Tamiya 78020 - 1:350 IJN Destroyer Yukikaze

Plastic model kit of the Imperial Japanese Navy destroyer Yukikaze in 1/350 scale

Of the dozens of Japanese destroyers that fought in the Pacific, only a handful survived the war. Yukikaze was the most famous of them — known as the lucky destroyer, because despite taking part in the heaviest operations she never suffered serious damage. Tamiya 78020 recreates her in 1/350 scale; the finished model measures approximately 338 mm long and 31 mm wide.

Based on 2008 tooling, the kit can be built either as a waterline or as a full hull model — the display stand is included. It depicts the ship in her April 1945 fit, during Operation Ten-ichi-go, the final sortie of the battleship Yamato. The generous contents include photo-etched parts, a metal anchor chain, metal propellers and ABS masts supplied with a jig that makes assembling the tripod mast easier. The gun turrets and torpedo launchers remain movable once assembled.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues with hull, superstructure and armament parts
• Clear parts (bridge windows, searchlight lenses)
• Photo-etched parts (radar aerial, anti-aircraft gun tub shields, ladders, propeller guards)
• Metal anchor chain
• Metal propellers
• ABS masts plus a jig for assembling the tripod mast
• Gun turrets and torpedo launchers that remain movable once assembled
• Parts to build the model as either a waterline or a full hull version
• Waterslide decal sheet for the markings
• Display stand
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1/350
• Product number: 78020
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Model length: approx. 338 mm, width: approx. 31 mm
• Version: waterline or full hull (display stand included)
• Skill level: beginner/intermediate (photo-etched parts and fine armament details)

Note: The kit does not include glue, paints or modelling tools. The model is intended for self-assembly.

Building the model:

It is worth starting with the decision whether to build the waterline version, which works well on a simulated sea base or in a diorama, or the full hull version displayed on the included stand. The ABS masts are noticeably stiffer than ordinary plastic parts, and the supplied jig makes it much easier to glue the tripod mast at the correct angles. The photo-etched parts, especially the gun tub shields and ladders, are most easily folded over the edge of a metal ruler and fixed with cyanoacrylate glue. ABS parts need an appropriate adhesive — standard polystyrene cement works far less effectively on ABS.

For the paintwork, the greys used on Japanese warships are recommended (e.g. Tamiya XF-75 IJN Grey (Kure Arsenal)), with darker linoleum brown shades for the decks and red for the underwater hull (e.g. XF-9 Hull Red) if you build the full hull version. Exact paint codes for the chosen scheme are given in the instructions. Applying the decals over a gloss coat helps to avoid decal silvering, and a matt varnish makes a suitable final finish.

Tools you will need:

• Modelling side cutters for removing parts from the sprues
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper for cleaning up sprue gate marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• ABS adhesive and cyanoacrylate glue for the photo-etched and metal parts
• Precision modelling tweezers
• Brushes in various sizes
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Wash to emphasise detail

About the ship – Yukikaze:

Yukikaze belonged to the Kagero class — modern, fast destroyers of the Imperial Japanese Navy armed with 127 mm guns and powerful 610 mm torpedo tubes designed for the famous Long Lance torpedo. Ships of this class formed the backbone of Japanese destroyer squadrons in the early phase of the Pacific war.

Yukikaze took part in most of the war's major operations, from Midway to the battles around the Solomon Islands, and consistently emerged without serious damage even as ships alongside her went down. In April 1945 she escorted the battleship Yamato during Operation Ten-ichi-go and was one of the few vessels to return from that sortie.

After the war Yukikaze was used to repatriate Japanese servicemen, and in 1947 she was handed over to China as Tan Yang. She served in that role for many years and was finally scrapped in 1970. Tamiya 78020 depicts her as she appeared in the final months of the war, with her much expanded anti-aircraft armament.

Original specifications (Kagero-class destroyer, 1945 fit):

• Standard displacement: approx. 2,000 t
• Length: 118.5 m
• Beam: 10.8 m
• Power: 52,000 hp
• Maximum speed: 35.5 knots
• Main armament: 2 twin 127 mm turrets
• Anti-aircraft armament: numerous 25 mm and 13 mm mounts
• Torpedo armament: two quadruple 610 mm torpedo tube mounts
• Crew: approx. 240
• Fate: survived the war, handed over to China in 1947 as Tan Yang, scrapped in 1970

About the manufacturer – Tamiya:

Tamiya Corporation is a Japanese model company founded in 1946 by Yoshio Tamiya in Shizuoka, regarded as the heart of the Japanese model industry. The company began in the timber trade and wooden model production, and released its first plastic model kit in 1960. The brand is known for extremely precise injection moulds and excellent parts fit, which is why its kits are equally popular with beginners and experienced modellers. In its 1/350 warship kits Tamiya combines plastic sprues with photo-etched parts, ABS components and metal details, allowing a high level of detail straight from the box. The instructions are clear, richly illustrated and include paint codes from the manufacturer's own range. Alongside plastic kits, Tamiya offers a full range of modelling accessories: paints, glues, tools and brushes. Today the company is present in dozens of countries and remains one of the best-known brands in the hobby.