Model Forum / General / Models / February 2010

Kit Review: AFV Club 1/350 scale Kit No. SE 73508; Japanese Navy
Submarine I-58 Late Variant; 100 parts (84 in grey styrene,14 etched
brass, 1 dull red styrene, 1 vinyl cap); estimated retail price US
$29.95

Advantages: late-war version of this boat joins the early war variant;
nicely done details and brass finishings, option of six Kaiten permits
a lot of variations

Disadvantages: none noted

Rating: Highly Recommended

Recommendation: for all WWII and IJN fans

    AFV Club has now released the late war version of one of the most
famous of Japanese submarines, I-58. As noted with the first version
of this kit, it holds an infamous place  in US eyes due to the fact
that it was this submarine which sank the cruiser USS Indianapolis in
July 1945, eventually resulting in the deaths of all but about 300 of
her crew and the court-martial and conviction of her captain. At that
time I-58 had been modified to become a “Kaiten” midget submarine
carrier and according to Japanese sources even had two Kaiten embarked
when she sank the Indianapolis (misidentified as “an Idaho class
battleship”). The sub was impounded at the end of the war and scuttled
in 1946.

    AFV Club has now released this kit of I-58, which shares some sprues
with the earlier I-19 kit (No. 73506) and most of the sprues with the
Early War I-58 (No. 73507). The kit has been modified to permit adding
up to six “Kaiten” suicide torpedoes to the boat (four forward, two
aft) but in the case of I-58's attack on the Indianapolis does not say
where the two “Kaiten” were stored (my own guess would be the two on
the after deck). A small sheet in what appears to be Japanese by the
researcher Shin Ueda also notes where the “Kaiten” were stored on the
earlier I-19 class boats for anyone wishing to “cross kit” them.

    As before the kit permits building the sub as either full hull (with
a stand and nameplate in English and Japanese) or waterline. The full
hull version also provides a pressure hull for the ship and six “Long
Lance” torpedoes. Most of the small details are provided for in
styrene but others are only available in etched brass. These include
the aircraft handling crane, catapult rails, handrails, and other
small details.

    The hull is beautifully done with flood holes and the various ports
and details on the bottom as well as a working rudder.

    The “Kaiten” are single piece moldings and come with their mounting
racks integral with the torpedo.

    A small sheet of late war markings is included with sail numbers and
“hinomaru” flags.

    Overall this is another great sub kit from AFV Club and answers the
question of the July 1945 configuration - now to find a 1/350 kit of
the USS Indianapolis to tell the story.

    Thanks to Minn Herng Tsueng for the review sample.

Cookie Sewell