#1
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IJN Akizuki 1944 [Answer 1:200]
So without wrapping up the previous build, I am starting another ship.
Link to my ongoing Fuyuzuki build here IJN Fuyuzuki [Modelik 1:200] Akizuki was the lead ship of the Akizuki class. Built just in time for the start of the Pacific War, this class is quite large for a destroyer and often mistaken as a cruiser. The reason is their heavy anti-aircraft suite that is comprised of 8 100mm AA guns in 4 turrets. A quad torpedo launcher and depth charges were mounted to allow the ship to perform the more 'conventional' destroyer duties. Akizuki's AAMG suite, like almost all ships in the Japanese navy, skyrocketed as the war progressed. Akizuki, the first to be launched, was built without radar, but received them as they became available. Akizuki's participated in some of the major battles in the Pacific, which ended with her loss during the battle of Cape Engano in October 1944, most likely due to an explosion of onboard torpedo (that was captured by photo) that broke the ship in two. I am starting this build as I move along with the Fuyuzuki. As I have mentioned elsewhere, these are, basically, the same kit, minus the minor differences in configuration. This also means almost all (perhaps 95 percent) laser accessories carry over from Fuyuzuki. The kit by Answer depicts the ship in 1942, however I do intend to build the 1944 configuration. I think the most notable differences are the main mast and the addition of a pair of AA platforms to the sides of the funnel, both of which should be easy to modify. Japan also stopped painting ship names on the side of their ships by 1944, so that has to be modified too. The reason I left the unfinished Fuyuzuki to start on this is more due to a necessity: I agreed to do a set of custom laser frames for Fuyuzuki/Akizuki for a friend, who will be starting the build soon. I would have preferred to build the hull myself to check everything is good to go, before mailing him the frames. It was a new construction method to myself too, so I need to be confident that it works. From now on the two ships will be built in tandem. Pictures to follow soon.
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"The world is big" On hold: Fuyuzuki, Zao, Zara, Akizuki, Past works: XP55 Ascender, CA Ibuki, Seafang F32, IS-3, Spitfire V, J-20 |
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#2
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Starting with the hull. Learning from the (poor) experience from my previous ship builds I made sure the hull must be as smooth as I wanted it to be. The original hull skin will be used and the aim is to not paint over it.
The formers are re-digitised, and a 3D model is reconstructed to help unfold the additional support structures inside. Akizuki/Fuyuzuki's formers also contain a few places where the hull came out bulging, so they were fixed during the process. For this particular model, accuracy of the shape was kinda out of the window before the build started anyway.
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"The world is big" On hold: Fuyuzuki, Zao, Zara, Akizuki, Past works: XP55 Ascender, CA Ibuki, Seafang F32, IS-3, Spitfire V, J-20 |
#3
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The original 1mm support are reinforced into three layers of 1mm grey card, the two additional layers are offset towards the inside to provide a supporting surface for the 'double-bottom' hull construction. Effectively I need to cut three copies of the bulkheads and... no I refuse to do that by hand
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"The world is big" On hold: Fuyuzuki, Zao, Zara, Akizuki, Past works: XP55 Ascender, CA Ibuki, Seafang F32, IS-3, Spitfire V, J-20 |
#4
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The double-bottom is then attached gradually, using 0.6mm white card. Without applying superglue, The hull is surprisingly soft at this stage and need to be handled carefully to avoid warping. The reason for not using superglue is because I am sanding the entire assembly.
There is still a lot of bambooing here, so sandpaper was applied to heart's content. Had I skinned the hull right away at this stage, it would most likely have ended the same way. Sanding was not easy, next time I might as well try balsa as the material for the double bottom. There was no attempt to use any filler. I am not a paper purist but was simply unsure how well the filler would work on paper constructions.
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"The world is big" On hold: Fuyuzuki, Zao, Zara, Akizuki, Past works: XP55 Ascender, CA Ibuki, Seafang F32, IS-3, Spitfire V, J-20 |
#5
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I made provisions for a 1mm thick double bottom, but went in stages so there could be multiple rounds of sanding. After the first 0.6mm layer was done, I applied another layer of 0.2mm white card, and sanded again. This time almost everywhere are convex, and a final layer of 0.2mm card strips are applied to provide a smooth attachment surface and to cover up the internal bulkheads protruding at the seams, where they will be difficult to deal with when skinning.
To finish off, a 0.6mm card was added on the deck, to finally even out any aberrations here. The deck provided by the kit will be used as-is without doubling by thick card (while the model suggested 1mm card).
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"The world is big" On hold: Fuyuzuki, Zao, Zara, Akizuki, Past works: XP55 Ascender, CA Ibuki, Seafang F32, IS-3, Spitfire V, J-20 |
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#6
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So... finally, first cuts.
As cutting started, I realised that in comparison, Fuyuzuki's paper was awesome ...ly bad. Cutting parts for the Fuyuzuki felt as if cutting through grains of sand, fibre would stick out from the cut surface. Looking back I had never encountered paper that was so bad. In comparison, Answer's paper and printing felt right at home.
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"The world is big" On hold: Fuyuzuki, Zao, Zara, Akizuki, Past works: XP55 Ascender, CA Ibuki, Seafang F32, IS-3, Spitfire V, J-20 Last edited by Lex; 08-21-2019 at 04:03 PM. |
#7
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good work Lex
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David........... paper modelling gives you a happy high. currently building. castle Zleby, GAZ 51 ALG 17, wagon 111a. |
#8
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Very nice work Lex.
Mike |
#9
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The gray cardboard has a nice texture in the images, and the stacks of hull formers constitute lovely sculptures in and of themselves.
All the work on the hull seems to have paid off. Always a pleasure to watch your artisanship in action. Don |
#10
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If you need to fill and sand paper, use drywall (spackling) compound. Sands like a dream.
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Fred Bultman |
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