1/350 Hasegawa Akagi Complete.

Well Steve, if you don't mind me piling onto what has already been said, your dedication to the build and tenatious attitude on getting things just right makes this an absolute show stopper.

If I remember correctly, you are the one who got me involved in the ship GB's a couple years ago. I have followed all of your recent builds with eager anticipation and this one without question was your best one yet. There is obviously a lot of love poured into this build thread and it shows.

With the amount of "you" that was poured into it, are you planning on dedicating the build to sombody or something? This will be a "for sure" attention grabber when you show it. Considering the exposure it will receive at the Nationals, it would be a prime opportunity to dedicate this build part of your life to something (?)..... just saying.

Thanks for taking me on this model journey with you....

Ben

That is one killer build Steve.  Definitely gunning for Best Ship at the Nats!  I'm gonna take lots of pics of it to show the guys at home.

...so when can we expect Kaga, Hiryu, Soryu, Shokaku and Zuikaku?

Running for cover now.

Thanks Ben,

I hadn't thought of it. I was just building it for my love of the hobby, history and the Akagi. It certantly had taken me away from spending that time with my wife, but she also loves my hobby and really enjoys my builds. One of the reasons she's coming with me to the Nats.
I don't have anyone specific that fought in the Pacific theater, except my grandfather who was on the Pennsylvania, but that was long before Pearl. Once she's done with the Nats and our local contest, I'll see if our local museum wants to display her in the Pearl Harbor section. I really don't have room for her here.

Thank you Ben for following along and it really drives me to do better when I know somebody's watching. I have lots more to do.

Now where does a fella begin with comments on THAT bad boy??!! You've got far more patience than I do to stick with a build like that Stevo. I tip my hat to you on a job more than well done pal. You really showed 'em how it's done. 

Thank you Mustang! G...it would take at least 5 more years to complete the entire Kido Butai and they don't make the Soryu in 1/350.....however 1/700 is a different story.

By then someone will probably have Soryu out in 350.

Hiding in same foxhole as G, just hope he dug it big enough for two

Man oh man, this is a thing of sheer beauty!  Where do you plan on displaying it permanently?

After the Nats and our regionals here, I'll see if our museum wants to display it in their Pearl Harbor section.

I do know that the Soryu, although a sister ship to Hiryu, is considerably different so common tooling for anything except fittings is not possible.  But since the Kaga was kitted, Soryu should logically follow.  Just saying.  

Goldhammer, keep that shovel handy, we might need it!

Real G

do know that the Soryu, although a sister ship to Hiryu, is considerably different so common tooling for anything except fittings is not possible.

One diffrence was she had her island on the proper starboard side vs the Hiyru's port side...like the Akagi

Hiryu was slightly larger, mostly in her beam, by about 4-5 feet.  Not really enough to make much of a difference in 1/350.  Other than the pretty much mirror image island, stacks and flight deck, wouldn't be much of a problem for the kit maker to pop out a kit to complete the set

Hiryu's hull sides were also taller, so a common hull is not possible.  I only know this ship nugget because our club wanted to do Kido Butai in 1/700 and I got the Hiryu.

But haven't finished it yet.  

Really exciting and dramatic build.  Thanks for sharing!

That is an insane amount of work, Steve. Beautiful. 

Thank you Steve and Bakster.