StarDestroyer.Net BBS

There's been some outstanding WWII Japanese subjects over at Modelwarships.com's gallery updates in the past couple days.
Figured these would generate more interest than my usual pre-dreadnought centric stuff.

First, 1/700th scale IJN Maya, a highly inspirational build.

Second, 1/700th scale IJN Chitose, this one completely floors me.

I build in 1/700th exclusively when I build ships, and I do *ok* (possibly even competitively sometimes), but these two are about as good as ship modeling gets. World class in every sense of the word.
You can really tell when sombody loves the subject they're working on.

While I can't say IJN subjects interest me much (save for some of their super battleships), my interest in British pre-dreadnoughts has grown somewhat, thanks to (nearly finished with) rereading Massie's Dreadnought.

Having said that, the detail on those warships is impeccable, regardless of scale.

Nice, especially the Maya.

(Whacks Firefox).

What did I do?

Firefox wrote:What did I do?

You know, oh, you know.

(I think it's to do with you not being ionterested much in WWII Japanese subjects.)

Since you're interested, thought I should tell you that Combrig has been releasing quite a few British pre-dreadnoughts lately, and 3rd quarter of this year they'll be releasing a kit of HMS Renown, Jacky Fisher's flagship that features prominently in Massie's book.

Some reviews of other kits:
HMS Royal Sovereign

HMS Swiftsure

HMS King Edward VII

HMS Duncan

HMS Dreadnought This kit is one of the top five kits available in the world, of any subject. It's absolutely incredible, and for $45 at Pacific Front Hobbies, a steal for a resin kit with photo-etch.

SteelNavy's Combrig page.

I found those through modelwarships.com some time ago. A staggering level of detail they've crammed into those 1:700 kits. My biggest gripe is the fact that they're waterline. I prefer full hulls, myself. That, and I wouldn't mind the price coming down a little.

Fuck, for that matter, someone should release some styrene pre-dreadnought kits. Trumpeter could do a great job, given their recent successes in 1:350.

Maya looks absolutely superb.

The level of detail on the Maya is incredible. The Chitose is good and detailed, but the Maya is just alive, from its crewmembers on deck to the bilge being pumped out.

Frank Hipper wrote:

Firefox wrote:What did I do?

You know, oh, you know.

(I think it's to do with you not being ionterested much in WWII Japanese subjects.)

Indeed:

Firefox wrote:While I can't say IJN subjects interest me much (save for some of their super battleships)

Heresy! Heresy, I say! (whacks Firefox again)

Firefox wrote:I found those through modelwarships.com some time ago. A staggering level of detail they've crammed into those 1:700 kits. My biggest gripe is the fact that they're waterline. I prefer full hulls, myself. That, and I wouldn't mind the price coming down a little.

Fuck, for that matter, someone should release some styrene pre-dreadnought kits. Trumpeter could do a great job, given their recent successes in 1:350.

Hasegawa's releasing a 1/350th full-hull Mikasa very, very soonly.

(edit)Eastern Express's 1/350th Borodino has been out a couple months, and Combrig has a couple 1/350th pre-dreadnought kits with full-hul options, too. Retvisan, Askold, Kasuga, Novik, and Boyarin.

I'd forgotten Hasegawa does warship kits, as well. It seems Trumpeter's been in the spotlight lately, what with their 1:350 Nimitz, Jeremiah O'Brien, and others (wish I could say the same for their 1:144 Seawolf).

Not a heretic!

The part that boggles my mind is the water on the Maya model. I can't figure out how it's done or what it's made of.

aerius wrote:The part that boggles my mind is the water on the Maya model. I can't figure out how it's done or what it's made of.

Probably acrylic gel and paint...I've seen guys use wall putty and paint and get similar or better results.

I don't mount my models(they all go in a display cabinet for size comparison fun), but sometime I really need to try it.

I'd like to say that the Chitose is one ugly bitch of a warship. Her lack of conning tower just feels so wrong...