Lion Roar

1/700 IJN Yamato Cockboat Davits Photoetch Set For the 1/700 Yamato

Stock Number: LE700060

Reviewed By  Luke R. Bucci, PhD, IPMS# 33549

MSRP: $12.00 Thanks to Dragon Models USA for supplying the kit. (www.dragonmodelsusa.com) Bottom Line: Very finely detailed, pose-able davits for 1/700 Yamato class battleships Photoetch Set Review: Lion Roar is producing many new photoetch sets for Imperial Japanese Navy ships that cover almost every accessory imaginable, and which were not previously available or accurate. Lion Roar takes great pains to make their pieces accurate - both in appearance, time used and where located on each vessel. This new set is an example - davits just for the hull-edge of the Yamato class battleships. The king-size, 46cm main guns on the Yamato class had such a large blast effect that the entire design of the ship was altered to prevent damage from firing the main battery. This meant that ship's boats were stored under the stern in cutouts and a boat deck next to the floatplane hangar (which could also accommodate boats). Thus, there were no davits in the superstructure, but instead, cockboat davits were mounted on the edges of the hull fore and aft to tie up ship's boats in harbor. Since these ships were frequently used as headquarters or flagships, they needed to accommodate a lot of moored boats. The photoetch set is made from brass, and comes with an instruction sheet on how to fold the davits and position them stowed or swung out, ready to receive boats. There are 21 stowed davits, 21 extended davits and 72 supports. Extended davits have hooks and pulleys. Each davit is compound - two halves are folded together - providing a proper thick look. Supports that glue to the hull are supplied, and the davits slip into the supports, meaning they can be swung around 180 degrees. There are enough davits for both Yamato class ship models. Importantly, the guide for placement is correct - the kit davit placement is incorrect. The older Tamiya kit for Yamato (not the recent retooled kit) has simple, molded-on davits on he hull edges. These will have to be sanded smooth so the new photoetch pieces can be added. As can be seen in the accompanying photographs on the photoetch packaging and next to the model itself, there is simply no comparison - the photoetch davits are much more accurate, look much better, and give an extra dimension to a Yamato kit. For example, these davits allow a modeler the option to more easily make a diorama of Yamato at anchor surrounded by ship's boats. Summary Very highly recommended. Lion Roar has produced an ultimate set of davits for 1/700 scale Yamato battleships. Accuracy and detail are unsurpassed. Assembly and manipulation are easy, and the finished davits are realistic. The value of this set is good, costing an extra $6 per ship. The only problem with this set is that you will have to use photoetch for everything else, or the new davits will be pearls before swine. References: Skulski J. Anatomy of the Ship. The Battleship Yamato. Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, MD, 1988. ISBN 0-87021-019-X

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