The Ship Model Forum

[quote="Matthew in TO"]I notice that when builders used the Mikasa detail kits that they leave these components unrealistically unpainted. Why? Do the detailed parts not take to paint well?

https://www.hobbylinc.com/hasegawa-ijn-battleship-mikasa-super-detail-set-plastic-model-ship-accessory-1:350-scale-40062

https://www.hlj.com/1-350-scale-ijn-bb-mikasa-photo-etched-basic-hsgqg7

https://www.bnamodelworld.com/deck-sets-for-ship-1:350-artwox-aw10093[/quote]

If you're referring to the product images, that's so buyers know what are part of the upgrade set and what are not.

Most models by actual modellers (rather than models built for the aftermarket company for advertising purposes) do paint all detail parts. Do you have links to any examples to show what you mean?

I notice that when builders used the Mikasa detail kits that they leave these components unrealistically unpainted. Why? Do the detailed parts not take to paint well?

https://www.hobbylinc.com/hasegawa-ijn-battleship-mikasa-super-detail-set-plastic-model-ship-accessory-1:350-scale-40062

https://www.hlj.com/1-350-scale-ijn-bb-mikasa-photo-etched-basic-hsgqg7

https://www.bnamodelworld.com/deck-sets-for-ship-1:350-artwox-aw10093

The Yashima picture looks like they've secured a canvas cover over it. (And what a fascinating detail: "BANZAI" along the barbette shelf... just for the visitors, or might it have been there all the time? It's big enough that you could read it pretty easily in 1:700 scale.)

And the Mikasa photo looks like there's a knee-high guardrail with canvas dodger around it. Maybe the "slats" are some kind of cleats for securing stowage?

- Sean F.

could be used as same on the decks, insulation & maybe anti-skid.

I thought they were wooden plates but do not know the why.
IJN Yashima's turret shows that they were more like steel plates:
[img]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d0/IJN_Yashima_at_Jarrow%2C_c1897.jpg[/img]

Mikasa 1904:
[img]https://media.gettyimages.com/id/463897079/photo/japanese-warship-mikasa-at-portsmouth-docks-england-1904.jpg?s=612x612&w=gi&k=20&c=hlyBbNghikcim6B_hBPg2EQ287raKzdJ54PKETz6HOo=[/img]

So, what is that patch on the turret roof that looks like slats or louvers? And for that matter, I see them in drawings, and on models, but I can't recall ever seeing them in photos of the real thing (granted, photos of pre-dreadnoughts from a high-enough angle are few and far between).

- Sean F.

Here�s a good image of the earlier rounder turret showing shells stored near the back. After the Fujis the Japanese changed to the smaller, square gun houses.

[img]https://c8.alamy.com/comp/J3F51Y/fuji-class-12-inch-gun-turret-plan-J3F51Y.jpg[/img]

[quote="Timmy C"]The lower fighting tops are on sprue J, which was not in any of the other versions of the Hasegawa 1/350 other than the Yellow Sea kit. If you're trying to shop around because you're having a hard time finding the Yellow Sea kit, I've got good news: Hobby Search 1) has it in stock and 2) it's on steep sale: https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10045599[/quote]Brillant! Thanks. I've just placed my order. You've just launched me onto the Mikasa becomes Formidable project! I've already begun comparing the two ships.

[attachment=0]Formidable vs Mikasa.jpg[/attachment]

What are your thoughts on the different turret profiles? [u]British Battleships, 1889-1904[/u] by RA Burt states that while Mikasa was built by Vickers instead of the Royal Dockyards (Portsmouth, Chatham and Devonport) where the Formidable-class were built, the Japanese required that the same Armstrong guns as the Formidable be used instead of Vickers guns. I wonder though if the gunhouse (turret) is from Vickers, since while I cannot find any British preadreadnought with the same square turret profile as Mikasa, there are several Japanese battleships built in Britain with this turret type.

If I had a 3D printer I would make new turrets, but instead I'll use some modeling clay or filler and styrene to round off Mikasa's turrets to better look like Formidable's. Too bad there are no 1/350 Royal Navy predreadnoughts earlier than the Lord Nelsons (they used the more modern turret look of those on HMS Dreadnought). The British built a huge fleet of predreadnoughts and yet they're mostly forgotten by the model kit firms.

[quote="Matthew in TO"]I�m looking to build Mikasa as HMS Formidable in Victorian black, white and nuff. Before I purchase, do all these kits below include the lower fighting tops? These were removed from Mikasa by 1905, but remained on her half sister Formidable.

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/hasegawa-40061-mikasa-battle-yellow-sea--971218/timeline

40021 - Japanese Battleship IJN Mikasa "The Battle of the Japan Sea"
40061 - IJN Battleship Mikasa "The Battle of the Yellow Sea� ([color=#4040FF]the image shows fighting tops[/color])
40081 - IJN Battleship Mikasa "The Battle of the Japan Sea" w/Figure
40090 - The Battle of the Japan Sea 1905" IJN Battleship Mikasa with two Figures
52270 - IJN Battleship Mikasa 120th Anniversary of Launch[/quote]

The lower fighting tops are on sprue J, which was not in any of the other versions of the Hasegawa 1/350 other than the Yellow Sea kit. If you're trying to shop around because you're having a hard time finding the Yellow Sea kit, I've got good news: Hobby Search 1) has it in stock and 2) it's on steep sale: https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10045599

[quote="Timmy C"][url=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/78/Mikasa_12_inch_40_cal_gun_turret_right_elevation.jpg]This sectional view of the turret[/url] suggests they are vents - or at the very least, structurally integrated into the turret top. I don't think I've ever seen it portrayed as a separate colour other than as weathering or highlighting. They are not present on the museum ship today.[/quote]It�s the wide barbettes compared to the turret that always confuse me.

I�m looking to build Mikasa as HMS Formidable in Victorian black, white and buff. Before I purchase, do all these kits below include the lower fighting tops? These were removed from Mikasa by 1905, but remained on her half sister Formidable.

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/hasegawa-40061-mikasa-battle-yellow-sea--971218/timeline

40021 - Japanese Battleship IJN Mikasa "The Battle of the Japan Sea"
40061 - IJN Battleship Mikasa "The Battle of the Yellow Sea� ([color=#4040FF]the image shows fighting tops[/color])
40081 - IJN Battleship Mikasa "The Battle of the Japan Sea" w/Figure
40090 - The Battle of the Japan Sea 1905" IJN Battleship Mikasa with two Figures
52270 - IJN Battleship Mikasa 120th Anniversary of Launch

since you mention the decking..

look at this blog: http://blog.livedoor.jp/studio120/archives/8874652.html

it shows the original, and the current decking, quite a difference!

[img]https://www.kinenkan-mikasa.or.jp/en/images/jh_logo_03a.jpg[/img]

https://www.kinenkan-mikasa.or.jp/en/index.html

�Maintenance work completed, bridge and deck before reopening.� H.I.J.M.S. MIKASA

Note the typical colour of the deck slats:

[url=https://postimg.cc/mcmpsZN1][img]https://i.postimg.cc/gJWC3nxs/image.jpg[/img][/url]

[url=https://postimg.cc/FkLT3yt0][img]https://i.postimg.cc/ZnfXkHVs/image.jpg[/img][/url]

[url=https://postimg.cc/RWQbgLWR][img]https://i.postimg.cc/HkfDsSHf/image.jpg[/img][/url]

[url=https://postimg.cc/tZ7SC02S][img]https://i.postimg.cc/PxQByTZj/image.jpg[/img][/url]

found this japanese blog...

seems like the current kits will need a LOT of correction, especially amidships.

http://blog.livedoor.jp/studio120/

Has anybody ever done the correct ventilators etc?

http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/posting.php?mode=quote&f=59&p=1044668

[quote="J�lle"]Next, onto the portholes. Some of them have grids and I had to find out exactly which ones are true.
The grid would only have had a right to exist at the height of the anchors. On this ship, the anchors were pulled back on board with the davits and an anchor could have hit the hull or the porthole. In addition, the anchor chains ran past the portholes.
So I looked at everything I had in detail again.

The fact is that during active service, here in 1921, the front portholes were barred. You can see this in the following and best quality picture of the ship that I have. It was taken in Vladivostok in 1921.

[url=https://postimages.org/][img]https://i.postimg.cc/sXKcQHmJ/file.jpg[/img][/url]

Here the section is enlarged. So there were bars, but you can�t really tell whether all the lower portholes on the bow were barred.

[url=https://postimages.org/][img]https://i.postimg.cc/65PMfSXj/file.jpg[/img][/url]

Then this picture of the stern, also taken in Vladivostok in 1921. So quite late in their active service. She was in this dry dock for repairs.


[url=https://postimages.org/][img]https://i.postimg.cc/5tBp12FT/file.jpg[/img][/url]

Here the enlarged and brightened section shows that there were definitely no grilles in front of the portholes at the rear.

[url=https://postimages.org/][img]https://i.postimg.cc/fR0B2KWw/file.jpg[/img][/url]

So the question arises as to where this protective measure went. The anchor area would be logical. I found the solution in the following picture.

[url=https://postimages.org/][img]https://i.postimg.cc/vBGhmwrB/file.jpg[/img][/url]

The white arrow points to the same porthole in both photos. You can clearly see here that the portholes were protected with grilles right up to the anchor storage areas.

[url=https://postimages.org/][img]https://i.postimg.cc/R05GjHqw/file.jpg[/img][/url]

[/quote]

Hi, first poster here!
A friend inspired me to get the Hase 1/350 Mikasa.
I have been reading up on it, and I have some questions...
I read that during/after Port Arthur/ Yellow Sea the Japanese big ships were rotated for refits.
Is there a site where I can read what was done on Mikasa?
Any pics of after?
The reason for my question has to do with the finish.
Was she repainted? (Wholly or partially?)

This thread is excellent btw, just a shame soo many of the pictures have gone awol.

Thanks for posting the photos and history. I visited the Mikasa many times when I was homeported in Yokosuka.

Phil

Thanks Timmy! :thumbs_up_1:

Incredibly cool find, Pascal, thanks for sharing!

But regarding

[quote]Mikasa is written in Japanese: ?[/quote]

Mikasa is actually two characters: ??. "Mi" is one of the pronunciations for ?, which means "3". The whole name "Mikasa" refers to a small mountain range with three peaks shaped like traditional Japanese bamboo hats, where "kasa" is the term for such hats.

I did some research this morning, in Japanese thanks to the translator. This country is a world apart, even for Google.

I came across this other Japanese blog about Mikasa containing some interesting information, including a link to a photo booklet on the Imperial Household Archives website.

http://blog.livedoor.jp/studio120/archives/9902646.html

This photo album, of very good quality for its time, concerns the refloating of the Mikasa only.

It would make a nice diorama.

I had a bit of trouble finding the archive at first. Mikasa is written in Japanese: ?

This ideogram looks like a ship's hull from the front, or so it seems.

To my knowledge, this photo album is not directly available on the Internet.

If you do a Google lens search, you come up empty.

The Imperial House website in question:

https://shoryobu.kunaicho.go.jp/Search?keyword=%E7%AC%A0

Here's the direct address of the album archive, you can download the images directly by clicking on [url=https://postimages.org/][img]https://i.postimg.cc/154dFM3n/Capture-d-e-cran-2024-10-12-a-12-48-56.jpg[/img][/url] .
The site is slow and the HD images from the scanner are quite heavy, but this allows you to see all the details by zooming in. I think there are about 50 very beautiful photos. This was a pharaonic project.

A wooden caisson was used to partially waterproof the ship on the main deck, a technical feat!

https://shoryobu.kunaicho.go.jp/Kobunsho/Viewer/4000551420000/40091af8216c439492944d4845376763

You can download the HD photos via this link, valid for 3 days, which will save you an hour's download time...

https://we.tl/t-Kl7YGYeQUh

Difference in quality between the image published on the Internet and the one in the subject's album:

[img]https://static.ow.ly/photos/original/cb3Lx.jpg[/img]

I reworked the HD file of the album:

[url=https://postimg.cc/CZNNp5D7][img]https://i.postimg.cc/JnwdJBzf/95cecfbd6d29401590ec851cfa572a4a221.jpg[/img][/url]

A lower quality view of this album:

[url=https://postimg.cc/68zhvFPp][img]https://i.postimg.cc/MGJ3hSbV/7a5c1fca1b6d41fb954878b752cf4b23.jpg[/img][/url]

Probably the photo used for the Hasagawa box in the artwork:

[url=https://postimg.cc/3yd2DNpt][img]https://i.postimg.cc/PqMy98qn/f3cca76634704629ab622e60667ae0e1.jpg[/img][/url]

[url=https://postimg.cc/5HRqPLbc][img]https://i.postimg.cc/mDbXgynr/07664a2e4cea4c1f907b49d02b222fde.jpg[/img][/url]

[url=https://postimg.cc/N928ZFjK][img]https://i.postimg.cc/JnPTDBw5/23799261a19a4c32b3e36e9809c45940.jpg[/img][/url]

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