Aoshima

[Green Dragon]

IIRC the Japanese were thinking about changing their laws about carriers not being allowed to carry planes. The "Helicopter Destroyers" were designed to be able to take Harriers or F-35's if the law changed though I reckon they'll add a ski jump if they go ahead.

Paul Harrison

[PR19_Kit]

Where would they put the ski-jump? The superstructure is in the way surely?

[Freightdog862]

I got a couple of Aoshima 1/700 Hyuga kits in stock two days ago (inspired by seeing some of Geoff's boaty bits at Sutton Coldfield!), I can't say I know much about ship models but it looks bloody good to me! It includes a fully detailed hanger bay, presumably for a later clear deck version like Tamiya hve done in the past? First batch is supposedly a 'speclal', with etch steel rotor blades (no Harriers or F-35s included, only SH-60K, MH-53E and MCH-101) and a few other arials etc included.
Colin 

[Thorvic]

Kit the JMSDF Hyuga is pretty similar in size and shape the the Invincibles in facts it role is the same as the original Invincible evolved from the Escort Cruiser concept. It has an island and the flight deck does extend out over the port side so a ski-jump could be fitted as per Invincible.

However i suspect the Hyuga & Ise will remain helo carriers and the much larger follow on design would carry the F-35B should they ever get permission to use them and of course LM are able to get the thing to work as intended !

G

[anthonyp]

I seriously want a few of these, especially the Ise that doubles as an insta-whif.

[Thorvic]

I seriously want a few of these, especially the Ise that doubles as an insta-whif.

Its a nice kit Ant, and the hanger deck and other details give it the edge over the Pitroad version. It has plenty of whiff potential as it is STOVL carrier size.

Hopefully they will do the larger ship if its built as i think they still have to get that design approved and ordered.

G

[PR19_Kit]

Kit the JMSDF Hyuga is pretty similar in size and shape the the Invincibles in facts it role is the same as the original Invincible evolved from the Escort Cruiser concept. It has an island and the flight deck does extend out over the port side so a ski-jump could be fitted as per Invincible.

Ah, OK. Thanks for that Geoff, I must have been looking at another ship.

Everyone seems to be getting Harrier carrriers these days, except us of course!

[rickshaw]

Kit the JMSDF Hyuga is pretty similar in size and shape the the Invincibles in facts it role is the same as the original Invincible evolved from the Escort Cruiser concept. It has an island and the flight deck does extend out over the port side so a ski-jump could be fitted as per Invincible.

Ah, OK. Thanks for that Geoff, I must have been looking at another ship.

Everyone seems to be getting Harrier carrriers these days, except us of course!

And us.   

[pyro-manic]

Eh? You're getting two shiny new Canberra-class assault ships that are Harrier/F-35 capable. Getting the aircraft is another thing entirely, of course.

[pyro-manic]

Hmmm. But while Australia is acquiring new platforms with the reasonably strong possibility of improving capability, we are disposing of useful platforms and throwing capability away!

[rickshaw]

Eh? You're getting two shiny new Canberra-class assault ships that are Harrier/F-35 capable. Getting the aircraft is another thing entirely, of course.

Capable in that they have a nice flight deck.  Capable as a carrier?  Different things.

[Thorvic]

Eh? You're getting two shiny new Canberra-class assault ships that are Harrier/F-35 capable. Getting the aircraft is another thing entirely, of course.

Capable in that they have a nice flight deck.  Capable as a carrier?  Different things.

Well technically no in your case as the ships you are getting are built using a design intended for VTOL aircraft. You just choose not to use them and and such wont fit a ski-jump, or configure the stores for handling aircraft parts and the magazine aircraft weapons. But the deck is built strong enough to operate Harriers (its probably strong enough to handle the weight of F-35B landings although the heat issue has yet to be verified)

[Green Dragon]

The VSTOL F-35 doesn't seem too popular at the moment, wonder if any one is considering restarting the Harrier production lines?
Japan could want some if they change the law and the F-35B gets scrapped.
The Thai Navy might want to replace their ex Spanish Matadors.
Even Australia might want some in the future.
I've always disliked designs with extra lift-fan and lift-engines because they are just dead weight in the cruise. Harrier was a much more elegant design solution with just the vectoring nozzles. Have an old Italeri 1/72nd X-35 planned with four vectoring nozzles, maybe have afterburners on the rear ones.

Paul Harrison

[PR19_Kit]

The VSTOL F-35 doesn't seem too popular at the moment, wonder if any one is considering restarting the Harrier production lines?

Why  bother? The RAF and FAA could sell them at least four squadrons worth! 

[Green Dragon]

I was thinking the Japanese would want radar on theirs for a bit of fleet air defense, maybe get some AV-8B+'s off the USMarrines when/if they get the F-35's. None of the RAF ones have any radar and all the Shars have been stripped, scrapped or flogged off cheap already.

Paul Harrison