Calling all Akagi (赤城) and Kaga (加賀) fans

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Expand view Topic review: Calling all Akagi (赤城) and Kaga (加賀) fans

Re: Calling all Akagi (赤城) and Kaga (加賀) fans

by Quaestor » Sat Oct 17, 2026 7:58 am

Good answer and an exceptional photo, Dan.

Re: Calling all Akagi (赤城) and Kaga (加賀) fans

by Dan K » Fri Oct 16, 2026 2:24 pm

No hinomaru until Midway.

This photo was taken in April, 1942, during Operation C
Attachments
Akagi flight deck looking aft, takeoff.jpg

Re: Calling all Akagi (赤城) and Kaga (加賀) fans

by TZoli » Fri Oct 16, 2026 4:45 am

At pearl Harbour Akagi did not had the Hinomaru on the bow part of the flight deck, by Midway it had the Hinomaru with full white rectangle around it.
Now would she carry a Hinomaru by the Indian ocean raid or not, or a slightly modified one without the white rectangle?
Full rectangle:
Image
Without the rectangle:
Image

Re: Calling all Akagi (赤城) and Kaga (加賀) fans

by TZoli » Sun Oct 11, 2026 3:23 am

Thanks. So I can use the paint scheme of these carriers which was applied prior to Pearl Harbour.

Re: Calling all Akagi (赤城) and Kaga (加賀) fans

by Dan K » Sat Oct 10, 2026 10:06 am

Shokaku received her Type 21 radar and two additional triple 25mmAA at the bow and stern during repairs following damage at the Coral Sea. She probably did not receive additional 25mm mounts fore and aft the island until repairs following the Battle of Santa Cruz.

Zuikaku received the same AA upgrade at the bow and stern during a refit in the first two weeks of August 1942, but did not receive a Type 21 radar until the very end of December/early January 1943. This also probably when she gained 25mm AA mounts around the bridge.

Shokaku was always in gray paint. Zuikaku did not recieve camo until the late summer of 1944.

Re: Calling all Akagi (赤城) and Kaga (加賀) fans

by TZoli » Sat Oct 10, 2026 3:42 am

I see, so physically they are not different then when the war started. As for Shokakus it remains to be seen when they received the extra AA and radars. I presume then no paint change was applied as well?

Re: Calling all Akagi (赤城) and Kaga (加賀) fans

by steviecee » Fri Oct 09, 2026 6:44 pm

Looking thru the TROM's here https://www.combinedfleet.com/cvlist.htm they spent very little time in Kure or other ports that could make changes

Re: Calling all Akagi (赤城) and Kaga (加賀) fans

by Dan K » Thu Oct 08, 2026 8:52 pm

Best indications are that Kaga received the 3rd set of pillars before PH.

Back in 2011 (before the new tool Fujimi releases), a Japanese researcher ID'd those pillars on Kaga's bow enroute to PH.
Attachments
Kaga enroute to PH from film #1.jpg
Kaga enroute to PH from film #2.jpg

Re: Calling all Akagi (赤城) and Kaga (加賀) fans

by SeanF » Thu Oct 08, 2026 7:19 pm

TZoli wrote: Thu Oct 08, 2026 4:05 pm Navypedia states that the Shokakus got their Type 21 Air Search Radar as well as 4 triple 25mm guns in 1942, though it does not states which month was this done.
Well, considering Akagi and Kaga (and Hiryu and Soryu) didn't spend nearly as much time in home ports getting work done in early '42 as the Shokakus... then got whacked at Midway in mid '42, after which they were no longer around TO get work done...

Although Kaga DID get that third set of fore-deck braces added at some point... but was that before or after the Indian Ocean operation?

- Sean F.

Re: Calling all Akagi (赤城) and Kaga (加賀) fans

by TZoli » Thu Oct 08, 2026 4:05 pm

Navypedia states that the Shokakus got their Type 21 Air Search Radar as well as 4 triple 25mm guns in 1942, though it does not states which month was this done.

Re: Calling all Akagi (赤城) and Kaga (加賀) fans

by Dan K » Thu Oct 08, 2026 1:27 pm

There were no changes in fit for these ships between PH and Op C.

Re: Calling all Akagi (赤城) and Kaga (加賀) fans

by TZoli » Thu Oct 08, 2026 11:40 am

G-Opt wrote: Wed Oct 07, 2026 5:17 pm A valid question, but are you asking about upgrades to the ships? Or, changes in their air groups? or what?
What changes were made to the ships is the are I'm searching for.

Re: Calling all Akagi (赤城) and Kaga (加賀) fans

by G-Opt » Wed Oct 07, 2026 5:17 pm

A valid question, but are you asking about upgrades to the ships? Or, changes in their air groups? or what?

Re: Calling all Akagi (赤城) and Kaga (加賀) fans

by TZoli » Wed Oct 07, 2026 2:11 pm

I have a general question about the IJN carriers of Operation C / The Indian Ocean Raid. (IJN Akagi, Hiryu, Soryu, Shokaku, Zuikaku) were there any change compared to their early war / Pearl Harbour attack state?

Re: Calling all IJN Akagi (赤城) and Kaga (加賀) fans

by maurice de saxe » Sat Sep 28, 2024 5:47 pm

Dan,

Thank you - very helpful in seeking out what I need.

Maurice

Re: Calling all IJN Akagi (??) and Kaga (??) fans

by Dan K » Sat Sep 28, 2024 9:55 am

Not really for 1/700.

There were some good, kit specific PE sets out there for the Fujimi versions, and also (I think) for the new Hasegawa tooling. But, none of that really applied to the flight decks. For those, there are flight deck improvement sets from Shipyard Works, and from Tetra for the Akagi. Maybe some other brands as well.

Re: Calling all IJN Akagi (??) and Kaga (??) fans

by maurice de saxe » Fri Sep 27, 2024 8:53 pm

Tetra Model Works produces a very comprehensive (and expensive) upgrade set for Fujimi's 1:350-scale Kaga. Does anything similar exist from any producer for 1:700-scale models of Kaga (or Akagi, for that matter)?

Maurice

Re: Calling all IJN Akagi (??) and Kaga (??) fans

by Dan K » Tue Aug 27, 2024 1:22 pm

To be released shortly, Bunker Studios 1/350 3D printed Akagi Bridge: https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/11077576

This item was previewed at the 3D Wild table at this years IPMS Nationals in Madison, WI in July. It was an impressive piece.

Personally, I'm not sure that it's superior to the Hasegawa kit pieces outside of ease of assembly. I would think it a bit more fragile. But saving time can certainly be important.

Image via Hobby Search Japan
Attachments
11077576p.jpg

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