The Ship Model Forum

Yup, when i first opened the box i saw just how grossly out of shape the kit shields were, and I couldnt even identify the guns themselves until I referred to the instructions sheet. Knew I had to switch them out then and there. A bit expensive at $2 USD per gun, but in my opinion worth every penny once its done

She looks great. It's amazing how using properly sized shields make the PR kit really pop. Everything is in proper proportion.

I think she is coming along nicely. Well done.

Been working on her here and there, and finally all painting and assembly are done.

Just need to put on a clear coat then she's going in the display case.

[img]http://i.imgur.com/TrrYNu5.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i.imgur.com/ZMxGY3l.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i.imgur.com/1EXqOuT.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i.imgur.com/LFoSUiF.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i.imgur.com/jSb99yG.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i.imgur.com/NlfKz5V.jpg[/img]

I stopped taking pictures after this point because i thought it would be too much of a spoiler for the final product :smallsmile:

Dan,

No, Five Star models,
it was quite a pleasant surprise that i got the type G shields with the barrels too since I thought I only bought the barrels

Sorry it took awhile to reply, things got really out of hand at school(in terms of grades) and Ive been trying to sort out this huge mess

Still looking good. Whose 12cm barrels are those? Rainbow?

Another update:

[img]http://i.imgur.com/P8BWX6D.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i.imgur.com/PQNwfpk.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i.imgur.com/qdekOE1.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i.imgur.com/spKHx1b.jpg[/img]

Those 12cm guns are honestly quite exquisite

too bad theyre out of stock right now at my usual vendor, else I'd buy a whole box of those.

Pre-painting assembly is pretty much all finished, going to check over it tomorrow to make sure Ive got everything then its off to the paint shop!

ではでは～！( ･ω･)ﾉ
until next time~!

Small update:

[img]http://i.imgur.com/wM0DiBN.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i.imgur.com/GNpTimb.jpg[/img]

Ko-Hyou Teki
[img]http://i.imgur.com/ulVLzsX.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i.imgur.com/37TU4pU.jpg[/img]


Assembly continues...

ではでは～！( ･ω･)ﾉ
until next time~!

I actually just bought the gakken mutsuki book from amazon jp, cost me ~$50 USD including shipping to the US

a bit expensive, but it will all be worth it as imo the mutsuki class is the best looking of all IJN DDs
Also found the 1st gakken fubuki book for a pretty low price on ebay as well for future builds, still looking for the 2nd one.

Now I just need to find a gran prix shuppan IJN Destroyer anatomy book for less than 10000 yen

Not worth taking pictures of, but I airbrushed on the hull red this afternoon, will do the linoleum decks later after the paint has dried a bit. then I can mask it, complete the rest of the assembly, then on with the hull grey.

You are probably right about the mislabeling. Can't recall my notes on this photo.

The other big difference between as-built and as-modernized is the addition of the shielding to the torpedo tube mount for the latter.

I see, also, did not notice the funnel tops before. thanks!

On a side note, I believe your attached image is most likely Satsuki mislabeled as Fumizuki, as the latter was part of the 30th DDiv, while Satsuki was in the 22nd and had one bar on her 1st funnel.

The RDF loops weren't installed until the late 1930s. That compartment also holds the emergency/auxiliary steering and compass. Originally, that equipment was placed onto top on the platform, but subsequently relocated inside during the refits/rebuild of the mid 1930s.

To help distinguish between as-built and the modernized versions, note that the as-built ships have flatter topped funnels and a triangular shaped compass bridge deck with a canvas covering. They were rebuilt with a compass bridge deck showing a rounded facing, a steel top to the bridge, and much more rake to the funnel tops. If you look closely at those two GPS illustrations of Nagatsuki, the first one is of her as built; the second is as modernized.

Or, if you compare the very first photo that I posted of the unidentified Mutsuki class ship, it is modernized (and likely Kikuzuki), versus this as -built photo of Fumizuki.

When were the loop antenna installed? on the 1937 picture of Satsuki I can see something that might resemble it in the place where I assumed it will be at, but in my photo of Satsuki(with the yellow circles) it doesnt show them installed

Mikazuchi seems like it has the room behind funnel #2 like Minazuki, but from what I can see Yayoi doesn't.
Ill probably just put the loop antenna right in front of the searchlight. One issue though, it wont be tall enough :P but that's my problem to fix.

The illustrations come from the Gran Prix Shuppan (GPS) volume on IJN Destroyers.

While there is likely some small differences between ships, you must be careful to distinguish between the ships as built (your second image below) and as reconstructed in the mid 1930s. Some modernized views:

Matthew B,
My sources also don't indicate anything about the yardarms being rectangular, but the interlocking tip seems to be useful, ill try it on the aft mast when I get there.

Ive never thought about tapering the mast at all because of such a small scale :P Perhaps when I get more experience and/or become more and more obsessed with accuracy/detail Ill try that, but as of now I have neither the tools nor the skills to taper such a small piece of cylinder



Also, has anyone got any detailed reference for the middle deckhouse+loop antenna+searchlight?

[img]http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/download/file.php?id=91097&mode=view[/img]

from this photo(courtesy of Dan), it seems like Satsuki's configuration closely resembles Uzuki instead of Minazuki, but not exactly, as minazuki(according to this, #6 down, 上部構造各部の製作 その２: http://homepage2.nifty.com/vanguard/makingpoints/makinguzuki&minazuki-3.htm) has apparently another room on the lower deck of the deckhouse closest to funnel #2, but Satsuki apparently doesnt have that before or after remodel, like the 2 images below(ignore the yellow circles, theyre pointing to the wrong thing)

[img]http://homepage2.nifty.com/vanguard/700images4/satsukiphoto.jpg[/img]

Also, the loop antenna seems to be moved back slightly from both Uzuki and Minazuki's position, kind of in the area of the ship's wheel in the attached photo

[quote]I have discovered that a lot of the Yardarms were rectangular in cross-section.
[/quote]

For the IJN? Perhaps for some of the BBs at the intersection with a mast but otherwise, I cannot agree, Matthew. Is there a reference for that assertion?

One other thing about building masts:

I have discovered that a lot of the Yardarms were rectangular in cross-section.

And that attaching them to the mast is made easier by filing a small notch into the mast and yardarm so that they can slightly interlock (unless you want to spend $80 on making a set of Photoetched brackets that the yardarm and mast slide into to create an interlocking joint).

Also, using a drill and a file or piece of sandpaper to taper the mast and yardarms really does help to make the mast look more realistic.

I have become very skeptical of these Photo Etched masts, which are too flimsy.

MB

Matthew B,
日本史が興味あるですから日本語を勉学し始めたのです＾＾
特に第二次世界大戦
ちょっと変じゃないですか、台湾人のくせに（笑）

Dan K,
I see, ill have to find some way to drill it without a drill :P
or perhaps I can just use the drill i already have(slightly too large) and just attach the mast to one side of the whole? filling in the remaining space with glue or paint.

Also, thanks, but I was aware that Mutsuki didnt have the 25mm guns until later, but all I had were the 25mms and it just so happened that the fine molds 13mm were sold out when I was ordering my PE.
Hasegawa has the 13mms in PE, i actually bought one yesterday on ebay, so I have those for future builds.

Last but not least, many thanks on the reference photos! they are really a great help. And just out of curiosity, which book are those drawings from? the Gakken book?

It's coming along very nicely.

[quote]Im not sure why, but all the builds Ive seen of Mutsuki class did not bend the angled part of the mast backwards a bit, as there are photos which clearly show them angled a bit towards the back, like the one Dan posted above.[/quote]

The upper yardarms rarely aligned in a 90* angle perpendicular to the hull. The halyards would get tangled up in the lines from the main spar below. In 1/700, it's just cheaper to make a mold with those upper yardarms sticking straight out in line with the ones under it. Brass rod replacement is really the way to go, as you have figured out.

[quote]to install the main mast onto the back of the bridge, how deep do I have to drill down usually?[/quote]

Well, if the drill bit is thin enough, 2mm deep and mast secured with CA glue is preferred. Shallower is fine as long as there isn't much rigging stress upon the mast. Speaking of which, some details to aid you below.

Just fyi, the single guns mounted to either side of the bridge in 1941/42 were either 7.7 or 13mm machine guns The 25mmAA came later. That said, I can't recall the smaller mounts being available in PE. FineMolds does make nice 13mm single mounts in styrene plastic.

かっくいん

佳節。。。もっと日本語話し手.

I only know a few kanji, though. Roughly equivalent to a fourth - sixth grader in Japan.

Nice build so far.

MB