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Warning!
– This Review Contains Gratuitous Violence – Yes, this review of the Gold Medal Models 1:350 scale brass photo-etch set for the Hasegawa
Mikasa
is not for the squeamish or faint of heart. So if you suffer from nervous
jitters, sour stomach, the heartbreak of psoriases or extreme to terminal
flatulence, you may wish to stop here and read no further, as the contents of
this review may excite your condition. Loren
Perry,
boffin of Gold Medal Models,
complained in a message that reviews of GMM
products on SteelNavy were too kind and avoided negative comment. So to humor
Loren, this review of his latest set will employ a good measure of gratuitous
and inane violence directed against an aspect of his Mikasa
photo-etch set. Just look at the figure of Admiral
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When you compare or
actually contrast the two figures, you will instantly notice that the 54mm
pewter figure included in the kit has far more detail than the 1:350 scale brass
figure from GMM. Just examine the
photograph above to see the very noticeable differences. Notice that the 54mm
figure is full round contrasted to the rather flat GMM figure. There are
more folds to the uniform and overall uniform detail on the pewter figure than
on the GMM brass figure. Look at the
clasps on the pewter scabbard! You won’t find that level of detail on the
brass scabbard provided by Loren. The conclusion is clear, if you want to have a
chance at winning a prize in 54mm figure competition, enter the pewter figure
and not the GMM figure. However, to
be fair and balanced, I am forced to admit that the pewter figure may look a
trifle over-scale when placed on the bridge of the Hasegawa
1:350 scale Mikasa.
However, the sad tidings about the Mikasa
fret do not end with just the
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Warning!
Sucrose Alert! Sugar Attack!
– If you
suffer from diabetes or have any sort of sucrose intolerance you may wish to
stop reading at this point. What follows are syrupy praise and superlatives for
this Gold Medal Models fret. Loren Perry
said that my reviews of his products are too favorable. Well, I could say that
the GMM 1:350 scale Mikasa
set stinks like 5-day-old dead fish. Literally, that would not be correct, as I
can not discern any odor of any type emanating from the product. Figuratively,
such a statement would be a gross lie, as this fret is one of the best ever
produced by Gold Medal Models. This product is superb on many levels. As is true
with most large photo-etch sets, the many parts provided generally fall into two
categories, those parts that replace parts in the kits and those parts that
supplement the kit with new parts not found in the kit.
GMM
Replacement Players Lineup
You’ll need a score card to keep up with all of the brass replacement parts.
These are no second stringers sent in as fodder but they are top of the line
players, graceful and hard-hitting. Just starting at the stern is the
admiral’s sternwalk. Frankly, the plastic parts provided in the Hasegawa kit are solid and have all of the grace of a concrete
highway divider. Those solid parts mar a great kit, rather than improve it.
Loren comes to the rescue with some absolutely beautiful parts for this very
visible feature. This assembly alone takes up 13 parts, the perforated walk, the
railing, the handrail, the ship’s name plate (with a spare) and nine braces
for the underside of the walk. The result will be light years ahead of what is
provided in the kit. Equally impressive are the replacement parts for the
torpedo net shelves. For some reason GMM
calls these catwalks but they were more commonly called net shelves. Again there
are clunky solid parts provided in the kit but not so in gleaming GMM
brass. These net shelves are made of bars with open spaces in between, which are
captured perfectly on this fret. Loren also provides individual support braces
for these shelves. The kit comes with optional plastic stack caps, one with
plastic grille pattern and one without. GMM provides relief-etched caps as well as delicate grille tops. In
any event use the brass grille tops, even if you don’t use the caps, as the
result is far superior with the GMM
parts. The caps themselves are much superior with open exhaust holes, rather
than the solid ones found on the plastic pieces.
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The Hasegawa
Mikasa
comes with some railing covered by canvas dodgers. These are of course plastic
parts and because of the medium are overly thick. GMM provides optional railing for standard railing or railing
covered by canvas dodgers. Just contrast the plastic canvas railing with the GMM
substitutes. GMM even provides eyeholes in the canvas used to secure it to the
railing! The railing itself is relief-etched over the canvas dodger on these
parts. The GMM replacement pilot
house and rear bridge are more essential replacements. The kit versions are
solid and I guess painting the windows black is acceptable. However, the GMM
windows are open and each has a frame. There are door openings, so doors can be
portrayed as open or closed. The doors have relief-etched paneling. Since GMM also provides the ship’s wheel and bridge binnacle, you’ll
be able to see them inside the pilothouse with the open doors and windows. About
the only improvement will be to glaze the windows with Micro Klear.
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To use some of the
parts of this Gold Medal Models set
will require removing the equivalent portion of the plastic part. Now this may
cause a degree of apprehension on the part of the beginner but don’t shy away.
The improvement in Mikasa
through the use of the GMM parts will
be well worth the effort. There are a lot of boat cradles/chocks on the boat
deck amidships on Mikasa.
In the kit they are portrayed as solid, featureless lumps. They really are
grossly oversized lumps in comparison the relief-etched GMM replacements. The GMM
parts fold together so the final part is of double thickness. However, you’ll
have to remove the existing chocks that come attached to each boat. Likewise,
many external bulkheads come with solid, thick inclined steps with no handrails.
Bah! These really should be removed post haste and GMM inclined ladders with handrails immediately substituted. The
forecastle of the Mikasa kit comes with anchor
chain deck hawse with grill detail. There certainly isn’t anything wrong with
this but GMM will take these fittings
to a new level with open grill parts as substitutes. With these open parts you
can have anchor chain disappearing from the deck into open hawse covered by
intricate grills, rather than the sold hawse of the kit. Of course you’ll have
to open up these areas with a hobby knife or drill. GMM
includes beautiful relief-etched exterior doors for the middle casemate gun positions. These
doors swung downward onto the net shelves. The ones on the the Hasgawa
shelves look like ammo lockers. Skylights are another area where you’ll have to cut or sand
existing plastic smooth. However, significant detail can accrue by using the GMM
replacement skylights. Each relief-etched skylight has open portholes. If you
open up the position in advance or drill out each porthole after attachment of
the brass part, you can glaze them with Micro Klear for an authentic appearance
of glass portholes. Additionally you get replacement doors and hatches and the
deck hatches have separate hand-wheels.
Instructions |
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Supplemental
Parts
Although the bulk of the brass parts on this fret are for replacing plastic
parts on the fret, there are a substantial number of parts that have no
equivalent plastic part to replace. These add a rich new level of detail to your
Mikasa.
Although the Hasegawa kit comes with some bridge railing with canvas dodgers, the
kit has no open railing for any location and no forecastle or quarterdeck
railing of any type. GMM has done
their usual superlative job with providing this railing. Ho-Humm more
outstanding parts from Loren. Of look, individual chain links can be discerned
on many portions of the railing. How boring, GMM has exceeded expectations yet again. Large accommodation
platforms with open platforms and bridles are also brand new parts to add
further eye candy to your Mikasa.
In addition to the replacement funnel caps and grilles, each funnel is provided
a complete series of hand and foot rungs that appear all the way up each funnel.
Parts Comparison |
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In addition to replacement cradles/chocks, the ship’s boats are further decorated with a series of new enhancements. The steam launches have keel/rudder/ propeller additions, and oars for smaller boats. Boat davit pulleys, derrick pulleys, turnbuckles, yardarms with foot-ropes, eyebolts, anchor chain loops, stern platform, and stack platform rails are found in abundance to add extra detail. You don’t have to use every part that Loren provides with this brass set but it’s nice to know that they are present if you want them.
Parts Comparison |
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Verdict
Gold Medal Models has done it again.
Loren Perry continues with his insidious design of populating the model warship
world with outstanding photo-etch products. With the GMM set for the Hasegawa
1:350 scale Mikasa he has produced another
state of the art fret, chock full of relief-etched glory. Will Loren accept his
well-earned praise and plaudits for this wonderful product? Nooooo, he will
again pull out his humble, “Good? Little
ole me? Aw, shucks folks, t’was nothing. You’re too kind.” Well, I’m
as mad as hell and I won’t take it anymore! The GMM Mikasa set is superb! It
covers about everything that a photo-etch set could cover to super detail the Mikasa.
Loren will have to take his lumps now and like it. I say again, the GMM
Mikasa
fret is superb! Take that Loren!
Bubba Badass
The Irate Reviewer
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