My Review and Build of Trumperer's 1/350 scale Kit #04532,
JMSDF DDG-173 Kongo, AEGIS Destroyer
Introduction and What's in the Box - October 17, 2013
Overview - The JMSDF Kongo Class:
The Kongo Class AEGIS destroyer class is the core of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) destroyer flotilla organization. There are four of these larger AEGIS guided missile destroyers and you will find one of them in each flotilla. They were built from the US NAvy Arleigh Burke Destroyer Flight I design, though there are some differences.
Each of these vessels displaces 9,500 tons full-load, and up until the contruction of the follow-on Atago Class (which were based on the US NAvy Arliegh Burke Flight IIA design), and then the Hyuga helicopter carriers and now the Izumo helicopter carrier after them, they were the largest warships built by Japan since World War II.
Each of these vessels is heavily armed and acts as a flotilla leader, or as escort to JApan's capitol vessels. Their armament includes:
- 1 x 127mm 54 cal DP main gun
- 2 x Mk-41 VLS Launchers for 90 missiles
- SM-2MR AAM, SM-3 AAM, and RUM-139 VL ASROC missiles
- 8 x Harpoon Surface to surface Missiles
- 2 x 20mm Phalanx CIWS
- 2 x Type 68 Triple torpedo launchers
Four vessels were built and have been commisisoned and are fulfilling this role:
DDG-173 Kongo, Laid down on May 8, 1990, launched on September 26, 1991, and commissioned on March 25, 1993.
DDG-174 Kirishima, Laid down on April 7, 1992, launched on August 19, 1993, and commissioned on March 16, 1995.
DDG-175 Myoko, Laid down on April 8, 1993, launched on October 5, 1994, and commissioned on March 14, 1996.
DDG-176 Chokai, Laid down on May 29, 1995, launched on August 27, 1996, and commissioned on March 20, 1998.
All four are powerd by by four Ishikawajima-Harima LM2500 gas turbines which give them a top speed of in excess of 31 knots.
The superstructure of each is dominated by the SPY-1 phased array radar, which are fixed, radars facing in each of four directions providing 360 degree coverage without a rotating radar. The design of the superstructure also incorporates stealth features, designed to reduce radar cross section of the ships. As a consequence, the ship is somewhat more top-heavy than other destroyers and requires a deeper draft. As such, operations in a littoral (coastal) environment are limited. They have a high top speed and are suprisingly manueverable, and because of thier large displacement actually come close to the size of traditional cruisers than destroyers. All four have been built are built to operational requirements allowing them to operate as a flotilla or squadron command vessel.
The Kongo destroyers have been modified over their history for modernization and to assume additional roles. One of the most important of these has been to serve in a theater ballistic missile defense role. Due the proliferation of short to medium range ballistic missiles, adopting this role and using the US developed systems and weapons (as the US does on its Arleigh Burke class destroyers) was a natural evolution to help protect the Japanese islands from this threat.
In December 2007, Japan conducted a successful test of the SM-3 block IA against a ballistic missile aboard JDS Kong? (DDG-173). This was the first time a Japanese ship was selected to launch the interceptor missile during a test of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System. In previous tests they provided tracking and communications. Afterward, Japan has also undertaken another two successful Ballistic Missile Defense test aboard JDS My?k? in October 2009 and aboard JDS Kirishima in October 2010.
These vessels will remain the center pieces for JMSDF flotilla operations for the next several decades. With the addition of the Atago class, the Hyuga class DDH vessels, and the new Izumo DDH vessels, that role has only taken on more importance.
What's in the Box:
The 1/350 scale Trumpeter model of the JS Kongo, DDG 173, kit #04532, is an exccellet, detailed depiction of the vessel. It is molded in gray and hull red plastic, and can be depitcted in either a full hull, or waterline version. This model will be built with the full hull. Trumpeter is very well known for its quality producs and modern manufacturing techniques.
Inside the box, you find the hull in two pieces, one to be used for the waterline, with a plate to attach to its bottom, and the other to add to the above waterline portion to show the full hull. This lower section is molded in a hull red, though not exactly the color I will use for the blow waterline portion. There is a full length, highly detailed main deck to match to it. All are molded very well with little or no flash or extra plastic left over form the molding process.
There are 7 sprues of gray plasic parts, and one sprue of clear plastic parts (the helicopter). Altogether there are well in excess of 300 parts to the model. There are no photo etch parts included with this model. I will be using a Tom's Model Works, 1/350 scale photo etched railing set for this model. The plastic parts are extremely detailed and the include the sensors, vents, tie downs, and other small parts in very good detail so photo ecth parts for them do not appear to be necessary.
  
  
A very good set of waterslide decals with over 50 decals is included which covers all of the flight deck markings, all of the helo markings, and the pennant numbers and various hull and superstructure markings. There is a very nice full-color sheet of the Takinami in multiple views for painting, including several of the most common paint suppliers part numbers for the paint.
The instruction sheet is, as is the case with all newer Trumpeter models, very intuitive and well laid out. it is 16 pages lon and covers all of the build, including all options for the modeler (ie. like whether to make a waterline build or not).
Here is the instruction sheet.
  
  
This looks to be a great build, particularly with the addition of the photo etch parts form Tom's Model works. The Kong will make an outstanding addition to my JMSDF Carrier group cenbtered on the JS Hyuga, DDH-181, that I recently completed.
Next I will go through and paint all of the horizontal parts in neutral gray, the lower hull in a hull red, and the main deck and weather decks in flat gray. The Mk-41 VLS systems will be painted in a dark ghost gray, and I will use flat white for the radar domes and life boats, flat black for the waterline mark and the funnels, and various other shaeds of grays for other sensors and the ships launches per pictures of the vessel itself.
SCHEDULE for Future Activities - October 17, 2013
- By Nov 15, 2013: Complete the JMSDF Kongo AEGIS DDG.
- By Dec 31, 2013: Start the French Carrier Group centered on Heller's Charles de Gaulle with two DDGs and an FFG.
- By Feb 31, 2014, Start the Russian Carrier Group centerd on Trumpeter's Kuznetsov with two DDGs and an SSN.
- By Apr 31, 2014, Start the US Navy Amphibious Ready Group centered on the Gallery USS Wasp with an LHD, an LPD, a DDG, a SSN and a LCS.
The completion of the PLAN Carrier group, centered on the already completed Trumpeter's 1/350 scale PLA Navy's Aircraft Carrier CV-16, Liaoning, (in addition to the other escorts already completed) included Mini Hobby's's PLAN Guangzhou, DDG-168. I recently pre-ordered a 1/350 scale model of the PLAN Type 071 LPD, Yuzhao Class, announced by Trumpeter and due out in October, 2013. I will end up adding two of those, propbably LPD-998 Yuzhao and LPD-999, Jinggangshan, add the PLAN- DDG-139, Ningbo, and the PLAN DDG-115, Shenyang, along with the PLAN Weifang, FFG-550 and thus build a PLAN ARG.
The completion of the US Carrier Strike group, centered on the completed Tamyia's 1/350 scale USS Enterprise, CVN-65, (in addition ot the other escorts already completed) included Trumpeter's, USS Freedom, LCS-1, Dragon's USS Preble, DDG-88 and Hobby Boss's USS Texas, SSN-775. When a 1/350 scale USS Enterprise, CVN-80 (or any Gerald R. Ford Class) is released from Trumpeter, Tamiya, Dragon, or whomever else, I will add it to this group along with another AEGIS Cruiser. Whichever Ford Class coms out in 1/350 scale, I will build it as the USS Enterprise, CVN-80.
The US ARG will include Tamiya's 1/350 scale, USS Iowa, BB-62(which I have already completed), Trumpeter's 1/350 scale USS Iwo Jima LHD-7, Gallery's 1/350 scale USS Sommerset, LPD-25, Bronco Models 1/350 Scale USS New York, LPD-21, Cyber Hobby's USS Independence, LCS-2, Acadamy's 1/350 scale USS Rueben James, FFG-57, and another Flight IIA US AEGIS class detroyer based on Trumpeter's 1/350 scale USS Lassen, DDG-82...all of these models which I already own.
The UK Group features the Airfix 1/350 scale HMS Illustrious, R06as its centerp[iece until a 1/350 scale Queen Elizabeth carrier is released. When that happens, I will add that carrier to the group as its centerpiece. The Roylal NAvy CSG will also include two Airfix 1/350 scale Daring Class DDGs (one of which is already completed), two Trumpeter 1/350 scale Type 23 HMS Duke class Frigates (one of which is already completed), and the Hobby Boss 1/350 scale HMS Astute SSN (which is also already completed) and Airfix 1/350 scale HMS Tragalgar SSN. One day, when a 1/350 scale HMS Ocean LPD come out, I will use tt to start building a Royal Navy ARG.
The French CSG will be centered on Heller's 1/400 scale Charles De Gualle (which I already own). I have purchased the 1/400 scale Heller French De Grasse, D612 DDG, which is an ASW DDG, the French Duquesne, D603 DDG which is an anti-air multi-purpose DDG, and the French Aconit F713 FFG and Gueprattet F714 FFGs, both of which are Lafayette class frigates. These five vessels will round out my French CSG. As soon as a French Robin class nuclear sub, like the French Perale S606 SSN is released in 1/350 or 1/400 scale, I will add that to the group. Also as soon as the Forbin D620, Horizon class anti-air DDG is released in 1/350 or 1/400 scale, I will purchase two of them and replace the De Grrasse and Duquesne with them, and then save those two for when a Mistral Class LPD is released in 1/350 or 1/400 scale so I can create a French ARG with those vessels.
The Japanese JMSDF group is centered on Fujimi's very finely detailed, 1/350 scale Hyuga, DDH-181. It will be escorted by Trumpeter's 1/350 scale DDG-177, Atago, an AEGIS class DDG and the JMSDF, DDG-174, Kongo class (which I own), Trumpeters's 1/350 scale DDG-114 Susunami and DDG-111 (both of which are Takinami Class DDGs which I own), and by the 1/350 scale SS-503 Hakuryu (which I own), one of Japans new, very modern and capable AIP Diesel Electric submarines. As soon as a DDG-115 Akizuki in 1/350 scale is released, I will add it to this group. Should a 1/350 scale Osumi Class LPD be relased, I will buy two of those vessels and create a JMSDF ARG.
Then, finally it will be a complete Russian CSG (centered on Trumpeter's Kuznetsov which I own) the Russian Slava Class cruiser, Varyag by Trumperter (which I own), two Trumpeter 1/350 scale Udaloy DDGs (which I own), Hobby Boss's Akula II class SSN (which I own), and the new Yasen class Russian SSN which I own in 1/350 scale. Some time in the more distant future when a 1/350 scale Russian version of the French Mistral class comes out (which is building in real life right now), I will add two of those and build a Russian ARG.
Recently I purchased Heller's 1/400 scale Foch, the Clemceau Class carrier that was sold to the Brazilians in 2000 and in 2002 was refitted and became the Brazilian CV, Sao Paulo, using steam catapaults. I will build the model as the Sao Paulo and thus start a Brazilian group, though the Type 22 DDGs and the FFGs the Brazilians use are not available at present. I have however purchased a set of 1/400 scale A-4 Skyhawks and S-3 Trackers to build a suitable airwing for the Sao Paulo.
Then, again, once the models are available, I'd like to build an Italian Carrier Strike Group centered on the Cavour and their Horizon DDGs, a Spanish Carrier Strike Group centered on the Juan Carlos and their F-100 AEGIS FFGs, and ultimatly an Australian Strike Group centered on the new Canberra Class LPD and the Hobart class AEGIS DDGs. If they ever build the models, an Indian Carrier Strike Group centered on either the Vikramaditya or their new ADS Carrier, the Vikrant, and their Kolkata class DDGs and Shivlak class FFGs would also be nice.
Years more worth of work!
You can see all of these actual carriers, read their histories and specifictions at my site:
WORLD-WIDE AIRCRAFT CARRIERS
...and most of their surface escorts at:
AEGIS AND AEGIS-LIKE VESSELS OF THE WORLD
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