I originally stated that I was going to do an In Box Review, but impatience got the best of me and I started the kit. So this is going to be a Review/Build Log

Started the Construction with the base so I don't loose control of the hull while working.


Added the poly caps and the bulkheads



And here I started the sides of the hull





And here is a shot of the bow, I need to do a little work and cosmetics here to get it lined up right


More to come later, I promise

Hi Chandler,

I look forward to seeing your progress. Are you planning any aftermarket addons ? (photo-etch, turned barrels)

Frank

That system for the upper and lower hull seems to have worked out well. The fit overall looks very good. I am looking forward to seeing your progress on this!!!

Looking forward to seeing the progress on this one, thanks for sharing!

The size of the IJN cruisers never ceases to amaze me.

I am trying to find some aftermarket railings, but other than that, I am sticking to OOB. My budget is a little tight right now and I have been splurging too much on my hobby

Lioroar just makes a set of IJN railings seems it consts just under $10 from Lucky model and when I did it shipping was free.

Hey guys, been a long week here, it's Red Flag and we are working our buts off, but now it's the weekend

I got the decks I needed painted in Wooden Deck Tan, and I painted the torpedoes before gluing them in the movable launchers. I will have pictures up soon, my camera is currently recharging and once it is good, I will upload the pics of the decks mounted and the torpedo launchers

Great build so far- very meticulous.

However, linoleum (a dark reddish-brown) is the colour of the majority of Japanese cruisers deck surfaces, not deck tan.

Looking good Chandler.

nice start, look forward to the rest!

I realized that when reading the instructions, I had meant to buy Tamiya XF-79 Linoleum Deck Brown, but grabbed XF-78, which is Wooden Deck Tan. I am going to try and see if my Hobbytown here has it on the shelve, but if they don't I am going to order some from Squadron.

Just a heads up to everyone watching this build. I am placing it on hold for two and half weeks starting Sept 7, I have to go TDY with my unit for one of our road shows. Once I get back, I am hitting this review/build with full steam

I'm waiting for more pictures to come, but am certainly following! Camera recharged?

Camera Is good to go, give me till tomorrow and pics will be up.

I got some more appropriate color paint for the deck and need to repaint them today.

Is this the light crusier or heavy crusier version.I remember from 700 scale days that the Mikuma was never made , the Kumano was light version, and the Suzya was the heavy. and of course the Mogami was in hybrid mode.

Mikuma is in the original light cruiser version.

Here you go guys, new round of photos!

Here is the Mikuma with the original deck tan



And after the newer darker deck color, and in my opinion, with the previous color underneath, it gave it a nice worn look, like a ship at sea would have.
My plan for this ship is, now that I have the wooden decks painted, I am going to mask it all off with Mr Masking Sol and once that is dry, airbrush a coat of IJN Grey (Kure Arsenal) over the whole hull. Once the Masking is removed, it will have saved a lot of time in detail painting.




And this is the Torpedo bay, I will have this finished on Saturday with pics uploaded


And here are the next two ships I am building, Yukikaze first, then the Cole.

how hard would it be to upgrade the Mikuma to the heavy cruiser version. Just new guns / turrets?

Nice save on the deck Chandler.

I'm pretty sure twin turrets/8 in. guns are all that's required to do the conversion.
Yankee Modelworks resin 8 in. twin turret IJN heavy cruiser upgrade set available at Hobbylink Japan. See link below.

http://www.hlj.com/product/YNMYKM-3028

Hey Guys

I did another and final coat on the deck here, turned out real nice. I am also letting you know that I am goning to be gone starting tomorrow for 14 days, my unit is participating in a new USAF Exercise called Gunsmoke Flag, and of course, we play the Aggressors since we have the pretty painted F-16s

Here is the deck shots




And I took this just to show how massive IJN Cruisers were. This is a shot of the hull next to a 1/350 Scale USS Arizona


See you guys in two weeks. Good Luck on the ships

Hey

I have spent the past week now masking off the decks of the Mikuma with tape

I will be painting the hull Kure Arsenal Gray and will post pics when done.

On a lighter side note, my 1/350 Yamato came in

looking GREAT! look forward to the rest

Hello everyone

I come bearing sad news. The IJN Mikuma has met an unfortunate end at the hands of my desklamp. I made the mistake of falling asleep at the computer desk and left the lamp to my hobby table next to me on, well after eight hours under the lamp, the Mikuma looked like the real one as she met her end at Midway. The lamp disaster also claimed my nearly finished 1/48 F-22

I am sorry guys for leaving this at a cliffhanger, but don't fret, I do have a few ships I could build

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!

Thats a real knife in the ribs. Salvage what spares you can and start on the Yukizake?

Damn!!!! That is sad. And that wasn't a cheap kit if what I paid for my Mogami plays out. Must be some real nasty desk lamp. How close was it to the kit?