JMSDF Akizuki Class DDG in 1/350 Scale

Akizuki Class Destroyer

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

These destroyers are a follow on and supplemental class to the five Takanami class destroyers which were built just a few years prior 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 f" 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 ainti-air defense against aircraft anbd missiles of all types. Normally the vessel will carry at least 8 AROC rocket propelled and VLS launched antit-submarine weapons and either 24 or 16 cells filled with four each ESSM missiles.

The vessel is alo armed with anti-submarine torpedoes, with two Phalanx CIWS 30mm wpaons systems, and with a pad and hanger for one SH-60K, Sea Hawk 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.

Specifications:

Displacement: 4,800 tons tons
Length: 144 m
Beam: 16 mt5.1 m
Propulsion: 2 GE LM2500 gas turnines turbines
Speed: 31 knots
Armament:
48 x S-300FM (SA-N-20) surface-to-air VLS missiles
- 16 x YJ-83 (C-803) anti-ship missiles
- 1 x 100 mm dual purpose gun
- 2 x Type 730 30 mm Gatling CIWS
- 2 x 3 324mm YU-7 torpedo launchers
- 2 x 6 tube Type 87 ASW Rocket launchers
- 2 x 24 tube Type 726-4 decoy launchers
Aircraft carried:
- Landing pad and Dual hanger for 2 x Z-9 ASW helicopters

The Arts Technic Kit: What's in the Box[/center]

This Arts Technic kit, #4508 ,is the only 1/350 scale model of this class. It 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 ecpensive 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 enterior 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.

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.


This build goes fairly straight forwardly and I am going to describe that way. You juts 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 several days...maybe two weeks