mtdoramike

I spent a few hours making and installing the railings.

I spent a few hours making and installing the railings.

I spent a few hours making and installing the railings.

I was able to pick up one of the Trumpeter 1/200 scale US battle ships USS Missouri at a very good price $225.00 from a fellow modeller who believed in the old phrase "I can do anything tomorrow", but as with most, his tomorrow never came. But at least he was smart enough not to leave his wife stuck with trying to get rid of it when his tomorrows come to an abrupt end. How ever, I do love you tomorrow modellers because you keep me busy, God bless you.
 
But one consolation is the kit even if not built is magificent just to set and stare at, which I do quite often while building the Calypso.   

I was able to pick up one of the Trumpeter 1/200 scale US battle ships USS Missouri at a very good price $225.00 from a fellow modeller who believed in the old phrase "I can do anything tomorrow", but as with most, his tomorrow never came. But at least he was smart enough not to leave his wife stuck with trying to get rid of it when his tomorrows come to an abrupt end. How ever, I do love you tomorrow modellers because you keep me busy, God bless you.
 
But one consolation is the kit even if not built is magificent just to set and stare at, which I do quite often while building the Calypso.   

I was able to pick up one of the Trumpeter 1/200 scale US battle ships USS Missouri at a very good price $225.00 from a fellow modeller who believed in the old phrase "I can do anything tomorrow", but as with most, his tomorrow never came. But at least he was smart enough not to leave his wife stuck with trying to get rid of it when his tomorrows come to an abrupt end. How ever, I do love you tomorrow modellers because you keep me busy, God bless you.
 
But one consolation is the kit even if not built is magificent just to set and stare at, which I do quite often while building the Calypso.   

I was able to pick up one of the Trumpeter 1/200 scale US battle ships USS Missouri at a very good price $225.00 from a fellow modeller who believed in the old phrase "I can do anything tomorrow", but as with most, his tomorrow never came. But at least he was smart enough not to leave his wife stuck with trying to get rid of it when his tomorrows come to an abrupt end. How ever, I do love you tomorrow modellers because you keep me busy, God bless you.
 
But one consolation is the kit even if not built is magificent just to set and stare at, which I do quite often while building the Calypso.   

I was able to pick up one of the Trumpeter 1/200 scale US battle ships USS Missouri at a very good price $225.00 from a fellow modeller who believed in the old phrase "I can do anything tomorrow", but as with most, his tomorrow never came. But at least he was smart enough not to leave his wife stuck with trying to get rid of it when his tomorrows come to an abrupt end. How ever, I do love you tomorrow modellers because you keep me busy, God bless you.
 
But one consolation is the kit even if not built is magificent just to set and stare at, which I do quite often while building the Calypso.   

Folks,
 
this is the kit that many many many modelers have been waiting for a very long time: a replacement for the old and so incorrect NICHIMO kit of the 1/200 YAMATO legendary Japanese battleship.
 
When I started receiving offers to pre-order that model, I jumped on it. I had always considered getting the NICHIMO kit plus the additional FUJIMI kits to improve it but was turned off by the prices. Today, we have a much better substitute thanks to Trumpeter and MRC/Gallery Models which are distributing this massive model on the Western market.
 
I pre-ordered my kit from Squadron for $579, free shipping, no taxes. The kit was  made available on June 14th in the USA and was at my door on the 16th. It cannot be better.
 
After a quick look at the kit, I would say that it is a very impressive work, only missing one thing: the wooden decks and perhaps metal guns. Those are already made available by Scaledeck apparently and I am sure the usual PONTOS and MK folks will jump on the bandwagon to add countless details to this 2800 parts kit.
 
I am not an expert of YAMATO and thus, I will limit myself to presenting the kit. It comes in a very large and beautiful box (Trumpeter style), with gorgeous artwork: 
 

 
No mention of Trumpeter can be found on the box or any included literature, but for those who have built Trumpeter kit, it makes no doubt that it is their creation.
 

 
Inside the kit, we have 7 separate boxes, packed to the hilt: 
 

 
The Assembly manual is 117 pages long: 
 

 

 

 

 

 
A nice color sheet is also included with decals for the ship and the planes: 
 

 
Let's jump into each one of the seven boxes: 
 

 
This one is fully packed and contains most of the superstructures: 
 

 

 
Box B contains the guns and all the PE parts: 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
I am not showing all spruces as there are way too many to display.
 

 
Box D contains the two decks pieces: 
 

 

 
Box E is dedicated to anti-aerial defense: 
 

 
Finally, the last and biggest box is the massive 5 foot long hull, cast in two parts. The two halves are secured to each other with aluminum parts and plastic parts and provide a very strong and precise alignment.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 
This is it for now. I have placed everything back in the box and will perhaps start a Build log one day. I did not want to miss on that kit, which I am sure will quickly become rare and coveted. 
 

 
I hope you have enjoyed that quick introduction. There are a few beautiful implementations of this ship on the forum that can be used as a guide for improving on the kit. I know that I will be using RGL's build log of his gorgeous 1/350th Yamato for my reference, when the time comes to build that monster.
 
Yves
 
 
 

Got a strong feeling you are right. Not many in the small pool of modelers who would want the kit can find the extra cash to purchase on at this time of economic uncertainty world-wide. 

What do people find so fascinating about these ships?  Compared to the Iowa’s they are rather ugly with their humpbacked sheer.  Both were sunk by aircraft and neither distinguished itself in battle.  And, they didn’t represent what many would consider to be a good cause.
 
My last comment would apply to Bismarck and Tripitz too.
 
Roger

My Dremel(s) are the most used tools on my work bench. I have built probably 150 models over a 25 year period and it's my go to tool. 

A strong solution of vinegar works great in getting rid of mold. But upon looking over the pictures, the display base got the worst of it. The hull and deck look quite weathered and gives the ship character. When restoring a boat, I try to only fix things that are falling apart, have come loose or something that greatly detracts from the model. To me, it would be a crime to remove or re-do an aged model to looking prestine again, which eraces the journey that model has taken and the history of it.
 
If you are looking for a rigging plan for the model, I would recommend looking for a rigging plan for the HMS Bounty, because this model has a striking resemblance to the Bounty.  

A strong solution of vinegar works great in getting rid of mold. But upon looking over the pictures, the display base got the worst of it. The hull and deck look quite weathered and gives the ship character. When restoring a boat, I try to only fix things that are falling apart, have come loose or something that greatly detracts from the model. To me, it would be a crime to remove or re-do an aged model to looking prestine again, which eraces the journey that model has taken and the history of it.
 
If you are looking for a rigging plan for the model, I would recommend looking for a rigging plan for the HMS Bounty, because this model has a striking resemblance to the Bounty.  

My Dremel(s) are the most used tools on my work bench. I have built probably 150 models over a 25 year period and it's my go to tool. 

My Dremel(s) are the most used tools on my work bench. I have built probably 150 models over a 25 year period and it's my go to tool. 

A strong solution of vinegar works great in getting rid of mold. But upon looking over the pictures, the display base got the worst of it. The hull and deck look quite weathered and gives the ship character. When restoring a boat, I try to only fix things that are falling apart, have come loose or something that greatly detracts from the model. To me, it would be a crime to remove or re-do an aged model to looking prestine again, which erases the journey that model has taken and the history of it.

I've been working on the Lady of the sea lately and she's now about 3/4 the way finished. 

A strong solution of vinegar works great in getting rid of mold. But upon looking over the pictures, the display base got the worst of it. The hull and deck look quite weathered and gives the ship character. When restoring a boat, I try to only fix things that are falling apart, have come loose or something that greatly detracts from the model. To me, it would be a crime to remove or re-do an aged model to looking prestine again, which erases the journey that model has taken and the history of it.

I've been working on the Lady of the sea lately and she's now about 3/4 the way finished. 

I've been working on the Lady of the sea lately and she's now about 3/4 the way finished. 

A strong solution of vinegar works great in getting rid of mold. But upon looking over the pictures, the display base got the worst of it. The hull and deck look quite weathered and gives the ship character. When restoring a boat, I try to only fix things that are falling apart, have come loose or something that greatly detracts from the model. To me, it would be a crime to remove or re-do an aged model to looking prestine again, which erases the journey that model has taken and the history of it.

I've been working on the Lady of the sea lately and she's now about 3/4 the way finished. 

I've been working on the Lady of the sea lately and she's now about 3/4 the way finished. 

I've been working on the Lady of the sea lately and she's now about 3/4 the way finished.