Tetra Model Works is a relatively new South Korean company, established in late 2013.  They got their start producing photo etch parts and accessories for 1/35 scale AFV kits. As those products were well received by the market, Tetra also began offering photo etch items for 1/72 scale aviation and 1/700 and 1/350 scale warship models.

Apparently, Tetra felt there was room for improvements in the available photo etch and accessories for the new 1/350 Kaga kit, and prepared a comprehensive alternative set. This Tetra set was released in February 2016.
 

I’ll do my best to identify the significant components on each sheet.  Many of the frets carry close to one hundred pieces each. My ballpark estimate is that there is close to one thousand individual parts in the entire set. 
 

I mention the packaging because my sample took quite a hit during transit, despite being shipped within a larger mailing carton. The cardboard cover was actually punctured, but the contents inside remained intact and undisturbed inside the bubble wrap.  I would say that this has proven to be a smart packaging choice by Tetra.

1) 127mm barrels – 4 short and 12 long. The shorter barrels fit into the two power turrets that were placed on the starboard side, aft. The others fit the standard open 12.7cm HA (High Angle) AA mount.
2) 25mm barrels – 25 for the twin 25mm AA mounts. There are a couple of spare barrels.
3) 203mm barrels – ten for the 20.3cm single LA mounts off the water line, aft.
4) Type 91 aerial torpedoes – two, in the bag with the 203mm barrels.
5) Masts and jack staffs – four for the upper portions of the mainmast and radio aerial masts, four yardarms, and the two jack staffs

The instructions aren’t at all clear about how best to affix the metal to the plastic flight deck. I assume that some sort of cyanoacrylate cement would work best to insure adhesion. I also think that the some of the plastic deck detail might have be sanded away to improve the fit and adhesion.

Similar to the previous fret, there are walkways, supports, ladders and railings that are affixed to the exposed forward bulkhead of the enclosed hangar decks that jut out over the forecastle.  There are also some parts for the forecastle deck; those being chaffing plates for under the anchor chains, some more devil’s claws for the anchor chain, perforated hawsehole covers, and main deck railings.

Additional are components for the funnel, including the internal uptake divider plates, a lot of handrails, and the components of the large support trestle used to support the funnel away from the hull.

A number of pieces for the bridge island are also on the fret:  linoleum decking for the exposed decks, hatches, railings, window frames, struts that anchor some of the radio aerials, an RDF antenna, and some small struts and perforated signaling platforms. 

Other pieces comprise the components of two, exposed radial engines and their test stands, which is a very nice addition to the set. Also included are several perforated gratings that cover some hull air intakes, two more accommodation ladders with davits, and some collapsible davits for large boats

The remaining portion is comprised primarily of the grab rails that line that outside of the two storey hangar deck structure at the bow, assorted hatches for same, some railings, grab rails for the 12.7cm gun sponsons, and the two and four light landing light arrays for the aft flight deck.  Another pleasant surprise is the addition of numerous wooden benches, for the sponson decks that ring the flight deck. 

Other goodies include more hatches for access to the hangar decks, two sets of twin propellers and tail fins for modified Type 91 aerial torpedoes (two included in the set),, two torpedo trolleys for the flight deck, boat booms with PE rigging, PE rigging and spreader bars for the radio masts, foot ropes and stirrups for the radio mast yardarms, two types of latticed aerial mast bases, fittings and the large, sprocket-like mechanisms that were used to raise and lower the radio masts. 

The other parts of the fret are meant for the twin 25mm AA mounts: base rings, base carriage, elevating gear, foot pedals, and curved gravity feed ammo boxes for the guns.

Two lengths of white styrene rod – each is 32mm in length. They appear to be 0.025” in width; possibly 0.3”, and meant to be used as some auxiliary funnel piping. The Tetra instructions show them sticking out perpendicular to the hull, in-line horizontally with, and immediately aft of, the funnel. The tips are meant to be curved downward. 

The planking pattern is symmetrical in nature, repeating every fourth plank, an improvement over the plastic kit’s pattern of every third plank. The effect is more accurate, aided in part because the planks are thinner in width, as are the seams between planks. Tie-down holes are also etched into the planking. Cutouts for two of the elevators, hide-away searchlights, wind screen and several areas of deck plating exist. 

The photographs are a bit washed out with regard to color. While very light, the wood is richer in actual appearance.

Careful attention MUST be paid. There are a great many parts and photos, and each photo can have several designations that apply to a multiple of different frets upon it. So, a thorough review of each step is warranted. The instructions also depict the kit is various states of assembly, so some coordination of the build in conjunction with the application of the photo etch is probably necessary

It would probably help greatly to make use the additional photographs listed in the two links above, particularly for placement.

This is an extremely comprehensive set.  The only thing that’s missing that I can see is a degaussing cable for the ship, as the kit does not have one molded on. Such a cable was installed in late 1941.  Another nice to have might have been the inclusion of some detailing for the aircraft, but I note that Tetra does make a separate set for just that, as do some other photo etch manufacturers. (Further note: There is a limited edition version of the Kaga set that does include aircraft parts, but these can be hard to find at this point.) Otherwise, the set seems complete. 

This is not a set for a photo etch novice. However, with patience and careful planning, an exceptionally detailed Kaga model can be produced. 

Thanks to Tetra for the review sample. The website doesn’t list their distributors, which I hope will be corrected at some point. Among the distributors that I do know of are Freetime Hobbies and Hobbylink Japan. According to the Tetra website, the suggested MSRP is US$280.00.