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General Ship Modeling
Discuss modeling techniques, experiences, and ship modeling in general.
REVIEW
Flyhawk Takao PE/Resin Upgrade Set
goldenpony
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Zimbabwe
Joined: July 03, 2007
KitMaker: 3,529 posts
Model Shipwrights: 2,419 posts
Posted: Wednesday, July 01, 2009 - 12:52 AM UTC
Ahoy Shipmates!!!

MSW Crewmember D.T. [ DR_WHO2 ] brings us an in-box review of Flyhawk Models 1/350 IJN Takao Premium Detail Set.


Link to Item

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!
JMartine
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New Jersey, United States
Joined: October 18, 2007
KitMaker: 1,698 posts
Model Shipwrights: 1,514 posts
Posted: Wednesday, July 01, 2009 - 01:03 AM UTC
wow - at least it looks like you are getting your $100 USD worth of brass and stuff, unlike the Hasegawa PE upgrades.

How does it compare to the LionRoar's sets? For example, the LR Takao set is being sold by LuckyModel at $77 USD, the FlyHawk for 99 USD... but seems the FlyHawk as a LOT more stuff in it...

Anyways, thanks for the review!
Kitakami
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Guatemala
Joined: February 23, 2009
KitMaker: 30 posts
Model Shipwrights: 29 posts
Posted: Wednesday, July 01, 2009 - 01:53 AM UTC
I may be comparing apples with carrots, but from my (admittedly untrained) perception, the overal quality of the Flyhawk PE set for the Takao looks and feels better than the quality of the Lion Roar set I am using for the North Carolina I am building.
JMartine
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New Jersey, United States
Joined: October 18, 2007
KitMaker: 1,698 posts
Model Shipwrights: 1,514 posts
Posted: Wednesday, July 01, 2009 - 04:51 AM UTC
Thanks for the info Jorge.. LuckyModel has several FlyHawk PE sets on sale/stock at the momment, will have to keep an eye out for them.... I have the Tamiya Missouri and LR PE set on order, will make a comparision when i can. cheers
Dr_Who2
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Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Joined: September 17, 2008
KitMaker: 90 posts
Model Shipwrights: 89 posts
Posted: Wednesday, July 01, 2009 - 05:04 AM UTC
Hi everyone,

First off, thanks for the kind words.
It is the Associate Editor of MSW who deserves also some attention for providing the possibility on MSW and setting all up.

Please contact MSW if you have a kit or AMP youŽd like to introduce to the broader community.

I thought MSW already had a LionRoar Takao Set review but checking with the site prooved me wrong.

So, actually I obtained the LR set for my IJN ATAGO build.

For this, I will try to make a review about the LionRoar set as soon as real life permits

Just give me a few seconds since I actually write and publish my reviews in my native german language and then translate them for MSW.

silent-one
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Christchurch, New Zealand
Joined: September 21, 2008
KitMaker: 86 posts
Model Shipwrights: 70 posts
Posted: Wednesday, July 01, 2009 - 04:08 PM UTC
Is this for sale yet. I cant find it online anywhere.
Dr_Who2
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Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Joined: September 17, 2008
KitMaker: 90 posts
Model Shipwrights: 89 posts
Posted: Wednesday, July 01, 2009 - 10:16 PM UTC
Hi Allan,

Found it for the US at freetime hobbies:

https://019e566.netsolstores.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=48848

as well as at Pacific Front Hobbies:

http://www.pacificfront.com/catalog/index.php?manufacturers_id=177

Hope this helps
Dr_Who2
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Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Joined: September 17, 2008
KitMaker: 90 posts
Model Shipwrights: 89 posts
Posted: Wednesday, July 15, 2009 - 11:58 PM UTC
Alright everyone,

FYI, as announced the LionRoar review is up on MSW:

Click: IJN Takao 1942 Detail Set

This is a nice chance to make up your mind how far youŽd like to enhance the kit.

JMartine
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New Jersey, United States
Joined: October 18, 2007
KitMaker: 1,698 posts
Model Shipwrights: 1,514 posts
Posted: Thursday, July 16, 2009 - 03:14 AM UTC
Thank you for such a comprehensive review.. it does seem that the circa 100 USD price is worthwhile, based on the gaggle of goodies contained... next, wait for a Fly Hawk Review

Rab
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Queensland, Australia
Joined: October 03, 2006
KitMaker: 353 posts
Model Shipwrights: 207 posts
Posted: Thursday, July 16, 2009 - 07:58 PM UTC
Great review D.T. But it must be said that this set will only do the Takao and not the other 3 from the same class. My and other people's observations have noticed that a large percentage of the parts of this particular set, as brilliant as it is, will be unusable on Atago, Chokai and Maya.
Dr_Who2
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Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Joined: September 17, 2008
KitMaker: 90 posts
Model Shipwrights: 89 posts
Posted: Thursday, July 16, 2009 - 09:30 PM UTC
@Rab: The caption might be misleading. I will ask for an alternate caption.
I totally agree with the flyhawk set not fitting the Maya nor the Chokai since both kept the original bridge structure as well as the Maya got additional AA armament instead of the bombed No. 3 turret late in her career. See my review about the AOSHIMA IJN Maya kit.
I am undecided about the set not being suitable for the Atago since I think Takao and Atago received the same level of refit leaving both with minor differences.

@JMartine: Thanks for the nice words. The Lionroar set and the Flyhawk set both come along very nice and both are a major enhancement. To me, Flyhawk solved the turrets heat shields issue in a visually more convincing way. The resin AA mounts really requier a steady hand and a really sharp eye.
LionRoar on the other side gives workable parts for everyone and only the result will tell which set to prefer.
This rough comparison is not about the price but about the feasability as well as about the time one is willing to invest to accomplish the model.
Both sets will make any modeler happy and enahnce the IJN Takao kit way beyond design.
Dr_Who2
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Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Joined: September 17, 2008
KitMaker: 90 posts
Model Shipwrights: 89 posts
Posted: Wednesday, July 29, 2009 - 04:32 AM UTC
Just a quick note:

I found this IPMS/USA book review relating to my announcement about the building log Ralph Kuo once showed online for a short period of time and thereafter gave to the "Model Art" publisher:

Click: Model Art Modeling Magazine, No. 32, Summer 2009

The detailes and procedures shown there are highly recommended for any ship model builder.
JMartine
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New Jersey, United States
Joined: October 18, 2007
KitMaker: 1,698 posts
Model Shipwrights: 1,514 posts
Posted: Wednesday, August 05, 2009 - 03:09 AM UTC
Sounds like a must get issue; thanks for the heads up!
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