IJN Yamato by RGL - FINISHED - Tamiya - 1/350 - PLASTIC

[RGL]

OK, I'll make a start on my next build log.

 

The 1/350 Tamiya (new tool) Yamato with Pontos upgrade set and numerous other bits and pieces.

 

Those of you that have watched some of my other builds have obviously figured out I like the aftermarket stuff.

 

That being said the kit is enormous, compared to my last build.

 

I also got a cheap old took kit off ebay for painting practice when I get around to buying an airbrush.

 

 

 

[Keith_W]

FIRST IN!!! Can't wait for this. It's going to be good!

[RGL]

The new tool V the old tool and the comparative size for the Dreadnought.

[Robin Lous]

Nice!

 

Dreadnought and Yamato. The mother and the pinnacle of battleships!

 

This will be amazing!

 

Robin

[RGL]

That was always my thinking Robin, this kit is a big elephant to eat and has been done all over the Internet so there is a lot of other build logs.

 

Research and photos of the original have a LOT of experts commenting on this and that and some forums are quite robust in their arguments. I'm open to suggestions as I like to do things with a fair bit of detail, so if anyone finds photos please place them on my log, I mean it.

[Robin Lous]

 

[Captain Slog]

Great stuff Greg,

 

I am settling down to follow this monster, looking forward to it.

 

Cheers

Slog

[Canute]

Greg, count me in as you tackle this beast. Your handling of PE is superb. Build on!

[gjdale]

I'm in for the ride too!

[Guest]

Jealous!

 

Have you considered adding....

 

[Captain Slog]

Jealous!

 

Have you considered adding....

 

 

 

Awesome, love the guys doing Judo.  I saw an example of this kit with washing lines and clothes hanging up and a mat laid out on deck with the guys sitting crossed legged round it with the 2 guys throwing each other in the middle.  Was like a snapshot of day to day life on board.

[cog]

Greg,

 

You are going to build both the old and the new tool ...

 

A tad to fast for me. My pontos set from Australia hasn't arrived yet, so I'll be copying your work later Pitty you are doing the new tool kit. I'll be referencing as much as possible for Musashi, but it seems I will need to get some Yamato info as well.

 

Cheers

[RGL]

Cog, I will only do parts of the old tool up that I need to practice airbrushing on (so I don't completely stuff it up on the newer one), and steal the aircraft and boats from it. I won't be wasting photoetch on it. The old tool is less detailed and an easier kit to construct. I'm about to go away for a week so I am still getting my head around construction. The hull comes in 2 options, waterline or full hull, the lower hull has some major build flaws which I have remedied and will post later today (I'm off to get my boat licence with my 13 year old today). The upper hull comes in about 15 pieces which will require lots of prep before I even think about going for the glue. Again I will do individual stanchions which will require about 1000 0.3mm holes drilled out (I've ordered a 10 pack of drill bits as they break really easily), the aircraft and boat hangars have to also be constructed first which have a lot of etch and scratch building required.

 

As to putting a crew on board, there were 2000 souls, and to man her would require a LOT of $, North Star makes lovely stuff in 3D print now but if I start where do I stop? If I just put 30 of them on something as massive as this they would look a bit lonely as distract from the overall build I think.

[Old Collingwood]

This will no doubt tun into another Epic build, if your previous build have anything to do with it,  I have seen a few excellent builds on her in different build forums, so I will be following along aswel If I  may.

 

OC.

[Elijah]

Count me in as well! Figures or not, she will be superb!

[RGL]

The lower hull comes in two parts for some unknown reason and has a huge gap. I had to be careful in the use of putty to avoid losing the detail of the armor plates.

 

You can see the difference in detail between the old and the new tool kit.

 

One joined the use of a piece of wood to bracket the brass rods that will be used as stands and the addition of the shafts.

[RGL]

After the unnecessary frustration of lower hull, the aircraft and boat hangars have to be done next, the is no way around it any very little reference to it. Not much is visible and the back of the ship has a lot of photo etch details but the first step is the hangar doors which on the new tool have to be cut in half to show them open. The last photo shows what a bit of aftermarket rivet lines can do and how they compare to the old tool.

 

The flyhawk upgrade includes these doors buy Pontos does not. They should look ok after some paint.

[RGL]

Moving on with the aircraft hangar, the etch is applied, with 1mm railings. Not much of this will be visible.

[Captain Slog]

Hi Greg,

 

Enjoying the start of your build.  Can you explain the process for gluing the large flat photo etch deck plate to the plastic and what glue you used? 

 

Cheers

Slog

[CDW]

It's going to be a great lesson and primer watching you build your Yamato. Will follow with great interest and admiration. 

[BANYAN]

Hi Greg; nice kit and build you have chosen.  That was a very short sabbatical though

 

cheers

 

Pat

[RGL]

Slog,

 

I used very thin CA spred on with a chisel end blade.

 

Banyan, yes I know but the weather has been atrocious the last week so I thought I'd have a potter while getting my head around the build as it's quite complex. I am off for a weeks holiday tomorrow. I did get a solid two days weeding the garden (with a pick axe) and I was so sore I needed some rest as well as finally getting my boat licence (for tinnys not like your warships!).

 

Greg

Edited October 2, 2016 by Greg Lester

[RGL]

I reckon I have done enough on the hangars now as I intend to park about 3 aircraft in there and you wont see much. Ive ordered some perforated steel beams which I will need for the boat hangars which run on both sides of the hangar and alongside the main rear gun.

 

I can pretty much make this up as there are no references anywhere.

[cog]

Greg,

 

If you have been gardening for two days with a pick axe, I'm amazed you got the parts on straight!!! My hands would be shaking all over.

 

I see I'll be in for a treat when I get the Pontos detail up set ... glad I practised a bit with a 90% brass airplaine at 1/72, mainly fuselage. There are some minute parts to work with ... won't it be hard to get the insideof the  hanger painted? The white styrene strips on the walls are your own additions I presume ... It does make it look less ... plastic

[RGL]

Love to see a photo of it! Drop it in the log! Apart from the floor I invented the rest. There is soooooooop much to do before painting. Maybe I'll afford an airbrush by then.

[amateur]

Great work!

 

Jan

[Robin Lous]

wow! you move fast! 

 

I envy your PE skills. Very crisp and clean, gorgeous!

 

Robin

[popeye the sailor]

very nice intro on Yamoto.......looking good  

[riverboat]

Really like what you are doing with thus build Greg..... your skill with working with the photo etch is an

art in it self.... looking forward to watching your progress

 

Frank

[popeye the sailor]

it's very interesting how photo etch looks so much better than detail already molded onto the part.   earlier kits had this........and most times,  poorly done {I might add}.    there is so much of it out there now-a-days.........even more so now with wood kits      I used to own a P.E. bender.....traded it for a Billing Bluenose kit.   I probably should be regretting it right now  

 

nice job detailing that area.......surprised that there isn't any info about it.