1/350 IJN Atago (Aoshima)
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by Keith Bender |
1/350 IJN Atago (Aoshima)
This kit is a late war variant of the Japanese Takao class heavy cruisers. Atago was sunk Oct 23, 1944 by the USS Darter SS 227.
The kit : This kit is a pretty much straight forward build out of the box. I choose to add photoetch and went with Gold Medal Models. GMM sells it in two separate sets for this vessel. To use GMM PE on this kit it is necessary to purchase both sets but in my opinion GMM could have sold it as one large set. I believe it was a marketing decision there. That can be discussed on a rainy day.
The two piece hull comes with torpedo bulges to add on. I choose to plate my hull and add sea-chest for condenser suction and discharge openings. It is rare to see a ship model with these but all ships do have many hull openings that can be replicated. Shafts and rudder are no different than any other ship model kit. Just be sure to install the propellers on the proper shafts port or starboard. They rotate outward when viewing from aft to forward. I used some fittings from a company named Rainbow. The aux rudder hanging off the starboard side is Rainbow.
The superstructure is basic and easy assembly. Just follow directions. The stacks have some extra details as I added the individual uptakes and the many ladders mounted inside. They are hard to see but it adds a level of detail I enjoy doing and if the full size ship had them then I want them on a model. GMM PE sets come with strips of brass to lay down on the linoleum covered decks at their joints. That was challenging to keep them straight and in order. They were a very time consuming job and could become monotonous in a short time.
As for paint I went with Tamiya Kure Gray for the overall ship. Red bottom and linoleum is Colourcoats. Greens for the planes is Testors Model Master. All rigging was done with a silk thread I purchased years ago in Annapolis, MD at a now gone sew shop. In all this was a fun build. I did however take a few years to complete it due to commission builds. I want to thank Dan Kaplan for his never ending archives of Japanese naval information and his time for relaying it to me. Martin Quinn’s photography and just in general for encouraging me to finish and write about the build.
