Yankee Modelworks Mogami preview by Kym Knight

Yankee Modelworks  kit # YKM- 35070, the 1944 version of the IJN Heavy cruiser “Mogami” in her so-called hybrid form.

 
      First impressions:  WOW!!!  Damn nice detail on the deck and superstructure. It has the normal amount of overpour to clean off before mating the surfaces together, but that’s resin for you. The deck and flightdeck patterns are excellently cast .There are many small parts, so feed the carpet monster some scrap parts to appease it first before building. The white metal parts are crisp and have the normally good YMW’s detail about them, but the 20cm x 50-cal type 3 barrels will definately be replaced by Steve  Nuttall’s brass set.

     My first dissapointment came when checking out the aircraft. There are lots of pieces and would have prefered to have them in one piece (wings & stabilizers). No doubt John had some reason for this, but cutting the rear stabalizers off the resin blocks without damaging them is not really my idea of fun. (I’m possibly spoilt by Trumpeter’s packaging of its 1:350 aircraft.)

I’ve only one thing to say about the photo-etch, simply beautuful. There are 5 sheets of the stuff. Sheets 1 & 2 are for ship details, #3 is the deck rails, #4 specifically for the 1944 version, with #5 being the flight deck frames. What I’ve found with YMW’s P/E, is that evey part is numbered and every part has a place. Just right for people like me who sometimes just can’t recognise what some of the P/E parts are for and need a name for them to light the candle.

       Now onto the instructions. Since getting into resin kits, one of my biggest (and only) gripes are the instructions or lack of them. Not every builder who tackles a resin kit knows what every nut and bolt is for, so some consideration in making the instructions “landlubber” friendly is needed. Well I can happily tell you that John has produced a great set for this kit as well as the 1942 version. Very clear and consise with some 3-D  views as well. I don’t think I will be doing much hair pulling over this build, instruction wise.
 
This kit and it’s mate, the 1942 version, will be high on my list for building during 05’ or as soon as my other projects are finished.

Regards
Kym Knight
Queensland
Australia
 
 


 
 
aircraft

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deck

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guns

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hull

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hull2

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ins1

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ins2

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ins4

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ins5

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ins6

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kit

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metal

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parts

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pe1

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pe2

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pe3

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pe4

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