1:700 IJN The Phantom Weapon "Yamato" (For Fujimi 42142)

Artwox Model 1:700 wooden deck, the battleship Yamato

This item is not a kit of the ship but an accessory to one. The package holds a veneer deck in 1:700 scale with the laying of the individual planks printed on it and with a self-adhesive base. It is glued onto the plastic deck of a finished kit and gives it the structure and the coloring of real wood, which on injection-molded plastic can be imitated only by laborious scribing and painting.

The real subject

The Yamato was a Japanese battleship of the class of the same name, completed in 1941. She was among the largest battleships ever built, with main armament of 460 mm in three triple turrets. The extensive wood-covered areas of the main deck are among her most striking visual features, and it is precisely those that this accessory solves.

Gluing tips

The preparation of the base decides. First rid the plastic deck of burrs and traces of the parting line, sand it flat with fine paper and degrease the surface carefully. Remains of grease from the fingers or of release agent from the mold are the most frequent reason why veneer begins to lift at the corners after a few days. Before the backing film is taken off, always try the part dry and check whether the cutouts seat against the superstructures and the barbettes. The veneer is thin and adheres at once; a second attempt at shifting it usually no longer works.

Who the set is for

• For modelers who are building the Fujimi 42142 kit in 1:700 scale
• For those for whom wood imitated by painting on the deck is not enough
• For builders of display case models, where the deck tells most to the eye
• For beginners in aftermarket parts, as gluing veneer on is simpler than building photo-etch

This is an accessory to a plastic kit, not a model of the ship. The kit itself, glue and paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.