IJN Yamato 1944/45 Final Refit

Holger Kranich
Ja das sieht doch sehr gut aus! Its looking very good, Aghis! Btw, you have the longest line of aftermarketstuff, i ever saw attached to a project... 🙂

Holger Kranich
Maybe, you better estimate 2 years...😉

Aghis Barberopoulos
Haha, actually there are a few more detail sets not shown... Since this is the old Tamiya kit I need them. This is the Yamato! 😉

Holger Kranich
A wonderful and effective ship, but nothing against german engineering, despite the caliber of the mainartillery!😢

Aghis Barberopoulos
This ship could have annihilated major US units in the early Pacific war, but it was never used effectively, until it was too late. It is a long story, but if you read the history of the Battle of Midway, you wil not believe the failures of some of the Japanese naval officers, including Yamamoto himself !

Mathias Carl
Whow...
I guess, this will turn out to a really great model.
So I will definitly "stay tuned" 🙂

Holger Kranich
This is an part of history, i´m well informed! Yes there where a lot of failures and a huge amount of luck fot the americans😢

Holger Kranich
I will say: many failures turned in a huge amount of luck!😢

Aghis Barberopoulos
Thank you Mathias. I am making every effort to improve the kit to a good result. I also hope it will turn out good !!! 🙂

Holger Kranich
The pe-parts look good!

Aghis Barberopoulos
Broken Japanese codes was not exactly luck... but on the other hand the Japanese just failed to realise what they could have done. Lucky was the torpedo that disabled Bismarck - then again, it was a design flaw to leave the rudder so exposed... it is the "what if ?" that I like to think about😉

Holger Kranich
Intersting oppinion!🙂 I see it in the same way!

Philip De Keyser
Great job Aghis, looking great so far, greetz Phil

Aghis Barberopoulos
Just added a few up to date shots. There are more pieces to this massive tower bridge that can meet the eye, I can tell you! Some had to be scratch built as they were completely missed by the kit and the PE sets. It is an enjoyable experience though.

Holger Kranich
Its looking great, no question!

Mathias Carl
Yep, looks really amazing.

Aghis Barberopoulos
More bits added to the tower bridge. Still the monster is not finished! 🙂

Christian Lehmann
Wow, amazing. This seems to be your master piece

Markus Kutsch The Plastic Bench
Oh man,where is my magnifier??

Acki
I use glases for my 1/35 model. What do you use?
You´ll beat that monster.

Ronald Beelen
Wow look at the details, a lot of PE. Good luck, i will follow this one.

Aghis Barberopoulos
I am not used to working with magnifying glasses, so I just work with patience and the wonderful gel superglue for those difficult to locate pieces. The tower is only one subassembly - wait until I get to those gun turrets with their canvas covers for the guns... Markus any tips for 1/350 canvas ? 🙂

Markus Kutsch The Plastic Bench
Hi Aghis
How you gonna make the Canvas Cover for the guns?
I think green stuff is a good idea.
Use alot of vaseline to roll it flat,you can stretch it a bit to get it thinner.Use isopropanol(alcohol)to thin it too (brush it on ).The same to eliminate Fingerprints.

Markus Kutsch The Plastic Bench
Always dip your tools in isopropanol before use(to cut or so).Otherwise it will stick on your razor or whatever you use.

Aghis Barberopoulos
I was thinking epoxy putty... What is the 'Green stuff' ?

Markus Kutsch The Plastic Bench
The great advantage is ,that you can stretch it.

Markus Kutsch The Plastic Bench
You dont have to fit it proper to the thing you are working on.If its to small,just stretch it a little .

Aghis Barberopoulos
Interesting! Thank you Markus, I will check it out!

Markus Kutsch The Plastic Bench
See this
Its a cape but you see how it works.
heresy-online.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2541

Aghis Barberopoulos
I think it is definitely worth a try - My main problem was the scale - need something I could wrap around the guns in 1/350 and make it looks like this.
[img1]

Markus Kutsch The Plastic Bench
Thats very tricky.
But i am sure you will do it!If you can get the green stuff,give it a try.

Aghis Barberopoulos
Can I ask you Markus where you get it from ? Do you have a local supplier ?

Holger Kranich
Wonderful details with the pe´s! I love it!!!

Aghis Barberopoulos
Thanks Holger, there is much much more to come😉

Holger Kranich
Oh yeah, i´ll bet!!!😢

Markus Kutsch The Plastic Bench
@aghis
Check out ebay ,there you will find it.Just type"Green Stuff".They sell in in stripes about 20 cm long.

Aghis Barberopoulos
I will have to get this stuff. Funny thing is that I have tried a construction type glue that dries slowly (and remains soft) in beize colour and voila!!! It works great in simulating canvas at least for the smaller caliper guns! And it has no need for painting either! I will post photos later... 🙂

Mathias Carl
Just seen the new pics.
Absolutly awesome. 🙂

Augie
Wow just seen this aghis, as ever superb work 🙂

Aghis Barberopoulos
Many thanks Mathias!
I am happy that you like it Augie and thank you for your confidence 😉

Aghis Barberopoulos
Today April 7th means something to Yamato... so I just added a couple of WIP photos. The wooden deck will be darkened - as it was in 1945.

Holger Kranich
Looks great, Aghis!

Aghis Barberopoulos
The hull is now about ready to receive its paint...

Holger Kranich
Awesome! Can't wait to see it!

Aghis Barberopoulos
The hull is primed, the wooden deck is varnished. Slow progress...

Christian Bruer
Any progress on your Yamato?

Aghis Barberopoulos
Yes, the hull is on the paintshop, so is the superstructure and deck. You can see the last photos. I will post more as I finish the hull (it takes time, it is massive).

Aghis Barberopoulos
Oh, I also discovered that Tamiya managed to get the main anchors too small for 1/350...more challenges!

Christian Bruer
You should take a look to Modelwarships.com. There is a Frenchman with an WIP of his scale 1/350 Richelieu: shipmodels.info/mws_..hp?f=59&t=111876

Aghis Barberopoulos
I just saw it, he is doing a very nice job indeed. I sort of learn as I go along. Given my aeroplane background, I use scale artificial shadowing and scale effects into the painting, plus I like a "used" look rather than a polished yacht look, when it comes to battleships.

Aghis Barberopoulos
You may see the progress in the hull up to now... it starts looking the part😉

Holger Kranich
Its already looking great!

Christian Bruer
Nice paintjob! I also like a subtle weathering at the hull and more subtle at the upperworks. Do you plan to use oilcolors for the weathering?

Es-haq Khosravi
Very nice!! Is it real wood on deck?

Acki
Hi Aghis, tob job. Like it very much.

Aghis Barberopoulos
I plan using some oils on the hull and the superstructure, but only to a small extent. I prefer washes for water and rust effects, as well as pigments for the deck and hull. The deck is wooden, I applied a clear varnish, and now I am making it darker, based on the last aerial photos of the ship. Thank you very much for your views!

Larry E
Very Nice What product did you use for the deck?

Aghis Barberopoulos
Just look on the project details, Larry, it is KA models.

Larry E
Yep - I got it - Was it difficult to use? I have never worked with this type of product before.. Thanks

Aghis Barberopoulos
It's application requires some care, but it is self adhesive, and not as difficult as one might think. It took me no more than 1,5 hours to apply it. It is expensive, but worth it.

Larry E
Thanks 🙂

Aghis Barberopoulos
Just added some photos to show why progress is slow...
The ship will be shown as it was prior to the Battle of Leyte, so some corrections are required to the old kit.

Christian Bruer
Good to see you're back on it!

Aghis Barberopoulos
I am back yes! Now work continues on the main turrets, where all the external ladders and fittings have to be added prior to painting. The canvas covers for the guns are already handmade and waiting for their barrels - more photos to come...

Aghis Barberopoulos
Happy new year's day with some more work in progress photos. Next step to add all the canvas blast covers to the guns (big and small) and then continue with painting. Much still remains to be done, but it is coming together...

Aghis Barberopoulos
Thanks Michael, happy modelling !

Christian Bruer
Happy New Year Aghis! Well this is not a rowboat😉

Christian Meyerhoff
Hi Aghis! This one will turn out very nice! Beside the Bismarck the Yamato is the Mother of all Battle ships.

Aghis Barberopoulos
The Bismarck had the technological edge, but...had the Yamato come to the Atlantic, it would take more than a lucky Swordfish to take her out...😢

Christian Bruer
yep, you'll need Avengers and Helldivers😉

Christian Meyerhoff
Hi Aghis! You are right. One Swordfish would not have been enough to bring her down. But the Bismarck took some serious hits before those Swordfish Torpedo made her sunk. 🙂

Augie
sorry to say, wasnt the Swordfish that sunk Bismarck. They just managed to disable her rudders so the fleet could catch her

Augie
I think the Torpedo's that sunk her was from the Rodney

Christian Meyerhoff
Hi Augie! Thanks for this Information. As far as I know there were several attacks from swordfishes operating from the Arc Royal. There are also People who say that the Bismarck was sunk by here Crew due to failure of the rudders and the number of hits she received. Who knows what really happened...

Augie
Yeah in the long run, no one really knows for sure.. only what is written.

Barry Lloyd
Interesting build, I'm hoping to pick up tips for my Yamato project.

Aghis Barberopoulos
Hey, everyone knows ye olde stringbag disabled the mighty Bismarck, that's no secret😉 There was only one serious hit: the rudder. Without that, it would have made it back home. That's the irony of it all. In any case, the Yamato was not utilised by Japan as it should, until it was too late. As in a game of chess, what good is keeping the queen safe until every other piece is lost ? The queen cannot fight on itsown...

Holger Kranich
(I dont want to nitpick but there was an order that said: Finish her off with torpedoes! If i remember right, it was the HMS Dorsetshire that gave her the rest... But there are many rumors that say that the crew opened the valves so they sunk her by their own hands...)

Aghis Barberopoulos
Thanks for the interest! All of the above are well documented, I do not disagree with any of it. In any case, we are slightly out of subject...the Yamato build continues slowly, as there are quite a few details to be sorted out. Then painting will continue.

Holger Kranich
I´m truly exited how your ship will turn out! I like the Yamato very much!

Gary
Truley a museum piece in the works. Gary

Christian Bruer
For sure there is a lot of rumor along this tragedy with thousands of seaman killed on both sides in this engagement ? remember HMS Hood, she was sunk three days before.
In case of living history I meet some of the Bismarck survivors when they come together in a meeting in Hamburg at Hamburger Modellbautage in 2005. They meet together at the stand of Mr. Josef Kaiser. Mr. Kaiser is an Bismarck expert and build a scale 1/100 model of the ship, wrote some books about Bismarck and took part in an expedition to the wreck. It was a coincidence to meet and listen to four of the survivors when I had a stop at the stand only to take a look to the model. I was really awestricken to listen to the stories they had to tell. Nobody wants to make the experiences they?d make.
kbismarck.com/models..ck-josef-kaiser.html

Holger Kranich
...You are right, Christian! No one should ever make an experience like they did!
And thank you for the link! What an amazing build!

Augie
Agreed, No one should.

Holger Kranich
The main turret barrels are nore not moveable after final installation, am i right?

Aghis Barberopoulos
Thank you all for your thoughts and views. It must have been so exciting to meet those guys Christian. I am sure you could still see the flame in their eyes - so to speak. @Holger: My canon barrels are fixed, since the "canvas" is made out of magic sculp.

Christian Bruer
Hi Aghis, hope I did not hijacked your WIP! Any in progress photos of making the blast bags with Magic Sculp? Cheers, Christian

Aghis Barberopoulos
I do not have any detail photos of that, unfortunately. It was trial and error and very time dependent, since its plasticity changes by the hour. Initially (when the material is soft) one has to stretch it to its approximate shape and size, pulling at it where the canvas is supposed to be stressed. As it gets harder with time, one can work the finer details (where before it was not possible), and so on...

Christian Bruer
ok, anyway a helpful information. Is there any shrinkage with Magic Sculp?

Aghis Barberopoulos
None that I have seen! It is really good material to work with, this is the first time I use it and I am really satisfied.

Christian Bruer
Mmhh good to know, I will try it with my HMS Tiger later that year. But first I will finish my HMS Montgomery and some other RN ships.

Aghis Barberopoulos
By the way, I have also used it for other parts of the ship that will be shown later. I think to use it in the construction of the main anchors (the kit parts are out of scale - too small to be used)...

Christian Bruer
Ah ok, I'll wait for your photos.

Aghis Barberopoulos
OK, it has been a long time, but the last photos may explain why. It takes much detail and trial/error process to achieve the desired result. All the photos show details that are still not final, it is still work in progress. All opinions are welcome.

Es-haq Khosravi
That's a great job! Congratulations!

Christian Bruer
Hi Aghis, that comes out nice so far. May the photos are a little bit to dark. I would like to mention only one point – the vertical dark streaks at the underwater hull. Because of the flood below the waterline you should add horizontal streaks too. The vertical streaks should be more or less a blend in the basic color and not a dark brown streak. It should be more hazy as well. Because Yamato spent much of her lifetime in harbor you can add a coat of green, brown and white along the waterline.

[img1]

Aghis Barberopoulos
Hello Christian, you have some valid points there, I agree. This is WIP, so your points are much appreciated! The photos are rather quickly taken, without the careful lighting required for 1/350 models... Early photos of the ship show a lot of grime flowing down the rear hull, so I have tried to simulate that. Another thing to keep in mind is that despite the long time of inactivity, the ship is portrayed shortly after going through the battle of Leyte. I really appreciate your opinion Christian, it gives me food for thought. Many thanks!!!😉

Christian Bruer
You're welcome Aghis, looking forward to your progress. Cheers, Christian

Barry Lloyd
Superb work, looking really good.

Bill Spargo
Thank you for your progress photos, it really helps people understand what is involved building this monster. Magnificent job, ,well done.

Aghis Barberopoulos
A useful comment such as Christian's can make a lot of difference!!! I have reworked the hull, and although it is still not finished, it looks much better than before. In reality, the effect is more subtle, the last photos have been taken with ISO 400 and small shutter speed to show off the details (no flash was used).

Christian Bruer
Wow, that looks wonderful. Don't know that my comment end up in this amazing result😉

Aghis Barberopoulos
Hello Christian! You sure helped a great deal - if you think this looks rather good, it gives me much confidence.

Aghis Barberopoulos
Thanks Michael, more to come...

Es-haq Khosravi
Great job!

Gerald
Nice 👍

Bill Spargo
Very impressive work Aghis. I built this kit many years ago without the timber deck and etching etc. It was a perfect kit to build with no problems. I have my re build kit waiting its turn , seeing your work makes me want to start it, thanks for the progress photos, great build.

Christian Bruer
Some new photos – looks very good to me. I really like the color and weathering of the wooden deck!

Aghis Barberopoulos
Thanks for all your comments.
@Bill: The old kit is very good for its time, but with many errors as well.
@Christian: The deck was hastily blackened using mainly ...soot - Since the ship is portrayed after the battle of Leyte, the soot is worn and the deck is darkened in a non-uniform manner. Very glad that you like it!

Christian Bruer
Yeah you kept it very realistic. A wooden deck never will look clean but worn, especially on a warship in service.
Not a warship but a good example:
[img1]

Cristian Bordina
Aghis explain me: you have recover the real Yamato in the bottom of the Pacific, you've repaired...but how did you made it smaller??? (the ray of Dr. Gru of "Despicable me" ???? ;D

Aghis Barberopoulos
Thank you for your interesting question 🙂
I just recovered the old Tamiya kit and embraced it with a lot of extra goodies and much research. Progress is slow because of other work...I still plan to finish it before 2015 is over 😄

Aghis Barberopoulos
Slow progress continues: The searchlights look much better after they are replaced by the Northstar models multimedia kit. The 3rd searchlight is also removed from each side to faithfully represent the 1944 modification. Its place is taken by an extra gun director (under the canvas cover). A close-up of the aircraft hangar populated by a Jake seaplane is also given.

Udo Browarczik
Impressing. Alway a pleasure to watch your WIP, Agihs !!! Inspiring...... I´ll have to dig into my Stash to find my Yamato + Lion Roar......... Inform Mother, when i´m not back witihn the next days....

Holger Kranich
Hi Aghis! Great WIP! Please tell me what you use for glueing the pe parts. A needle? A Wire?
Actually i use a wire on a toothpic. That works quite nice for me. Recently i got myself the CA-ndle from Uschi van der Rosten but i think that only works for bigger areas...

Hellas! 😄

Bart Goesaert
very nice build on this one... a bit late for following, but I'm in at the moment...

Aghis Barberopoulos
Thanks to all of you guys. Holger, I use toothpicks most of the time.

The painting takes a lot more time than I thought, so progress is slow. A combination of airbrush and paint brushing with acrylics and oils is required to get the depth needed.

Christian Bruer
.....look much better after they are replaced by the Northstar models ...... Yep they certainly did Aghis. Don't worry about slowness, the final result is it worth!

Aghis Barberopoulos
Thanks Christian, I appreciate your support!

Acki
Hi Aghis, again I´m very impressed by your work.

Aghis Barberopoulos
Thanks Acki, really kind of you! More photos of the finished model to come soon, I am trying to set up a photo session...