Destroyer Yukikaze 1945 Imperial Japanese Navy Fujimi 1/700

This is Fujimi’s precision detail IJN Destroyer Yukikaze (Snowy Wind) and its photo-etched parts set I bought a few years ago. I could not assemble it because it was too delicate. I used to be a little familiar with the photo-etched parts after building the Aoshima’s destroyer Hatsuharu, so I pulled it out from the back and continued to assemble it.

Parts of one ship look like this. Although the price of the kit is slightly high, two destroyers are in this box, and it’s a little advantageous to be able to make the same ship again. I wonder if there is any energy to build another ship after the Yukikaze.

The first process goes smoothly.

Of course, it is easy to understand because it is Fujimi’s exclusive photo-etched parts. Still, it isn’t very easy to carefully check the plastic kit manual and photo-etched parts alternately. I wrote a lot of marks on the instructions with a colored ballpoint pen, but once I thought about it, Because I am planning to make another one, it became hard to see if I marked it in the manual. This time I will practice, and the goal is to install many parts.

This time, I learned a little and started to assemble the setting on the wooden base. It became easier to handle and reduced the possibility of component breakage. I wonder if I can finish it this time.
(20-July-2017)

I repeated many searches for losing parts and crawling on the floor. Trolleys for placing torpedoes and torpedo screws are photo-etched parts. I placed this car on the deck center.

I attached the photo-etched parts of the hose reel on the front deck. Since there is no water hose, I made a 0.1mm copper wire wrapped around a 1 mm plastic rod. I should have done this simultaneously, but I struggled to handle the tiny parts and could not afford them.

I was surprised that the life floats are prepared with metal parts. Although some parts have bent, they are somehow assembled completely. I used almost photo-etched parts. I suppose the correct location of these floats is attached to the side of the bridge.
(23-July-2017)

I liked this picture the most. I feel fulfilled by attaching the photo-etched parts that are not used. Blowing the ship’s bottom color to give momentum, work will be done at once with the warship color and detail painting.

Yukikaze is the only ship surviving to the war’s end among approximately 60 Kagero-type destroyers. Yukikaze participated in several operations, from the war to the battleship Yamato’s suicide attack. After the war, it was handed over to the Republic of China and was dismantled in Taiwan in 1971. There are many Japanese who have a strong affection, very destined destroyers.

Commissioned: 20 January 1940
Displacement: 2,033 long tons
Standard length: 118.5m
Beam: 10.8 m
Speed: 35.5 knots
Complement: about 240

Armament
• 4 × twin Type 3 127 mm 50 caliber naval guns
• 2 × 4 tubes 610 mm (24 in) torpedo tubes
• rotating midship torpedo launchers + reloads
• 5 x triple 25mm Type 96 AA guns
• 18 × single 25mm Type 96 AA guns
• 1 × depth charges

Well, I painted using warship color (2) of Creos Mr. Color, it’s the color of Yokosuka Navy Yard painting color. The linoleum part inevitably disappeared when painting the warship color up with a fine part. With this level of detail, I wonder it cannot be sprayed even with 0.2 mm nozzle airbrush work.

As for the attached decal, I’m not sure when I lost it; the Rising Sun Flag has been diverted from past build kits since it was lost. It is a great blunder to lose the decal. It has been neglected for several years and has repeatedly been built and interrupted many times, so the risk of loss increased, and I moved house last year. Generally, it is a promise to come out from somewhere after making it, but this time it did not. From now on, I would like to make it at once without being bored.

After lightly washing in black and emphasizing the details, wash with a thinner rust color. I think there is a feeling of a try-hard at the front line, although she is a small destroyer. How is it? I wonder if we enjoy watching the complexity of the structures on the deck regarding the battleship models rather than enjoying the weathering like a tank model.

This kit has a bulletproof board with an emphasis on places near the anti-aircraft gun. The handrail of the ship model I have built is all standard forms. It can be imagined that the enemy’s air power threat to IJN battleships had reached its peak.

I noticed I make almost destroyers only. Next time I’d like to undertake a battleship. There is no need to hesitate about a lot of parts. If I keep moving my hands, I get closer to completion unless I make a big mistake.
(30-July-2017)