This is one of the PitRoad
1/700 scale Fubuki
Type II kits, modeled as Ayanami
1942, at the time of the
Guadalcanal
campaign. Ayanami
was sunk November 14-15 during the one of the ferocious, close range night
battles with US forces. For this build, I did happen to use the kit marketed as Ayanami. Among the many changes made
to improve the kit’s accuracy: straightening the mine rails at the stern,
actually used to hold depth charges, adding smoke generators at the stern and an
RDF compartment under the searchlight, replacing the split depth charge rack
with a single unit, using brass rod for the masts, adding mushroom vents,
maneuvering lights to the rear of the mainmast and a degaussing cable.
I used the taller of the two different sized
(for height) funnels that comes with the kit as the first six of the Type IIs
came so equipped, including Ayanami.
The kit provided air intakes at the base of the funnel are oddly molded,
representing neither version of the intake correctly. Ayanami
had a hooded version, so it was necessary to add a strip of styrene around the
rim of each intake. Main turrets and torpedo mount shields were modified as
well. Painted in Kure Grey, hull red & IJN linoleum using Tamiya Paints.
Though a subtle thing, one
of the things that I have noticed in my research is that all sister’s aerial
rigging is not the same. Beyond variations between the three subgroups, there
are also variations within a group. I’m not sure why; perhaps the captain’s
prerogative? Anyway, I’ve tried to reflect that between my Fubuki
sisters. Another
point worth mentioning is that while the in-process photos for all my Fubukis
show mount #’s 2 & 3 with brass stiffening braces, as the finished ships
do not have them. I discovered during the build process that no IJN DD was so
equipped until the advent of the Type D turret aboard the Yugumo
class, and Shimakaze. Note: the body of the torpedo
should be silver/unpainted metal, not grey. (Editor's Note: The
photographic labels should read 1942, not 1941.)
Dan
Kaplan
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
|
