Hasegawa enters into the world of 1/350 naval WWII subjects with a splash! IJN Yukikaze is packed with a photoetch fret by Dragon, and an Emily flying boat.
The model appears very straight forward and easy to build. Unfortunately, if you want to display it as waterline, you will have to become a surgeon, since you will have to cut the hull to make your needs.
The model is composed of 177 parts in gray plastic, except for the clear styrene that makes Emily, and brass-plated sprue for the screws and base stands.
Hasegawa also includes a metal chain, which is a nice touch.
The parts feature molded on hand rungs and stairs, many pipes, hatches and like items, all details crisp. The tread on the deck is oversized, and everywhere*(see editor note on this point).
Curious, as I thought she had the linoleum covering on deck.
There is a small amount of flash on some smaller parts such as machine guns and what appears to be an anchor*(see second from the editor) (see sprues N for example), around the screws, and on a torpedo tube. However, the searchlight and mount are a single piece, and the tiny gap between them is clear. The portholes are not molded open, the stack tops are.
A sharp decal sheet is provided with dozens of decals for the ship, flying boat and the display stand. Decals 32-48 appear to simulate fine structural details.
For my money, it appears a bit pricey compared to Tamiya's 1/350 - the photoetch and the aircraft are supposedly bonus items. Yet, the idea of a new series of injection molded 1/350 ships not of U.S., Royal Navy or Kriegsmarine subjects is very welcome, and I feel that unless the fit is troublesome, the price can be overlooked.
Thus, I recommend this kit.
Notes from the editor:
#1 - The tread on IJN vessels (all of them) are not the kind of tread we are used to see these days. They were made out of steel plates, 200 mm long and 16 0r 22 mm wide, arranged in a patern with a 100º angle, one perpendicular to the previous and so on until all the surface was covered.
#2 - What appears to be an anchor, is actually a Paravane, a anti-mine device.
SUMMARY
IJN Yukikaze's career reads like an encyclopedia of Pacific War naval actions, from the invasion of the Phillipines, Guadalcanal and the Tokyo Express, Bismarck Sea, Philippine Sea and Leyte Gulf, to escorting superbattleship Yamato on her last mission. IJN Yukikaze survived the war to become part of the Chinese navy, in service until 1970.
About Frederick Boucher (JPTRR) FROM: TENNESSEE, UNITED STATES
I'm a professional pilot with a degree in art.
My first model was an AMT semi dump truck. Then Monogram's Lunar Lander right after the lunar landing. Next, Revell's 1/32 Bf-109G...cried havoc and released the dogs of modeling!
My interests--if built before 1900, or after 1955, then I proba...
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