The Ship Model Forum

nice to see someone give these beast some love... I have a couple of projects in que.. all 1/350 ATAGO DDG-117, DD-113 Scratchbuild.. and the KONGO DDG-173 with a rebuild as the DDH-182 the MIRAI...

Disregarding scale, does anybody have the skinny on which kit is the best out of this lot;
1/350 trumpeter atago
1/700 skywave atago
1/700 aoshima atago
These are all recent toolings, but I only need one. I plan on picking up the Hyuga DDH in the corresponding scale as well.

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I purchased yesterday the Trumpeter Atago and it is very nice. And it is in 1/350...

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NIKOS (NICK)
ΜΕΓΑ ΤΟ ΤΗΣ ΘΑΛΑΣΣΗΣ ΚΡΑΤΟΣ
(GREAT IS THE NATION THAT MASTERS THE SEAS)

Yep, the Trumpeter Atago is a good one dr. I can't vouch for the other kits, 1/700 isn't my prefered scale.

By the way, I just picked up the 1:700 Pitroad Atago yesterday. What an awful kit! It does not compare favorably in anyway with the Pitroad Kongo, which is great by comparison.

A major issue is that Pitroad molded the entire main deck and superstrucutre as one piece, so there was sure to be some issues related to that decision.

The worst problem is the the fit of the bridge piece, does not match at all with the slope of the forward superstructure, plus the bridge does not match the size and shape of the Kongo, as it does in real life.

There is also no surface detail, only slots to apply pieces for vents.

I have already ordered the Aoshima Atago!

By the way, the Aoshima Atago kit is far superior, plus it comes with a P-3 Orion, a J-2 fighter, and a North Korean ballistic missile with launch pad!

Yeah i'm working on the Trumpeter(Pit Road) Atago now in 350th and it's a great kit. I also built the 700 one from Pit Road.
The 700 one is engineered perfect and is better than the Aoshima one in my Opinion.
As for the Hyuga they are about equal. The Pit Road one offers full hull and the Aoshima is WL only.
The Aoshima one's SH 60 are trash. The Pit Road one's are very nice on the other hand.
When i buy JMSDF i always go to Pit Road first. Thats just me though a nut for Japanese subjects.
Also for decks of the JMSDF, i use gunship grey with a couple of drops of light grey.
The JMSDF decks are lighter than US decks. They are just slightly darker than the color of the ship.
Hope this helps.

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On the Bench
1/350 Independence
1/350 Dunkerque
1/350 Shimakaze
1/350 Sharnhorst Dragon
1/350 Belfast