Reviewed August 2022
by Dan Kaplan

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 double mount, was used to equip the late war Matsu and Tachibana class destroyers. Other 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.

The Review Item:  VeryFire Models 1/350 IJN 12.7cm/40 cal Guns

VeryFire offers these mounts in a dark grey resin as a package of six units. That’s enough mounts to replace the kit versions used in any given kit of all the older IJN battleship kits as well as the open mounts aboard the Yamatos after being refit, the medium carriers of the Hiyo and Soryu/Hiryu classes, the Takao class cruisers (excluding Chokai) and the late war fits for the 5,500 ton light cruiser kits of Isuzu and Tama. Kits of the larger carriers such as Kaga, Shokaku and Zuikaku would require an additional package.

There are five gray wafers: two carry the base of the mount, three bases per wafer. Another two wafers carry the recoil tube/carriages. The last wafer carries all six of the semi-enclosed shields that enveloped the gunlayer’s position. There’s also a light resin wafer that holds six spotting binoculars which are to be placed within the gunlayer’s shield. Plus, there are ten brass turned barrels and a sheet of photoetch parts that are packaged together in a very small zip lock bag. All the pieces come packaged within a clear clamshell blister pack that allows for plenty of room against accidental crushing.

The resin surfaces are smooth and matt finished. The detailing is exceptional: crisp, sharp and well defined. The details include open viewports for the gunlayer, optical sights, mounting racks for the recoil tube carriages (which are never seen on styrene versions), shell tray extensions to either side of the breech end (which are very well done), stiffening bars on the sides, lightening holes, and small access hatches and access ladders. A truly nice touch is that openings for the brass gun barrel nubs come predrilled into the mounting for the recoil tubes.

The barrels have muzzle openings, are nicely tapered and have nubs which are glued into the recoil tube mounting rack. Parts on the brass sheet include small platforms also located to both sides of the breech end of the gun, elevating arcs, small access ladders, and replacement supports with lightening holes.

The guns can be posed at a variety of elevations. It’s not noted anywhere, but it should be pointed out that those small brass platforms are supposed to rise and fall with the gun’s elevation, so place accordingly.

It consists of a simple black and white sheet with three point and exploded illustrations. A visual parts guide is included. Assembly should be relatively straightforward. There are no specific glue or paint recommendations.