrights: 740 posts
Posted: Monday, May 12, 2008 - 07:02 AM UTC
Hey Frank,
Excellent review and your thoughts on the kit mirror my own. FWIW, the fit of the parts is very good and while the kit isn't necessarily a "shake and bake", it's engineered very well.
And don't worry about those other guns in brass. I have it on good authority that Fukuya's already working on something to rectify this. You can currently cobble something together from pre-existing sets, but this will be for the Kongo.
And then there is the inevitable Lion Roar release...
Cheers!
Excellent review and your thoughts on the kit mirror my own. FWIW, the fit of the parts is very good and while the kit isn't necessarily a "shake and bake", it's engineered very well.
And don't worry about those other guns in brass. I have it on good authority that Fukuya's already working on something to rectify this. You can currently cobble something together from pre-existing sets, but this will be for the Kongo.
And then there is the inevitable Lion Roar release...
Cheers!
Clanky44
Joined: September 15, 2005
KitMaker: 1,901 posts
Model Shipwrights: 934 posts
Posted: Monday, May 12, 2008 - 08:17 AM UTC
Quoted Text
I have it on good authority that Fukuya's already working on something to rectify that.
Quoted Text
And then there is the inevitable Lion Roar release...
Cheers!
Considering that Fujimi will have both the Kongo and the Haruna out this year,...We should be expecting a flood of AM parts coming our way. On a personal note, I think I'll wait for WEM to release their eventual PE set ( I was very impressed with their Takao set) and possibly pick up Fukuya's brass set.
Frank
Clanky44
Joined: September 15, 2005
KitMaker: 1,901 posts
Model Shipwrights: 934 posts
Posted: Monday, May 12, 2008 - 08:21 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Hi Frank
EXCELLENT REVIEW!
It's the best I can say right now
Looking forward to a MOD of it
Cheers and congratulations,
Rui
Thanks Rui... I know you only have 3 or 4 350th models, but my friend... do yourself a favour and treat yourself, this model is worth it.
Frank
skipper
Joined: February 28, 2002
KitMaker: 5,182 posts
Model Shipwrights: 4,070 posts
Posted: Monday, May 12, 2008 - 08:32 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Thanks Rui... I know you only have 3 or 4 350th models, but my friend... do yourself a favour and treat yourself, this model is worth it.
Frank
Nahhh - this one could be traded for a dozen of 1/700 beauties and the stash is limited by space
Space, space I NEED SPACE
Keep up the good work Frank
Rui
blaster76
Joined: September 15, 2002
KitMaker: 8,985 posts
Model Shipwrights: 3,509 posts
Posted: Monday, May 12, 2008 - 08:49 AM UTC
I can only echo everything Frank said. He did forget to mention that the airplanes, ship boats and bridge windows were clear parts. Kenny, I would wait for the dragon figures to start coming out for the Alabam. The Japaese though really neat have only 4 poses and oe of them is a guy saluting. They also wear the stand naval soft cap in stead of the steel pot that the us crews wear at action stations. I think Hobby buy is still offering the kit at less than $140. I am planning on picking up the 2 Fujimi brass sets which will take care of most of the things I should want to add and replace like railings, ladders and catapaults/cranes.
Clanky44
Joined: September 15, 2005
KitMaker: 1,901 posts
Model Shipwrights: 934 posts
Posted: Monday, May 12, 2008 - 09:01 AM UTC
Hi Steve,
The Fujimi P.E. sets are very basic, no ladders (inclined or vertical) and no cranes in the sets. Watch for my review on these two products in a day or two.
Frank
self edit: there is a crane in the set.
The Fujimi P.E. sets are very basic, no ladders (inclined or vertical) and no cranes in the sets. Watch for my review on these two products in a day or two.
Frank
self edit: there is a crane in the set.
Clanky44
Joined: September 15, 2005
KitMaker: 1,901 posts
Model Shipwrights: 934 posts
Posted: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 01:57 PM UTC
I've just ordered Fukuya's set of secondary brass barrels for both the Kongo and the Nagato from HLJ, the're currently listed on backorder, pricy but what's another $100 added to these wallet draining battleships!
Frank
Frank
blaster76
Joined: September 15, 2002
KitMaker: 8,985 posts
Model Shipwrights: 3,509 posts
Posted: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 - 07:29 PM UTC
i'VE GOT TONS OF LEFT OVER INCLINED AND OTHER LADERS LEFT OVR FROM OTHER KITS SO NOT A PROBLEM. i PLAN TO ORDER THE FIRST TWO SETS OF HASEGAWA STUFF FOR THE NAGATO SO THAT SHOULD HELP PLUS ALL THE LEFTOVER YAMATO STUFF I'VE GOT. OF COURSE IF LOREN AT GMM COULD GIVE A TIME FRAME ON WHEN HE IS GOING TO DO ONE OF THESE BB'S I CAN WAIT.
Clanky44
Joined: September 15, 2005
KitMaker: 1,901 posts
Model Shipwrights: 934 posts
Posted: Wednesday, May 14, 2008 - 12:45 AM UTC
Hi Steve,
I updated this on the Kongo PE thread last night...
HLJ has a listing for a future release (May) for an Advanced Photo Etch Parts set, 3 stainless steel frets for 6800 yen.
http://www.hlj.com/product/FUJ11153
I updated this on the Kongo PE thread last night...
HLJ has a listing for a future release (May) for an Advanced Photo Etch Parts set, 3 stainless steel frets for 6800 yen.
http://www.hlj.com/product/FUJ11153
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