by Mario Grima
1/500 IJN Maya (Nichimo)
This Nichimo cruiser Maya and the Atoga hull differ from the Chokai/Takao by the extra large torpedo blisters that are glued on. The hull is not the same as the other two. One very large error in the kit is that the rear superstucture has to be corrected. The rear mast also was moved forward rear of the smoke stack with the tripod inversed. In the last photo shown with a mid section of an unbuilt Atoga, the areas marked in red need to be cut away, the walls rebuilt including sections of the floor. Molded railings were removed, and the 4 props, shafts, and rudder built from scratch. GMM'S 1/500 cruiser PE is a godsend. A lot of scratch building is still required. What I like about these kits are three things, scale, full hull, and most of all is their box arts!
