Operation Z or planning Operation AI: constructing the Kido Batai (2) the pleasure of little things

When I first began acquiring these 1/700 models, I wondered why there was such a range of prices for, seemingly, the same model of the same ship. Then I realised that some are more detailed than others. Fujimi in particular seem to specialise in the detailed end of the spectrum (with associated higher prices), but even within the same manufacturer there are standard and 'deluxe' versions of the same kit.

Being a cheap skate and only wanting 'wargame standard' models, I purchased the cheapest kit that I could find for each of the ships. As I became aware of the differences and since I was struggling to find any of the 'basic' versions available, I decided to splash out and purchased the Fujimi version of Soryu—added incentive was that is was available at a discounted price 😁. I have enjoyed and at the same time struggled with construction of this more detailed kit. 

The added detail comes in the form of more and smaller parts to the kit that provided a more accurate and detailed representation of parts of the ship. Part L48 is an example. These are fire controllers which go on each ack-ack platform, and elsewhere.

A section of the instructions showing placement of two of part L48.

Here they are on the sprue. Tweezers for size. Other detailed parts on this sprue include the ladders at the ends of various gangways around the top of the hull, below the flight deck (parts L16–L32).

There were 21 pieces of part L48, the little darlings, to glue on to various platforms and other fixtures below the flight deck and a couple on and near the island. Fiddly in the extreme, but they were not as difficult to fit in place as I had thought they would be when I saw the size of them. The nature of the polystyrene cement, which becomes 'tacky' almost immediately was a great aid to this, allowing one (me in this case, haha) to simply drop them on top of a dot of glue and then slowly and carefully adjust the position and make sure that they were vertical. Remarkably none of them went 'ping', propelling out of the grip of the tweezers, flying across my table never to be seen again. This has happened several times with parts from each of the other kits that I have made—particularly the wing floats of the float-planes, which were the smallest parts (2–3 mm long) that I had handled prior to L48. Perhaps I was especially careful when handling these controllers? 

Fortunately, most of the models that I have made are of the ilk of the more pragmatic Aoshima Hiryu.

Note the little vertical bits moulded on part A7, a more stylised representation of the fire controllers!

There was some added detail in the Soryu kit that I decided not to attempt:

I wondered at first what the millimetre sized parts on these small sprues were. A small information box at the end of the instructions exclaims: "Upgrade parts for precise reproduction of machine guns!"

I later saw the photo on the outside of the box: "Includes 25mm machine guns (triple, twin, and single), bulletproof plates, and ammunition boxes".

Nah. Too small and fiddly for me. I stuck with the basic, moulded version of the machine guns that was provided (part F2).

While pleased to have bought one of these more detailed, Fujimi, 'proper scale modellers' models, I was equally pleased that I only bought one (plus the two Kongo battleships that I had already built and which were far less fiddly).

With the six carriers built, it's time to stop building and do some painting, for a needed change of pace! 😁