Looking to build Japanese 'what-if' BB

Gerarddm wrote:

Recently discovered the A140A proposed design that eventually evolved into Yamato. What a beautiful ship with her three main turrets all forward, towering superstructure, lunging forecastle. Has anybody by chance kitbashed this design from a Yamato kit? or better yet, is there some kind of rare kit I can buy of this thing?

When it comes to "what ifs" the place to have gone was IHP (Imperial Hobby Productions). They have been leaders in the production of 1/700 scale ships of this type. There are a number of their products still floating around on the web, unfortunately, they have stopped making them. I have their Lexington and South Dakota (designs and ships that were cancelled and scrapped as a result of the Washington Naval Arms conference). Both are really gorgeous kits as I understand are their other kits of "never built" ships from Japan, Germany and the UK. Try Pacific Front, Great Adventure Hobbies and NNT in Germany to see if they still have stock on these items.

I don't think an all turret forward hull would be anything at all like the Yamato's.   For one thing, there would be no real requirement to keep the hull sides parallel to give the aft magazine the required depth of side protection.   The wavy deck line would also not work with a 3 turret forward design.  Turret C might have some trouble fitting under turret B.

 Also, the Japanese turret forward design were larger than Yamato and capable of 30 knots if I recall.  That would also necessitate a hull with a different length to width ratio to achieve.