1/200 Yamato kit

You're in luck. Gold Medal Models has a photo-etched set for Yamato-class battleships in 1/200 scale. It costs quite a chunk of change - $50.00 - but apparently has quite a bit of stuff on it. I suspect it's an enlargement of the same firm's 1/700 set; I have that one, and it's superb.

You can get to Gold Medal Models' website by way of the Steel Navy site, <www.steelnavy.com>. Just click on the Gold Medal icon on the home page.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

Thanks for the info I'll check it out

1/200 YAMATO?! Where's the drydock? The driveway?

really ! how big is that baby ?

yeah I saw it on Pacific Front the other day and thought to myself.. (I'd have to sell the boat to be able to put this in the garage" ... curious as to dimensions as well...

The box is about 5 feet long, the kit weighs in at 12 lbs. I paid 149.00 10 years ago and now the lowest price I have found is 350.00 The hull is about 7 inches wide. It has 600 parts and a really cool motorized gear drive for the radar units

holy smackeroooooooney ! that is COOOOOL !

I can't wait to terrorize some ducks at the pond. Got any ideas on how to make the guns fire blanks.

One way would be to have a removable turret. Ensure the gun barrels are steel and strong enough at the breach to withstand the pressure. Have remote electrical trigger to the hammer and BANG! It would be a one shot deal unless you get really creative and build an automatic reloading system.

Wolfster2, there are some naval ship modelers/combat groups out there that make these ships. There is a magazine about them. As I skimmed through it there was several bb gun manufacturer's making special bb/air guns for these ship so they can battle each other. I cannot remember the magazine title. I hope this helps.

I have the kit, and it does have some issues. Since it's set up to be run, either by cam or R/C, the deck is removable...so there's a big gaping seam in the deck. I'll be starting mine this winter by planking the deck with veneer. The GMM set is nice, you actually need the second Superdetailing set as well. I've added Tom's Modelworks hatches, hose reels, etc., to my stash in anticipation of this model taking upwards of a year to complete.

Jeff

It is a monster and can really chew up details and time - but having said that when it's finished (which it never is) it will look great as the center piece of a room. I mean it will be the center piece as it is so large.
I bought mine in 1974 for $60 at the local hobby shop. Had to have it cause it was so darn big. Bigger is better - right.
Over time it has gone through several rebuilds - added r/c (front turrets turn in tandem with microswitches to limit travel in either direction) several years ago. I used the included motor and ran a single prop down through the centerline with a flex link and a stuffing box. It ran like a ski boat till I trimmed the nylon prop down - now it runs at a nice scale speed. I use a 6 volt gel cell for all power.
A few years later I replaced the deck with a scribed wood deck - that eventually warped from the water - then I went to a scribed plastic deck. I have also added the GMM etch set - only the first one - it is great. I had to cast extra 25mm AA turrets for the deck edge and make other mods to replicate the ship for its last sortie.
I have some pics on the modelwarship.com website:

http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery/bb/ijn/yamato-200-pb/yamato-index.html

Sorry - these pics are rather old - I have submitted newer ones last week.

Cheers,
Paul

You have a very nice ship I makes my want to grt going on mine again

Paul,
Great looking Battlewagon! Did you float that in your pool?

Yup - the pic is in my above ground pool in the back yard. The pool is really too small (12 x 24 ft). It's ok to check out the weight and balance but that's about all. If I want a good run I take it to the local lake. I has an island in the middle with homes on it and is in the middle of a nice housing developement. Anyway I've got enough juice in the 6 volt battery to run it all the way around the island - that is about 1 1/4 miles. Makes for a nice slow walk. It's lots of fun chasing the ducks too - lol. I would rally like to set one gun up to squirt water. Now that would be cool!

Cheers,
Paul

haha you don't have the monster ducks I do... they arent scared of my jet boat!!! (as in 1:1 scale real life) the geese end up getting mad, here I am idling out of the ramp area until I reach the lake and here they come swimming after me honking their horrible honk and flashing thier terrible bills... (sorry, had to resort to the "Where the Wild Things Are" motif for a sec...)

That would look WAY cool on the lake, or at least in the slough leading to my boat ramp with about a 2 inch chop... would make for some good pics... I might have to do that one... one day..