Swordfish Naval Models Accessory Review

Swordfish Naval Models
1/350 IJN 12.7cm 40 Type 89 Guns, SKU #35009012

Reviewed December 2023
by Dan Kaplan

BACKGROUND

The standard heavy anti-aircraft weapon for the Imperial Japanese Navy leading up to and during the Second World War was the Type 89 12.7cm/40 caliber gun. Introduced in 1932, it was typically mounted on a partially open mount utilizing twin barrels. As such, it could be found on almost all aircraft carriers, battleships, heavy and some light cruisers. A single mount version, along with the twin mount, was used to equip the late war Matsu and Tachibana class destroyers. Other twin versions were mounted in enclosed blast/smoke shields aboard the Yamato class battleships and aircraft carriers.

This was a high angle weapon used most effectively against aircraft, though it doubled as a dual purpose, low angle mount against surface targets. It is not to be confused with the true low angle 12.7cm/50 cal. Third Year Type gun mounted as the main battery aboard most IJN destroyers.

Click to enlarge images

THE PARTS

Swordfish Naval Models of Belgium added its own entry to the 1/350 3D printed pool of IJN Type 89 12.7cm 40cal. twin AA mounts in 2022. Theirs is of the A1 Mod 2 semi-shielded mount, which is the best-known version, utilized as described above.

These come as a set of four mounts, printed in a light gray resin. All four are placed on a single print raft, itself secured to the bottom of a clear, clamshell type packaging. Unlike most other 3D printed offerings of this mount, these are one-piece units. No assembly is required. However, I would advise patience and caution as far as separating the attachment points from the mount.

The detailing is a very nice and crisp, with open viewports for the gunlayer, stiffening bars on the shield sides, lightening holes, access ladders, and shell tray extensions to either side of the breech end. The barrels do not have muzzle openings, but are nicely tapered and, along with the recoil tubes, are scaled extremely well. The guns are posed in a perfectly horizontal position, as opposed to the more typical slightly elevated position.

Since there are no pieces to glue together, there are no instructions. General user instructions for handling and gluing 3D printed parts are available on the Swordfish website: www.swordfishmodels.com

Close ups of some of the details.

CONCLUSIONS

These are some very nicely done pieces that require no assembly. Among the range of 3D printed versions of the Type 89 gun, there are some offerings of greater detail, but at a considerably higher price. I see these Swordfish units as a very cost-effective replacement for most kit versions.

Highly recommended. This is set #35009012 which retails for approximately $14.05 (without shipping) from Swordfish Naval Models own webstore: https://www.swordfishmodels.com

Review sample courtesy of Swordfish Naval Models Accessories.