1:700 WWII Japanese Navy Fine Rail Set

Fine railings for the Imperial Japanese Navy 1:700 - a photo-etched set from Tetra Model Works

A set of photo-etched railings in 1:700 scale intended for models of Japanese warships of the period of the Second World War. This is not a kit: you get a sheet of thin metal from which you cut off the lengths you need and fit them to the deck and the superstructures of a finished model. The attribute Fine in the name refers to the finer release of the stanchions and the wires, which in this scale looks more natural than coarser photo-etched railings.

The real subject

A railing on a ship is a small structure of stanchions and taut wires - converted to 1:700 it is tenths of a millimeter, that is, a dimension that injection-molded plastic in principle cannot manage. The arrangement moreover differs according to the type of deck and according to the navy, so the sets for Japanese and American ships are not interchangeable. A ship model with no railings looks empty, while a coarsely cast railing immediately gives the scale away.

Building and painting tips

First finish and paint the deck and the superstructures, and only then fit the railings - nothing can be fine-tuned underneath them. Cut the strip off with a margin, try it dry and glue it with a few minimal drops of cyanoacrylate glue; a thin type runs in by capillary action on its own. Shape the rounding at the bow and the stern by gradual bending around a round object. Ideally apply the paint while still on the sheet from both sides; after fitting, a retouch with a brush is enough. A fine wash and a discreet touch of dust will help, so that the railing does not visually merge with the background of the superstructures.

Who the set is for

• Builders of Japanese warships in 1:700 scale
• Modelers whose kit lacks railings or has unusably coarse ones
• Competition builders and collectors of ship models for a display case
• More experienced modelers used to working with small photo-etch

The set is supplied unassembled and unpainted and is intended to complete a separately purchased ship kit. Glue, paints and plastic parts are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.