Yomei-mon at Nikko Toshogu (Japanese Shinto Shrine) 1:150 / Canon

**Lex** · #1 10-01-2020, 07:33 PM

Hi all. I would like to present my build of the Yomei-mon, part of the Nikko Toshogu Shrine.

It is rare for me to post in this section of the forum, because it is rare for an architectural model to meet my eye with enough detail to make me wanting to build it, this model was one of the few that did.

The subject:

The Nikko Toshogu shrine, built in 1617, is dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, whose rule heralded the start of the Edo period in Japanese history. The entire shrine, located in the city of Nikko less than two hour's drive north of Tokyo, is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Yomei-mon is one of the most prominent structure in the shrine:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikk%C...%C5%8D-g%C5%AB

The model:

This is one of, if not the most difficult of any Canon offering. Canon's page listed the model at 5-star rating with a recommended build time of over 10 hours, which was at best a great understatement.

The model is provided at 1:75. Being me, I thought the detail were too large at this scale, so I downscaled it at 50%. It turned out that I underestimated the model, not the other way round. Even if built full-size it would have been a magnificent display with no compromise to even the smallest detail. To build it half-size was asking for trouble.

The build was started in 2018 to the day. I will post the progress shots along with the completed model shortly, with proper description.

**Don Boose** · #2 10-01-2020, 08:28 PM

I look forward to seeing this model, Lex.

We visited the Nikko Toshogu Shrine and Yomei-mon in 1989 (Lil liked the Sleeping Cat).

It's such an over-the-top structure that I can image executing it in paper will be a challenge.

Don

**Vermin_King** · #3 10-01-2020, 08:37 PM

I so much wanted to build this, but it scared me. Looking forward to your build

**Lex** · #4 10-02-2020, 05:31 AM

Dave, don't be like me, please do a proper build of this. It is very worth the time spent

Don, it is very nice for you to have visited the actual place. It is now on my list of must-see locations next time I'm there. The model is beautiful enough, but the actual structure must be on another level of its own.

Base:

The base was the simplest part of the model. There were adequate supports for all elements of the base and it holds itself well. The bottom however was open, much like JSC ships. That makes some of the vertical components flimsy and it will be fixed using a box structure near the end of the build.

The stone railings were very difficult, much of it due to the way it is designed. As an example, one expects a box construction for the short columns, but no, these were, along with the horizontal bar, fixed onto a whole piece of backing that contained the back side of both the bar and the columns. Even with me printing it on copier paper, paper thickness still made life a hell as these were not accounted for in the design. My lack of precision in dealing with small subjects also greatly affected the result, even minor inconsistencies were very visible.

First level:

The raised floor section and the statues were the easy part. However the columns are designed in an uncommon way. There were slots that the walls inserted into the otherwise round columns. Of course, in cardmodels, if one cuts a long slot in a thin round tube, then the tube is not going to be very round. The remainder of the outer walls are actually butt-joined to the columns, where one expected a glue tab construction. So after a laborious and subpar experience in the first half, all these were modified into a glue tab construction in the second half. The roof also received similar treatment, converting inserted parts into overlapping ones.

This floor is also the most difficult to align well. Make sure everything are straight and level.

**rockpaperscissor** · #5 10-02-2020, 05:45 AM

Looks terrific so far. I'm blown away by he staircase which appears to be 3D. If so, you've done an amazing job with those extremely tight alternating mountain and valley folds.

**Lex** · #6 10-02-2020, 05:51 AM

Second level:

The first and second level sandwiches the first portion of what would have been called 'dougong' in China, or cap-and-block construction. It is a structure to support an overhanging roof. The Canon model dealt with this structure using overlapping sheets of paper supported by some interleaving parts. The effect is very convincing, but without the complication of having to make any interlocking construction. It does get very repetitive, so I had to intersperse this with other parts during the build. The images explain the detailed construction

The second level is much simpler than the first, featuring a closed box-like structure supported by buried columns. The columns suffer similar design issue to the first floor, and construction was modified to using glue tabs accordingly. Again, it is a very rigid structure after the cap went on.

It is interesting to note that in Chinese architecture, form follows function, and aesthetic follows form. The exposed structural bars and beams form part of the overall look. In Japanese architecture, technique have evolved to suit Japanese climate and craftsmanship, such that the structural and aesthetic functions were split. Many sported similar bars and beams that were purely a cosmetic addition to the underlying structure, in order to maintain its consistent style that was of 8-th century Chinese origin.

**Lex** · #7 10-02-2020, 06:05 AM

Thanks Don, the stairs were actually not very difficult as it was easy to align them properly. Good alignment is the difficulty throughout this model.

Roof (upper):

The roof is split into a top and a bottom section. These join at the rim and in the central support section. The top was quite simple, supported by an X-shaped internal structure. Many box construction were used for the details and the entire structure was sturdy.

The 'bend' on the outer rim was the most difficult of all, as it follows a very complex shape and slight mismatches in the roof construction can mean the rim not fitting at all. It took much convincing to make it look the way it is.

Roof (lower)

These feature the second set of the 'dougong' structure, which was more complex than the first, as each protruding beam (with every tip featuring a dragon head) was a separate part. It was very difficult to get them to align and quite a few was less than spectacular. The instruction clearly stated the need to align them as well.

The four bells at the corners of the roof were rolled into a cylinder rather than the flat sheet as suggested, I think this makes viewing them from different angles more convincing.

**Lex** · #8 10-02-2020, 06:07 AM

Fixing the base and plaque:

I have mentioned that both features an open bottom. These received some abuse during the construction process and I decided to fix them at the end. Using added tabs they were closed up into boxes, and the rim now maintains a straight edge.

**Lex** · #9 10-02-2020, 06:11 AM

I will conclude with a series of completed photos.

Looking at the timestamp, it took one month (with a 23-month gap in between) to complete the model. It is a difficult and repetitive model that was a great challenge to my skill. I did not do it the justice it deserves, no fold scoring or edge colouring. A modeler with more preparation and patience will be able to build a much better version of this magnificent building.