The Ship Model Forum

Thanks Jim for the info and pics. Amazing builds!

Hi All,
Photos of the 2 versions of 'Irako'. The Pit Road resin version is about 15 years old and was the first resin ship I built and, I think, the first I ever put photo etch on. It has done the rounds of the shows in its time so it looks a little dated now.

The most obvious difference between the 2 is the deck. The resin version had a 'smooth' deck which suggests a linoleum type finish. The plastic version shows a wooden deck.
The resin version had the degaussing cable moulded on. The plastic version did not include it! - I added the cable from the OceanSpirit photo etch set.
Other differences include the crane designs and the guns.
See for yourself:- Note the resin version is 4mm smaller - it's just the angle the photo was taken at!!!

More photos available if requested.
Jim S

Hi all,
Just catching up with this thread.

I've built both the Pit Road versions of Irako and will post photos in a day or two to show the comparison. (Need to clear the workbench first!!!!)
On the question of LOA - plastic version is 216mm; resin version 213mm

Jim S

Surprisingly, I did manage to find the appropriate table for Irako in the booklet that is part of the S. Fukui 2 volume set. There, her waterline length is listed as 145.2m. So, it seems to me that English sources have mistakenly referenced the wrong category, and perpetuated it.

Thanks Dan. I don't think I will question the Japanese source since they actually built the ship! (as in access to better sources in their native language for accuracy)



The same reasoning goes for why I trust Germany's Revell when it comes to the accuracy of their Tirpitz 1/350 and 1/700 models.

FWIW, Japanese Wikipedia states 152m vs English Wikipedia of 145m.

That is what I told you, and I can understand that concern.

Well, a quick search of the internet reveals a kit length of 217mm, and their box art cites an OAL of 152m, which means their kit matches their citation. However, most English sources on the net cite an OAL of 145m, or 207mm. While I tend to believe the Japanese, I will try to look thru some primary source material to see if either OAL can be confirmed.

I'm interested in building the Irako, but I'm wary of Skywave/Pit-road kits considering that their Kamikawa Maru turned out to be underscale, or not the correct length, if I can remember what you told me. That's why I'm eager to find a review to see whether their Irako has the right dimensions.

Perhaps Jim has built the kit by now. I'm not aware of a review on it, though.

Pretty modern looking cargo ship, IMHO.

Has anyone here built the 1/700 Pit-Road Irako?

There doesn't seem to be any reviews of this kit at this site or elsewhere, from what I can find in a search.

Also, while the Aoshima Mamiya has been reviewed at least once, the same can't be said for the Pit-road Mamiya save for Jim Smith's few comments above in the opening post of this thread.

Compared to what Jim said about Pit-road Mamiya, the photos of the built Aoshima version seems to show their Mamiya does have a tripod mast at the stern.

Great question with the deck issue Jim. I didn't notice it until you pointed it out. I haven't seen any overhead wartime photos of her other than her port and starboard views. Also, my kit doesn't have her with a degaussing coil. Maybe she didn't have one in 1941? Still a nice kit all in all.



Bob Pink

Received my Pit Road Irako just before the holidays but its taken until now to look at the kit.

I have a question:
The new (plastic) kit from Pit Road shows a wooden main deck. The previously issued Waveline (resin) kit was released with a smooth, presumably steel, deck painted the usual IJN red/brown.

Can anyone tell me which is correct?

We've seen this type of problem before (e.g. Sagara/Sanuki Maru).

Just want to get it right.

Jim S

Already pre-ordered mine from Hobbylink Japan.

Another useful addition to the Auxiliaries fleet.

Jim S

1/700 IJN Irako by Pitroad is to be released in October. This is an all plastic kit.



Bob Pink

D-Boy,
Thanks for the update on Kashino.

I made the Pit Road resin version some time ago. Here are some pics - the scene was based (roughly) on the one shown in Gakken 37. The other ship in the diorama is HP Model's 'Soya' munitions ship.

Note there was no turret supplied at that time so the hold was just 'hatched over'.

Pit Road's IJN Koshino turret/armament transport kit is now available in plastic:
http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/viewtopic.php?f=84&t=158423

This is a very good topic indeed!



Bob pink

I've edited the thread title to specify the scope of the thread - hope it conveys what you were expecting!

Mike/Timmy,
I didn't want to confuse the issue. The Amphibious & Transports CASF is fine. The threads in that CASF are wide ranging and inclusive of most categories.

If, like me, you model Japanese merchant ships then the pre/post war Japanese merchant ship thread covers that. This also incorporates wartime conversions and colour schemes.

However, there is a separate group as Mike suggests, like 'Auxiliaries and support ships' which are unique in that they are built for a specific purpose, haven't seen civilian service and may therefore, merit a separate thread. (From the Japanese side, I'm thinking Akashi, Irako, Kinesaki, Jingei, Chitose/Chiyoda etc etc also, as Mike suggests, there are AOs, AGs, AVPs etc).

Any thoughts?

Timmy C,

Would you consider changing the name of this CASF category from "Amphibious, and Transports" to "Auxiliaries," or "Auxiliaries and Support Ships," or would that royally screw up associated links? People can figure out where to look now, but the name change would be broader and more accommodating for oilers/tankers, repair ships, tenders and supply ships, as well as escorts and patrol ships, etc..

Jim Smith,

Other Mamiya comments have been posted on the "Calling All Japanese Pre-war/wartime Merchant Marine Fans" thread, including other issues with both versions of that kit.