ModelArt

Model Art Modeling Magazine No. 25 Genealogy of Japanese Destroyers Part 2 Autumn 2007

Reviewed By  Luke R. Bucci, PhD, IPMS# 33459

MSRP: 1700 yen (approximately $17) Pages: 132 Pictures: hundreds of color and black & white photos; Diagrams: 5 pages; Foldouts: three Model Art Co., Ltd, 3-11 3chome, Iidabashi Chiyodaku, Tokyo, Japan (www.modelart.jp) Thanks to Stevens Imports for the Review copy (www2.stevenshobby.com:5641) Bottom line: Another excellent book focusing on six classes of IJN destroyers from the Super Type (Fubuki class) to the Asashio class, plus two pre-war torpedo boat classes. Some new kits are reviewed. This book is actually a prime reference for building accurized Japanese destroyers from the available kits. Very highly recommended for anyone wanting to build Japanese destroyers from WW2 - equivalent to a reference book. All Japanese text, as usual, but again, not a problem since the photographs, diagrams and artwork are worth the cost. This issue starts with showing new kit release for a 1/350 scale Nagato, Atago-class cruisers, and Pit Road 1/700 Hood and Richeliu. Short reviews of Tamiya's 1/350 I-400 and Trumpeter's 1/350 Hood precede 83 pages of class-by-class coverage of the history (in Japanese) and built kits of different versions of each destroyer class from the Fubukis of 1929 to the Asashios of 1937. Each major version is depicted, including as-built, mid-1930s modifications, early war modifications, and late war changes. Fubuki Types I, II, II, Hatsuhara, Shiratsuyu, Asashio destroyer classes, and Chidori and Otori torpedo boat classes are covered. Most models have photoetched, aftermarket and/or scratchbuilt pieces - few are built OOB. The end of the book has the usual JMSDF section (building an LCAC with reference photos), and a retrospective look at old Revell carrier kits, followed by a small reader's gallery, reports of model shows and a few pages of advertisements. The center has a foldout color art of a Fubuki-class destroyer, along with foldout, large-scale diagrams of each class - very helpful. This book will appeal to WW2 IJN aficionados, and is an excellent reference on these classes of destroyers. It shows how these models can and should look, and helps maintain accuracy of models. After coming back from Japan with reference books in Japanese on this subject, this magazine is as accurate, although not as thorough, but is devoted to modelers and is available for worthwhile price.

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