The Atago class of Japanese Maritime Self Defense Forces (JMSDF) Aegis destroyers is essentially an improved and scaled-up version of the predecessor Kongo class. Trumpeter Models released a 1:350 scale kit of this ship with some basic photo-etch included. The kit provided photo-etch consists of two frets of railings and flight deck safety netting and one small fret of vent grills. Like I said, the kit provided photoetch is basic. The railings are all the same length and need to be cut down to size and the vent grills are essentially solid parts with relief-etching to give the impression of being grills. Missing are ladders and some other parts that would be done better in brass. The Tetra Model Works detail set for the Atago kit covers the basics and then some. The set is comprised of two brass photo-etch frets with beautiful relief etching. Part numbers are etched into each fret to facilitate identification. The set also has a turned brass barrel for the 127mm/L62 gun and a length of chain.
Fret A has the detail parts and contain numerous vent grills that are not solid and actually small grills which very much an improvement over the Trumpeter versions. Fret A also has the helicopter rotor blades with the main rotors in both stowed and deployed versions, the life raft cannister stowage racks, the barrel and its brace for the Phalanx CIWS, and parts for the various electronic sensors and arrays and platforms for the mast. In addition, this fret has parts to build eight 0.50”/90 air-cooled Browning machine guns.
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