HBG's Japanese Sets

As long as I can get an escort carrier, a cargo plane, a paratrooper, and a heavy bomber I’m good.

@coachofmany:

Really it might be better to make another carrier, forget the Shinano, everybody has 50 of them already. Akagi was done in 1941 game, we are doing Kaga as a fleet carrier (same size as OOB), maybe we should do another fleet carrier for second set and then people can decide to use them however. Thoughts?

Coach I really love what you guys do. I don’t have anything critical to say at all when it comes to HBG’s product line. If I were to chime in on current and near future projects though I simply would suggest creating sets that emphasize compatibility with previously released sets. That being said it seems that’s what you gents are doing.

I also think sets of  sub genre pieces would do well like say a Pacific set with UK, JAPAN, US, ANZAC battle pieces that are comparable in stats.

Lastly, I think there maybe a market for large sets similar to FMG’s Italian set with larger quantities.  Maybe combining the already produced German and Axis minors sets or USMC and US Supplement set.

Keep up the good work!

Coach,
Awesome lineup for the Imperial Japanese set 2.  Will be ordering 10 sets when you
have them up for per-order.  I really like your version of the Battleship Yamato, it looks to be bigger and has more detail than the OOB Yamato.
Second I trust your choice for a Fleet carrier for the IJN for this set.
Maybe include a Shinnano, Shokaku and Zuikaku sculpts in an all Japanese naval set like we discussed in 2011

WARRIOR888 :-D :-D :-D

So no one else notices the gun barrel on the Type 97 tank?

I saw the updates to the second Japanese set and everything looks very nice!  You guys did a wonderful job on the Unryu!

Just noticed the change in the Type 97 tank. Didn’t think I was being heard, but apparently I was. Thank you guys at HBG.

Coach,

I noticed your picture of the IJN Kagero Destroyer looks like a Tama or Kuma Light Cruiser.

WARRIOR888

Variable,

This is the first time ive seen your version of a Kagero Destroyer.  Previously it was not showing up on your images of this set.
The image you have now displayed  is a real close match to my 10 each Kagero 1-700 scale waterline models.  Good job, keep up the good work.

WARRIOR888

@Variable:

@knp7765:

Just noticed the change in the Type 97 tank. Didn’t think I was being heard, but apparently I was. Thank you guys at HBG.

Yep, we heard you. At first we weren’t sure which we wanted to do. I suggested the Shinhoto but the early version was in the model queue. So just for YOU (and me  :-D) Coach was kind enough to change the model instead of doing the early version. Thanks for helping to catch that! I like this one much better.

Yeah, I do too. I might not have caught it if I hadn’t built models of both versions.

Really love your ship sculpts. That 3D modeling is amazing. I would love to see it up close some time. It’s really fascinating the things that you can do with computers these days. (Geez, I sound like some old fart.)
At one time, I was attempting to rebuild the entire Japanese Navy that served in WW2 in 1/700 scale waterline models. I was doing pretty good at finding models of each ship too. Most were made by Tamiya and Hasegawa. There might have been a couple of other manufacturer names too, although I think they might all be the same company now. I got all 12 Battleships, all but 1 carrier, all the Heavy Cruisers and most of the Light Cruisers and twenty-some Destroyers. I even had some submarines and auxiliary ships.
Then I got a book all about the Imperial Japanese Navy from 1889 - 1945. I made listings of all the different classes and models of ships that served from 1940-1945. That’s when I found out that Japan had about 160 different destroyers in service throughout the war. Not all at the same time of course. As some were lost in battles, others were built to replace them. Still, I realized I would not be able to get that many destroyer kits. I wasn’t even sure if all of them were even available. Shortly after I guess I just lost interest and gave up on that quest. Ended up selling most of the kits un-built. Still have the Battleships though.

Variable,

Yes that it the one I first noticed on the site.
Thanks for straighten me out on that.

WARRIOR888

At one time, I was attempting to rebuild the entire Japanese Navy that served in WW2 in 1/700 scale waterline models. I was doing pretty good at finding models of each ship too. Most were made by Tamiya and Hasegawa. There might have been a couple of other manufacturer names too, although I think they might all be the same company now. I got all 12 Battleships, all but 1 carrier, all the Heavy Cruisers and most of the Light Cruisers and twenty-some Destroyers. I even had some submarines and auxiliary ships.
Then I got a book all about the Imperial Japanese Navy from 1889 - 1945. I made listings of all the different classes and models of ships that served from 1940-1945. That’s when I found out that Japan had about 160 different destroyers in service throughout the war. Not all at the same time of course. As some were lost in battles, others were built to replace them. Still, I realized I would not be able to get that many destroyer kits. I wasn’t even sure if all of them were even available. Shortly after I guess I just lost interest and gave up on that quest. Ended up selling most of the kits un-built. Still have the Battleships though.

knp7765,  I have 140 1-700 scale waterline IJN ships from Tamiya, Fujimi, Hasegawa and Pit Road
Mine are 19 to 33 years old. Just like you I thought man, I can build the entire IJN of WWII in waterline.
Never got it done, to many ships to build.  My entire collection of 1-700 scale ships is over 300 models and they sit in storage since my son born 19 years ago. Maybe willing to sell them if the price is right.

So now I am building all the WWII Navies in AA scale instead.

WARRIOR888

@Variable:

Well crew, your opinions have been heard. Coach and I spoke today on the carrier subject. We are shelving the Shinano for now, but expect to see it back some day… :wink:

In it’s place, our plan is to go back to plan A, a regular fleet carrier sized Unryu. I’m working to convince him that the Shokaku/Zuikaku need to be included as the fleet carrier in set 3, The Basic Set. How does that grab everybody? Give us your feedback.

This sounds great! I’m definitely on board with the Unryu and Shokaku/Zuikaku. May I also recommend a Ryuho being added to one of the sets at some point? Sort of an IJN equivalent of the Casablanca in the US/Neutral set.

BTW, I’ve got the three of them (Unryu, Shokaku and Zuikaku) in 1/700 scale plastic kit form if you need any measurements or scaling info for your CAD work or sculpts. I also have the Ryuho if your so inclined.

The Ryuho is already in production.  It’s part of the set on preorder now and to be released in August.

It’s the Ryujo.

You are right, it is.  OOPS!