Initial overview of this 3 Flight Deck Akagi: 1:700 Scale Waterline Series Model, Kit No 43220. Released in 2008.
Kit contains options to build the Early type (1927 - 1934) or Middle type (1934 - 1935) Akagi. Late type (1935 - 1942) was the configuration for the IJN's attack on Pearl Harbor, and is a seperate (and much older) kits from Hasegawa. Fujimi has released a new molding of the 1941-era Akagi, but I have not seen that kit in person. This will be a build of the Early type, without any flight-deck bridge.
Close up of the 12 bi-plane aircraft included in the kit's airwing. 6 each of Type 13 Model 12 Carrier Attack Bomber (top) and Carrier Fighter Type 90 (lower). Extensive airwing details to the right.
New molding technology allows finer and finer detail in 1:700 scale. On this spru, one of seven in the kit, are details ranging from anchors to gun platforms, anti-aircraft guns, ships boats, etc.
Hull comes in two pieces, port and starboard, with far greater detail than earlier single-piece hulls in this scale. Cross-bracing in hull provides strenght and positioning for top-most flight deck. Waterline weight has been glued/taped in place. Linoleum decks on bow and stern have been painted Tamiya XF-9 Hull Red, but I'll be using Mr. Color greys on the rest of the deck and hull, and will mask and overpaint these linoleum deck pieces. If anyone has a mixing ratio for IJN linoleum color in the Tamiya range, I'd love to hear it - this is really too dark, obscuring details. Might need to order up some WEM paints for the IJN, or track down the appropriate color in the Mr. Color range.
Two more of the seven sprus for this model. Gun platforms, and flight deck bracing and some antenna. Molding technology is bringing plastic closer and closer to photo-etch level detail for many parts.
A guick dry-fit mock-up of this ship, showing all three flight decks relative to one another. Front deck linoleum is hidden under the low bow flight deck, but does bring some nice color into the bow. The modest seam between hull and waterline plate has been puttied, and once sanded smooth, painting can commence on lower hull. Additional piece pictured here is the angled smokestack, venting both down and up.
Hoping to make some progress on this kit over the upcoming holiday, and looking forward to your builds as well! If pictures don't post above, see them at: http://s1122.photobucket.com/albums/l532/DrWind/
Group Build (Shiver Me Timbers):
1:200 Trumpeter Arizona, 0% complete
1:700 3 Flight Deck Akagi, 10% complete