Calling all IJN Furutaka-class (古鷹) fans

[MartinJQuinn]

This class is long overdue in 1/350 scale.

Also would like to see the early single gun turrets version in either 1/700 or 1/350.

[Atma]

Waiting for more in progress pictures for Dirk's IJN Aoba !

[blacman]

Dear Colleagues,

I have started working on IJN Kako built. Since I have some doubts in regards of midship section of Kako I would like to ask if anyone has better quality this picture:


or any other with midpart of IJN Kako/Furutaka.

I'm not sure about arrragement between funnels
Looks like it was one solid superstructure - but Hasegawa did in parts. The vents arragements also seems to be undiscovered for me
I found something like this:

which is very close to picture above. Could it be true in 1942?

and also stern superstructure is for me unclear:
that's from Hasegawa model:



and thats from Profile Morskie drawings:



Was it like this that Kako had laterally extended airdeck - like Hasegawa does ?

thanks for any help!
Greg

[Dan K]

Good questions. When Kako & Furutaka were built, the funnels were stand alone, as were the structures around them. When they were rebuilt, the additional AA platforms were supported by truss girders. All the new construction makes it seem like it was one piece but it's really covered sections.

Can't speak to the intake arrangements, but the drawings look reasonable.

The Profile Morski drawings are incorrect & Hasegawa has it basically correct. Mutsuo Uchiyama built the 1/100 Furutaka featured in Gakken #44. I believe him to be the leading Furutaka/Aoba class expert around these days. The pics on the proceeding page illustrate this area as well as any. No existing photo is really clear enough to document this particular area. One more view of this area from the 1/100 model, below. The a-c handling platform is assymetrical.

[blacman]

Thanks Dan
You are very helpful - like always!!
I found Gakken 44. It�s already on the way to me!
looks like Hasegawa stern superstructure to be OK. and mid section pretty much as well - but need to be rebuilt. C platform, searchlight tower and AA platforms.

Looking at the photos Dan delivered question raised up: What's the purpose of the boxes next to stern supestrc? It just part of transportation system as they are place on rails or storage for ... yes - for what?


As for now Kako is on my drawing desk only:


Best!
Greg

[Dan K]

Greg, I don't have a clue as to what those containers are for. I'll write Mr. Uchiyama sometime this week to see what he has to say about it.

Just fyi, the new PitRoad accessory set NE-03 comes with a pair of beautifully rendered 10cm mounts, if you want to save your self some trouble.

[Dan K]

Mr. Uchiyama was quick to respond:

"...you can safely say to him that those are target pontoons, there ouht to be more of them on portside, but I had to omit making �m then. FHI, the boat or barge,as unmanned, is to tow the barges, their (the pontoons) shape look kinda rafts though.
von foyage to yr acquaintance!

ps, if he�s gonna express her as of October 1941 before she got the funnel bands erased off, she was already with debaussing cable by the end of September the same year. To my astonishment I had noticed this after the model was made ha! "

HTH.

[blacman]

Thank you Dan!
Please send my kindest regards to Mr. Uchiyama! Looks like I'm on good track...
Looking forward to get gakken44 to design proper superstructures in mid and stern part.
According to plastic molded AA guns. I have designed the whole shape of it in brass. As I my design of 12,7 looks pretty OK I hope that single 12' Kako carried also should look quite good made from brass. I'm aiming to similar quality and detailing level to that:


We'll see.

According to the main gun. The turrets on Kako were Takao like ones?


Cheers !
Greg

[Dan K]

Yes, Model E1, IIRC.

[blacman]

Hi Dan!

I'm progressing with Kako... Almost all items have been drawn.
I cannot figure out the purpouse of these elevations in catapult area - just in between rails - red circle:



Does anyone have an idea what was it for?

cheers!
Greg

[Dan K]

I'll ask Mr. U. In the meantime, another view about what you were asking for previously.

[Dan K]

Mr. U (who prefers to be called Mucho) has a different take on this area:

"IMHO it can�t be in raised condition, as torps are to be washed in the area, which is called "Gyorai Senjyo-jyo"? ??????
the surface is cemented. oh yeah"

As to why the torps have to be washed is beyond me. Probably a service bay.

[blacman]

Thanks a lot!!!
That's highly valuable info for me
Computer desing almost finished. Now small adjustment based on new info and etching...
Greetings from Poland!
Greg

[Dick J]

As to why the torps have to be washed is beyond me. Probably a service bay.

I wonder if it was because they were afraid salt encrustation and corrosion might jam torpedoes in the tubes at critical moments. As we all know, the IJN relied heavily on the capability of those torpedoes.

[Dan K]

It could be, though one must note that there is no such facility on the DDs. Maybe they figured hosing them down was good enough? I'm also curious if the follow-on Aoba-Furutaka had them. I guess I'm gonna have to write mucho again.

[Mike C]

I would have guessed it's storage for spares and, given the vulnerability and volatile nature of the oxygen propulsion, they'd want to give them some sort of splinter or flash protection. Wasn't one of the major reasons for the loss of Mikuma because she was hit in her loaded torpedo storage after ignoring the example of Mogami who jettisoned their torpedoes prior to the air attack?

[Dan K]

There were several torpedo induced explosive losses. On this class, and on the succeeding Aoba/Furutaka, and the DDs, and the Aganos, all the reloads are in an enclosed bay. Might have been armored in the cruisers. I think this might hold true on all the other CAs as well.

[sirpaul]

It also might have something to do with the ships original design. The tubes were fixed and required room and a firm surface to move the torp's around.

[blacman]

Going through endless web resources I found very interesting movie. I guess it's Aoba, pre-war time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HM4Z4GubXKE&sns=em
Some details are really good visible!
Greg

[blacman]

.... she got the funnel bands erased off, she was already with debaussing cable by the end of September ....

Hi Dan,
Any idea where the cable was placed?
Was it just below the deck -as Takao type?
thank you
Greg