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1/350 IJN Destroyer Kagero Class (T) Torpedo Rail Add-on Set, IMP-35025R1
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| BACKGROUND | |||||||||||||
| Surface torpedo attacks to whittle down enemy battle lines was a driving component of IJN destroyer tactical use in World War II. Beyond deploying their massive (2.7 ton, 30 feet long), high speed and long-ranged 61cm torpedoes with enormously powerful warheads aboard ship, quick reloads enabling a second torpedo salvo were part of their design. Moving these weapons about the deck for loading into torpedo tubes and storage bays required trolley rails and trolleys. These rails and carriers were present aboard most front-line Japanese destroyers. | |||||||||||||
| REVIEW SAMPLE | |||||||||||||
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| Infini Model of Korea is a very highly
regarded producer of various aftermarket accessories for 1/700 and 1/350
ship kits. Among their highly comprehensive “Full Detail” sets are two
sets dedicated to Tamiya’s 1/350 excellent Kagero class destroyer kits
– one for the early war Kagero, and the other for the late war Yukikaze.
As comprehensive and qualitatively fine as these sets are, Infini has seen
fit to add yet more detail with its IJN Kagero class Torpedo Rail Add-on
set, the subject of this review.
This set is comprised of one 7” x 2“ brass PE sheet, plus eight turned brass Type 93 Torpedo bodies, along with more turned brass parts for a large paravane winch. It comes packed in a cellophane wrapper, backed a cardboard sheet. Included on the sheet are a rail guide, trolley rails, trolley cart, torpedo fins and propellers, winch body and parts for the paravane winch, components for two accommodation ladders, numerous eye bolts and mounting plates, and several smoke generator dispensers. The highlight of the set is the trolley rail guide and trolley rails. The rail guide is a one-piece track that is an exact match for the raised, molded-on trolley rails that appear on the Tamiya kit’s main deck. The track guide comes with numerous drill guide holes spaced 5mm apart. The drill holes accommodate a 0.3mm/0.0118 inch (#83) micro drill bit. The modeler will need to remove the molded-on rail first, then temporarily place the guide over the “trail” of the removed styrene track, securing the guide in place with tape. After drilling out all the indicated holes, the guide is removed and the PE rails glued in place. The rails have extensions on their bottom that match the guide hole pattern. The rails are comprised of several long sections, plus some shorter connectors. There are some spares rail sections included. The turned brass torpedoes are beautifully formed, and assembly of their fins and propellers looks to be straightforward, though those pieces are tiny. The assembly for the torpedo trolley is also straight forward, consisting mostly of folding and bending the PE. A smaller highlight is the paravane winch. This item replaces the kit’s styrene unit. The winch consists of both turned brass pieces as well as PE from the sheet. The pieces are small, so great care and patience will be required to assemble it properly. The accommodation ladders are multipiece, while the smoke generators are very straightforward. Both are rendered nicely. A bonus is the large number of eye bolts and mounting plates. In realty, a great many pieces of equipment were secured with rope or cable. Everything from canvas covers the hawser reels to the torpedo trolley, even the turrets and torpedo mounts were secured in heavy weather. These are a very nice inclusion for the modeler looking to super detail the kit. |
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| CLOSING THOUGHTS | |||||||||||||
| My installation of this add-on set on a Tamiya
Kagero class destroyer kit prompted this review. I am every bit as impressed
with this set as I am with Infini’s Full Detail set for that kit. The brass
is first-rate and the rail guide set-up was very straightforward, though
actually removing the molded-on rails from the kit is very challenging.
I would advise both patience and care for this aspect of the process.
I would also advise taping the guide very securely in place before starting to drill out the guide holes for the trolley rail posts. Otherwise, one risks misaligning some of the holes, which can cause some distortion of the distance between the rails as well as along the rail track. Once all the prep work was done, the rails went in very easily. Some tweaking of the widths between rails was necessary. Given the type and amount of kit preparation needed to use this set, along with the need for some delicate handling, I would not recommend this set for beginners. Modelers with some photo-etch handling and scratch-building experience will benefit the most from this set. For those folks, this set is: Highly Recommended. Availability can be spotty, depending on Infini’s production schedule. FreeTime is their US distributor, listed at $19.99 plus shipping, but it’s currently unavailable. Several e-retailors offer it, but pricing and shipping can vary widely. As of this writing, E-bay has examples for approximately $22 plus $4 shipping. This review sample was courtesy of my wallet. |
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