Akizuki Class Destroyer

This model is a 1/350 scale model depiction of the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) Alizuli class destroyer, particularly, I built the second in class, DDG-116 Teruzuki.

These destroyers are a follow on class to the five Takanami class desitroyers which were built in the four years prior to these ships being built.

The Akizuki class was built specifically to be a mulit-role guided missiles destroyer capable of anti-air, ani-submarine and ant-surface warfare, but in particulalrly with sophisticated, Japanese developed Phased array radars and an integrated battle system to allow it to escort the larger JMSDF vessels, particularly the AEGIS class destroyers perfroming anti-ballistic missile duties and the larghe DDH (Heclicopter carriers) that the JMSDF has developed, like the Hyuga and the Izumo class.

The vessels are well armed for these duties with a 5" DP gun, a 32 tube VLS cell tasked specifically to carry the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) which are packed four into each cell and which give excellent anti-air defense against aircraft anbd missiles of all types. Normally the vessel will carry at least 8 ASROC rocket propelled and VLS launched anti-submarine weapons and either 24 or 16 cells filled with four each ESSM missiles.

The vessel is alo armed with eight Type 90 (similar to the US Harpoon Missile) anti-surface missiles, anti-submarine torpedoes, two Phalanx CIWS 30mm wpaons systems, and with a pad and hanger for one SH-60J, SeaHawk ASW helicopter.

Japan built four of these vessels, and is now starting to put out the complimentary class which will be more strongle dedicated to ASW warfare.

Here are the specifications for the Akizuki class:

Displacement: 5000 tonnes standard
6800 tonnes full load
Length: 150.5 m (493 ft 9 in)
Beam: 18.3 m (60 ft 0 in)
Draft: 5.3 m (17 ft 5 in)
Depth: 10.9 m (35 ft 9 in)
Propulsion: COGAG, two shafts, four Rolls Royce Spey SM1C turbines
Speed: 30 kn (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Complement: 200
Sensors and processing systems:
ATECS (advanced technology command system)
OYQ-11 ACDS
FCS-3A AAW system
OQQ-22 ASW system
NOLQ-3D EW system
OPS-20C surface search radar
Armament: Guns
1 × 127 mm (5 in)/62 gun
Missiles
8 × Type 90 SSM
1 × Mk 41 VLS (32cells)
RIM-162 ESSM SAM
RUM-139 VL-ASROC (DD 115)
Type07 VL-ASROC (DD 116 to DD 118)
CIWS
2 × 20 mm Phalanx Block1B CIWS
Torpedoes 2 × HOS-303 triple 324 mm (12.8 in) torpedo tubes
Aircraft carried: 1 × SH-60K helicopter

The first vessel, DDG-115 Akizuki was launched in 2010 and commissioned in 2012, and the last, the fourth DDG-118, Fuyuzuki, was launched in 2012 and commissioned in 2014.

All four have proven very capable as heavily armed and very capanble destroyers for the JMSDF.

There is only one 1/350 scale kit of this model available on the market. it is by Arts Technic. This Arts Technic kit, #4508, is a resin model with strong detailing and a lot of small resin and metal parts for detail. As a resin model, it is more expensive than injected plastic models, but it is also very will crafted. You will pay about $250 for this kit.

The hull comes in two pieces, an upper and lower part so you can build either a waterline version or the full hull. I chose the full hull.

The major deck houses are each modled as single pieces, though the interior of the hanger for the helicopters come as separte pieces.

There are well over 200 total parts, many of them resin but also many metal pieces for all of the railing and the sensors on the vessel.

Using the correct type of glue, and using care, the mnodel goes together very well and will have a truly professional, museum quality look.

It comes with detailed color photos pointing out each of the part numbers for each part whether resin or metal, and where they go.

Here's the pictures of the model out of the kit:

Here's how things looked out of the box:

It was a really fun build, and particularly was a great addition to my JS Hyuga Task force in 1/350 scale. Arts Technic did a superb job with this model and I would recommedn it to anyone looking for a 1/350 scale Akizuki class DDG from the JMSDF...as stated, it is the only 1/350 scale available, though a couple of outlets/manufactureres have 1/700 scale models...but for me, 1/700 just is not the same as 1/350.

This build goes fairly stright forwardly and I am going to describe it that way. You just have to make sure you are careful with the resin parts, particularly in removing the small pieces from the sprues.

The first part was simply painting the hull, glueing it together, then adding the decals to the main deck and painting the main deck houses for the forward bridge and radar, the central engine exhaust, and the hanger and rear radar mounts.

I then added the main deck houses to the model and added the initial details, mainly the principle weapons and radars.

At this point I took quite a while to paint, build (where necessary) and then add all of the many small details. This took about two weeks of working after work into the night.

At this point I took another several days, probably over a week, to add all of the metal railing. Make sure you paint them carefully so the paint does not glob up on the small rails.

Now it was time to add the touch up, cleaning off any smudges ar drops of glue, touch up paint and then adding the dull coats finish. Here's the fnished model:

So there you have her. I took about six+ weeks working on this kit after work and on weekends. it was a fun and gratifying build and I would recommend it for anyone. You can find it at this link from a provider in Japan:

http://www.amiami.com/top/detail/detail?gcode=TOY-SCL2-50334&page=top%2Fsearch%2Flist%3Fs_maker_id%3D179%24pagemax%3D40%24getcnt%3D0%24pagecnt%3D1 - AmiAmi - JMSDF Akizuki Class DDG in 1/350 Scale

I then wanted to get some pics of the Akizuki class, my DDG-116, Teruzuki, with my complete 1/350 scale Hyuga Task Force.

This now includes:

1 x Hyuga DDH
1 x Atago AEGIS DDG
1 x Kongo AEGIS DDG
1 x Akizuki DDG
1 x Takanami DDG
1 x Soryu SS

They look really good toghether.

The JMSDF is very squared away.

So there you have it, the new Akizuki DDG completed and in with the JMSDF Task Force built around their Hyuga carrier.

The completion ofthe Russian CSG (centered on b>Trumpeter's Kuznetsov which I own) the Russian Kirov Class nuclear battle cruiser (CGN), the Peter the Great, by Trumpeter (which I own), the Russian Slava Class cruiser, Varyag by Trumperter (which I own), two Trumperterc 1/350 scale Udaloy DDGs (which I own), Hobby Boss's Akula II class SSN (which I own), and the new Yasen class Russian SSN (which I own), all in 1/350 scale. Some time in the more distant future when a 1/350 scale Russian version of the French Mistral class comes out (which is building in real life right now), I will add two of those and build a Russian ARG.

I also purchased ansd completted Heller's 1/400 scale Foch which became the Brazil Sao Paulo Carrier. The Clemceau Class carrier that was sold to the Brazilians in 2000 and in 2002 was refitted and became the Brazilian CV, Sao Paulo, using steam catapaults. I will build the model as the Sao Paulo and thus start a Brazilian group, though the Type 22 DDGs and the FFGs the Brazilians use are not available at present. I have however purchased a set of 1/400 scale A-4 Skyhawks and S-3 Trackers to build a suitable airwing for the Sao Paulo.

Then, again, once the models are available, I'd like to build an Italian Carrier Strike Group centered on the Cavour and their Horizon DDGs, a Spanish Carrier Strike Group centered on the Juan Carlos and their F-100 AEGIS FFGs, and ultimatly an Australian Strike Group centered on the new Canberra Class LPD and the Hobart class AEGIS DDGs. If they ever build the models, an Indian Carrier Strike Group centered on either the Vikramaditya or their new ADS Carrier, the Vikrant, and their Kolkata class DDGs and Shivlak class FFGs would also be nice.

You can see all of these actual carriers, read their histories and specifictions at my site:

WORLD-WIDE AIRCRAFT CARRIERS

...and most of their surface escorts at:

AEGIS AND AEGIS-LIKE VESSELS OF THE WORLD