The Ship Model Forum

I guess one of the problems with Illustrated books on the IJN is the recycled photos appearing over and over again. Of course this is due to a lack of source material, but I've learned not to go after new titles that claim to be Illustrated histories as there is nothing new by way of photos in them. Often the only thing new appearing is the odd photo from a private source of very low quality. I will say though that probably the best money I have spent in years was to get these two titles on Japanese Destroyers.
"History of Japanese Destoyers , Ships of the World 1992 No. 453" a softbound book some new and well reproduced photos
"Japanese Naval Warship Photo Album , Destroyers" The best from the archives of Shizuo Fukui and The Archives of the Kure Maritime Musem. Full page high quality reproductions and a number of photos I'de not seen before.

Bob B.

There are usually stacks of Japanese Navy books at 古本屋 (old book stores). Prices are very cheap. Next time I`m in one of those shops I`ll take some pics and post them.

I have this book titled 帝国連合艦隊 (Imperial Combined Fleet); it is an illustrated histroy of the IJN from inception till 1945.

I sold all 3 volumes last year for between £100-£150 each and I think the cruiser one went for the highest price.

[quote="bengtsson"]I was looking over Ebay's naval books today and saw that someone put up volume 1 Battleships and Volume 2 Crusiers together as a one bid item. Starting at $100. They look to be mint condition from the photos. Has anyone else ever seen the Fukui books "Japanese Naval Vessels Illustrated 1869-1945" go on auction before? I am interested to see what kind of bids come in!
There is also a volume of Warship 1996 I need for my collection, but it is already at almost $90! :mad_1:

Bob B.[/quote]

I first obtained volumes 1 and 2, but later I had the only possibility to buy the complete set (3 volumes). So now I owe the first two volumes twice. At Abebooks or some US naval hobbyshops, the volumes were offered at $ 250 each. Volume 3 is the hardest to find and was sometimes priced up to $ 750! So $ 100 for two volumes is a bargain!

I have all 3 volumes for sale all mint condition in their card slip cases!
One even has the original card outer slip case also which were nominally thrown away once bought.
PM me if interested :wave_1:

[quote="bengtsson"]I was looking over Ebay's naval books today and saw that someone put up volume 1 Battleships and Volume 2 Crusiers together as a one bid item. Starting at $100. They look to be mint condition from the photos. Has anyone else ever seen the Fukui books "Japanese Naval Vessels Illustrated 1869-1945" go on auction before? I am interested to see what kind of bids come in!
There is also a volume of Warship 1996 I need for my collection, but it is already at almost $90! :mad_1:

Bob B.[/quote]

Hello Bob,

I am the owner of the books , but you must know that there's a third volume, aircraft carriers airplane tenders, torpedo boats and submarine tenders. I had already the volumes 1 and 2, but I managed to buiy the 3 books in the USA. The average price for volume 1 and 2 is appr. $ 200 per volume and volume 3 does $ 700.

Ton goeman

IMHO, the Fukui and Diamond -Sha books are complimentary. The Fukuis are more comprehensive, but the Diamond-Sha format and clarity is in almost all cases, superior. Plus, the Fukuis are nearly impossible to get a hold of, for most people.

I've got the 2 and the 3 vol Fukui sets, along wiht the Diamond-Sha series.

[quote="gs"]I just returned from Tokyo & was fortunate enough for someone to guide me around old used military bookstores. I bought a Volume 1 Battleships & Battlecruisers by Fukui and a Kaiginsha Ships of the World British Battleships at a bargain price.

I have been collecting the Ships of the World series as they have excellent photos, some of which I have not seen elsewhere.

I would highly recommend the Fukui book vs the cheaper Diamond Sha, which I did have a chance to buy at several bookstores. I decided that the Y5000 price was a false economy vs the massive Fukui book. Actually, I did not know it was the Fukui book when I bought it as I don't read Japanese. I only knew that it was really impressive.[/quote]

Yes, the Fuki books really are impressive in a world where almost all the photos of Japanese Warships got destroyed at the end of the war. I did buy the Diamond Sha Destroyer book, as Fukui never published his original destroyer book. I was very happy with Diamond Sha volume. Some really wonderful Destroyer photos. I also bought the other "Ships of the World" volume no. 453 History of Japanese Destoyers. These two books taken together are must have items!

Bob B.

I just returned from Tokyo & was fortunate enough for someone to guide me around old used military bookstores. I bought a Volume 1 Battleships & Battlecruisers by Fukui and a Kaiginsha Ships of the World British Battleships at a bargain price.

I have been collecting the Ships of the World series as they have excellent photos, some of which I have not seen elsewhere.

I would highly recommend the Fukui book vs the cheaper Diamond Sha, which I did have a chance to buy at several bookstores. I decided that the Y5000 price was a false economy vs the massive Fukui book. Actually, I did not know it was the Fukui book when I bought it as I don't read Japanese. I only knew that it was really impressive.

[quote="linux"][quote="Lozza1981"]I've got the books on British battleships & cruisers, but I wasn't able to buy the other 2.[/quote]

Are these the Kaijinsha special issues? You can buy most of them from HLJ, or as a last resort you can order direct from Kaijinsha. And it's now the other 3 - Kaijinsha published a special issue on British aircraft carriers in October last year.[/quote]

Yes its the specials, I've just ordered them through Hobbylink! :woo_hoo:

[quote="Lozza1981"]I've got the books on British battleships & cruisers, but I wasn't able to buy the other 2.[/quote]

Are these the Kaijinsha special issues? You can buy most of them from HLJ, or as a last resort you can order direct from Kaijinsha. And it's now the other 3 - Kaijinsha published a special issue on British aircraft carriers in October last year.

I've got the books on British battleships & cruisers, but I wasn't able to buy the other 2.

[quote="Lozza1981"]RN is the area I have the most on, then DKM, then IJN, then RM, then FRN in that order.[/quote]

Laurence,

Kaijinsha (Ships of the World) also publish special issues on all of the above navies. There's even one on British destroyers.

[url]http://www.ships-net.co.jp/additionale.html[/url]
[url]http://www.hlj.com/hljlist2/?Maker1=KAS[/url]

[quote="bengtsson"]Thanks for that information. I thought I remembered a reprint had been done on these books.
I do have the Grand Prix books on Japanese DDs and Aircraft Carriers.
A wealth of fine detail drawings and some internal layouts. A model builders dream :cool_2: Out of print already?[/quote]

Actually the Maru Specials have been reprinted twice by Kojinsha. First in a 14-volume hardback series in 1989-1990, and again in the 21-volume paperback series in 1996-1998. Most of the hardback series are still on sale, though alas not the 2 destroyer volumes (10 & 11).

And yes, the 3 Grand Prix volumes on cruisers, destroyers and aircraft carriers are out of print already. The 2 battleships books are still on sale though.

[quote="linux"][quote="bengtsson"]How about the old "The Maru Specials" "Japanese Naval Vessels".[/quote]

The 21-volume Kojinsha photo file series are essentially reprints of the Maru Specials in a smaller and more compact format.[/quote]

Thanks for that information. I thought I remembered a reprint had been done on these books.
I do have the Grand Prix books on Japanese DDs and Aircraft Carriers.
A wealth of fine detail drawings and some internal layouts. A model builders dream :cool_2: Out of print already?


Bob B.

The Diamond Sha book is verrry nice. It shows a few excellent close ups of a DD in drydock, plus a new pic of Shimakaze, conclusively proving she never landed her #2 turret.

[quote="bengtsson"]How about the old "The Maru Specials" "Japanese Naval Vessels".[/quote]

The 21-volume Kojinsha photo file series are essentially reprints of the Maru Specials in a smaller and more compact format.

How about the old "The Maru Specials" "Japanese Naval Vessels".

I sold a few of mine off a few years back, some had only very poor fotos like the one on Kagero class DDs.
But, I held on to my Number 21 because it had some amazing photos of Fubuki class DDs. Some action damage photos and a few close ups that would be a gold mine for model builders!

Published in 1978 Number 21 was one in a long series of Maru Specials. I saw and paged through all of them at Foyles in London back in the 1980s. I only bought a few on DDs because of the lack of quality photos and the fact that I had the Fukui books which had all the best pictures.

But Number 21 was and is amazing. There is so much detail seen close up that never appears on models built of these ships.

Sad so many of the above books are out of stock or print, But I ordered the Diamond book on DD's. It is on it's way right now :woo_hoo:

Much thanks for the links to buy these books :thumbs_up_1: :big_grin:

Bob B.

Cheers, I need all of those then!

RN is the area I have the most on, then DKM, then IJN, then RM, then FRN in that order.

I seriously need to build up my IJN reference library! :mad_1:

[quote="Lozza1981"]I want whatever is out their on Japanese Destroyers, can anyone point me to what is the best book? A photo of one would be great if possible please! :thumbs_up_1:[/quote]

Laurence,

For photographs the best quality books currently available are the Diamond Sha / KMM series mentioned earlier. Volume 5 covers Japanese destroyers:

[url]http://www.hlj.com/product/DIA95060[/url]

Kaijinsha (publishers of the monthly Ships of the World) produce a series of special editions with high quality photographs. Special Issue No.34 covers Japanese Destroyers:

[url]http://www.hlj.com/product/KAS453[/url]

The Kojinsha photo file series has more photographs, plus some some technical information and drawings. Volumes 16 - 18 cover Japanese destroyers:

[url]http://www.hlj.com/product/KJSWS16[/url]
[url]http://www.hlj.com/product/KJSWS17[/url]
[url]http://www.hlj.com/product/KJSWS18[/url]

The Kojinsha warship mechanisms series has drawings, photographs and technical information. These are not very extensive and are mainly useful for modellers. Volume 4 covers Japanese destroyers:

[url]http://www.hlj.com/product/KJSGM04H[/url]

The Gakken series are among the best for photographs, technical information and drawings, but most (including all 4 Japanese destroyer volumes) have recently gone out of print:

[url]http://www.hlj.com/product/GAKPW-18[/url]
[url]http://www.hlj.com/product/GAKPW-19[/url]
[url]http://www.hlj.com/product/GAKPW-23[/url]
[url]http://www.hlj.com/product/GAKPW-43[/url]

The Grand Prix Shuppan warship mechanisms series were possibly the best for drawings, but the volume on Japanese destroyers is out of print:

[url]http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/487687154X[/url]

The Fukui Shizuo Collection is a series of technical books about Japanese and world warships. Volume 5 covers Japanese destroyers:

[url]http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/4769806116[/url]