Hi Apoll
I have been building this kit for a while now but have given it a rest whilst I decided what I was going to do with the flight deck its now resolved and back on course.
Firstly the parts are a good renditions for the scale and many modellers enhance these parts ,also there is nothing to stop you making your own if you wish to improve them.
The question about wood being used for hulls of metal or older ships is a question of what is practible to get a good rendition of the hull shape . Trying to render a hull in metal would be a task of monumental problems and without the correct tools, bending presses ect and the cost of these tools would far outwiegh the cost of the ship being built.
So its a half way house really using wood allows the correct curves to be reproduced and a good hull shape can be achieved. Modellers have been known to add precut plates to wooden hulls to represent the plating also this can be reproduced using painting techniques all of these methods can be found by searching the web for examples.
Finally have a look at my build diary's of the Yamato and Akagi these should give you a good idea of the results achievable using wood

http://forum.model-space...aspx?g=posts&t=2756

http://forum.model-space...aspx?g=posts&t=2902

Hope this has been of help
Regards
Andy

Hi Apoll
Unfortunatly there is little in the way of after market stuff for the Akagi the only thing I found was a set of railings but the kit ones are more than adequate to do the job. Enhancments of your own making is the only way to go with this so 3D printing or casting parts from resin are options to be considered.
On another note Gold Medal Etch do a great set for the Yamato but be warned its not a cheap option to go for but having used it I would recomend it
regards
Andy

Honma san, thank you very much for this. I was very interested to see your pictures and to see that people are adding much to this kit to make it more realistic. I was especially interested to see the imaginative way people are making the surface more realistic. Good idea using tapes for the hull. What do you do about fixing the anti-aircraft guns and the other pieces of equipment? They seem crudely moulded and not very detailed. Are there no after market detail kits in 1/250 scale available, even in Japan? Arigato gozaimashu.

Apoll

Hello Yutaro-

I've been reading your forum posts about the IJN Akagi with great interest. You, my friend, have many great ideas that improves the realism and quality of the build-up.

On my kit I have added remote control for propeller thrust and rudder control along with running lights, bilge pumps, radar antenna movement and some gun rotations. I would really like to include your idea of crafting operating elevators. Any information about how you did it (build diary?), pictures and/or video would be GREATLY APPRECIATED. I would also be interested in your method for lighting the LSO lights.

Thanks-

Ted

Hi Ted!

I attached some photos and schemes of my elevators.

A principle is to pull up or down simultaneously four strings that are fixed on 4 corners of the floor.

All the strings are fixed on the shaft through pulleys. The location of pulleys, strings and shaft is illustrated on the schemes　attached.

Photos of real my elevator are also attached below.

Two weights which can be gone up and down smoothly are required, otherwise strings would become loose and errors also would arise.

Gesr and motor are commercial products. I used TAMIYA's gear box kit､"70103 UNIVERSAL GEARBOX".

http://www.tamiya.com/ja...cts/70103_universal.htm

For the safety of the machine, sensor switches of upper and lower limits of the weight are installed.

If the weight touches the switch, electric supply for the motor is immediately cut.

A circuit for this elevator is indicated as the last attached picture.

Best Regards,
Yutaro