Calling all IJN Kuma-class (球磨), Nagara-class (長良) & Sendai-class (川内) fans

[Mac]

I have a couple Tamiya 1/700 IJN 5500 ton light cruisers. I plan to do Nagara in her Midway fit. Unfortunately the Tamiya Nagara kit is for late war, so I also had to buy a Kinu kit.

I've found that I have to use most of the Kinu kit, but use some of the bridge parts from the Nagara kit. I don't know if these are the type of ships you have in mind for this thread, but they do have 3 funnels.

Mac

(Kits and galleries added October 8, 2020. Updated April 22, 2021)

1/700 kits

First Generation - Fujimi issued

Nagara 1941 WL.C055, released 1972, reissued 1992 as SWM-08, item #410555, reissued 2013 as SWM (EX)-102
Isuzu 1944 WL.C060, released 1972, reissued 1992 as SWM-09, item #410609,
Natori 1941 WL.C065, released 1972, reissued 1992 as SWM-10, item #410654, reissued 2013 as SWM (EX)-101
Kinu 1941 WL.C068, released 1972, reissued 1992 as SWM-11, item #410685, reissued 2013 as SWM (EX)-103
Jintsu 1941 Item # 41078, SWM-12 released 1992, reissued 2013 as SWM (EX)-104
Naka 1941 Item # 41087, SWM-33, released 1992, reissued 2013 as SWM (EX)-105

Second Generation � Tamiya Issued

Kuma 1941-42 Item# 77080, WLCO 80, originally released 1973; Item# 31316, WL# 316, re-released 1994
Tama 1942 Item# 77084, WLCO 84, originally released 1973; Item# 31317, WL# 317, re-released 1994
Kiso 1941-42 Item# 77104, WL# 204, released 1983, Item #31318, WL# 318, re-released 1994
Natori 1941 Item #31320, WL#320, released 1992
Kinu 1941 Item #31321, WL#321, released 1992
Nagara 1942 Item #31322, WL#322, released 1993
Isuzu 1944 Item #31323, WL#323, released 1993
Abukuma 1941-42 Item #31349, WL# 349, released November, 2007

Third Generation � Fujimi issued

Isuzu 1944 Item #410647, SWM (EX)-58, AA cruiser with two hulls for 1944 & 1945 fits, released January 2012
Isuzu 1944 Item #430478, SWM (EX)-SP29, AA cruiser with two hulls for 1944 & 1945 fits, photoetch fret, released January 2014
Kitakami 1945 Item #431426, SWM (EX)-85, 1945 kaiten carrier version , released August, 2014
Kitakami 1945 Item #430782, SWM (EX)-SP42, 1945 kaiten carrier version with photo etch fret, released January, 2015
Isuzu 1944 Item #432229, SWM (EX)-58 EX-1, AA cruiser with one hull, special photo etch set, released January September, 2018
Kitakami 1945 Item #432663, SWM (EX)-85, EX-1, 1945 kaiten carrier version with photo etch fret, 2-piece 25mm AA, released August, 2019
Isuzu 1944 Item #432854, SWM (EX)-58, EX-101, 1945 AA cruiser with one hull, special photo etch set, 2-piece 25mm AA, released January, 2020
Tama 1944 Item #460710, Fune NEXT No.18, snap-together version, released February, 2020
Kuma 1942 Item #460703, Fune NEXT No. 17, snap together version, released March, 2020



1/700 galleries

Isuzu 1944 (original Fujimi) by Mark Kendrick http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm
Tama 1942 (Tamiya) by Dan Hartwell http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm
Tama 1942 (Tamiya) by Alec Cap http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm
Sendai 1942 (Fujimi) by Gus Villanueva http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html
Tama winter 1942, (Tamiya) by Anthony Kochevar: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html
Abukuma 1941 (Tamiya) by Michael Wain: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html
Isuzu 1944 (Tamiya) by Martin Quinn: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html
Nagara 1944 (Tamiya) by Alec Cap: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html
Kitakami 1945 (scratch-build) by Anthony Kochevar: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html
Abukuma 1941 (Tamiya) by Jeff Lin: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html
Naka 1941-42 (Fujimi) by Erick Navas: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html
Natori 1941 (Tamiya) by Alec Cap: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html
Kiso 1942 by Jim Anderson: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm



1/350 kits

Aoshima issued

Nagara 1942 Item # 044193, released July, 2009
Kuma 1941-42 Item # 044216, released October, 2009
Kinu 1942 Item # 044209, released December, 2009
Tama 1942 or 1944 Item # 044223, contains alternate parts for either fit, released July 2010
Isuzu 1944 Item # 002872, anti-aircraft cruiser fit, released November, 2012


1/350 Galleries

Nagara 1942 (A) by Bobby AbuDhabi: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm
Tama 1942 (A) by Jeff Lin: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm
Nagara, June 1942 by Gabriel Djinn: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm
Nagara 1942 by Paolo Lucci: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm
Isuzu 1944 by Peter Van Buren: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm
Nagara 1942 by Robert Apfelzweig: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm
Kinu 1942 by Veniamin Litvin: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html
Nagara 1942 by Kim Knight: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html


Other Galleries

1/200 Sendai (early war fit, paper model) by Thomas Kl�nemann: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm

[Pieter]

I did a Tamiya 1/700 Tama a few years ago as a quick diversion from my Seals Hashidate. Only added GMM railings and a catapult from the GMM IJN Auxiliaries set. It was finished in two weeks I think, something like 10 hrs work.

[Gone Asiatic]

An assortment of cool IJN cruiser pics:










Some good close detail shots in some of these pics.

[JH]

Some very useful pics which I will proberly need in the near future.
Whats the source for these?

JH

[Filipe Ramires]

Greetings all

I thought it would be a good idea to open a topic on the IJN CL's and taking into account that I have a doubt here regarding Tama I guess it's opportune to start it.
Anyway I am putting back my modelling attention again on this particular cruiser and after taking a look on 3 different types of plans of her I've come aware of a less common feature present on the cruiser. I am speaking in the salut guns apparently positioned immediately behing the 5.5" guns on the sides of the bridge. These salut guns are apparently the so called 47mm Yamanouchi guns and all 3 plans of the cruiser (Morskie, History of Japanese Cruisers, Model Art 13) show either 1 or 2 of those guns present on the ship at least until 1941-1942. Since photos of the cruiser haven't been of much help and since all plans present a different thing I was wondering if any of the fellow shipmodelers around could shed some light on the subject?
Of course given the title of the post you can as well post stuff regarding IJN CL's.
Best regards,

Filipe

[Avery Boyer]

I need good photos of Jintsu in 1942. Particularly the main guns of her class, the ones on the kit I have are lacking in detail. Does the Tom's Modelworks PE (1/700) cover this class? Thanks.

[Filipe Ramires]

Avery, the 5.5" guns and mounts were the same used on the others 5500 IJN CL's...it should be easy to find some good stuff online of them. Take a look to this link:

http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNJAP_55-50_3ns.htm

Regarding photo-etch I am using for Tama sets from GMM; WEM; Eduard; Lion Roar and Voyager. Not very familiar with Tom's products.

[Avery Boyer]

Thanks for the link! Exactly what I was looking for! The Tom's set looks nice, I'll end up going with it no matter what, but I was wondering if it has specific parts for my class

[Quincy]

I'd like to join in this subject but, all my stuff is packed away.
At the time I was doing alot of the 3 and 4 stackers.





Bob Pink.

[Mike in Edmonton]

Filipe:

Have you seen this gentleman's build of Tama? His site in general is very good.

http://homepage2.nifty.com/vanguard/intro/main2.htm

Thanks,

Mike in Edmonton

[Filipe Ramires]

Cheers Mike, I was aware already of this site...very useful indeed. A good build he made with Tama though no signs of the saluting guns but pretty much gives me a few more tips for my model.

[Dan K]

If possible, try to pick up a copy of Gakken #32 on the 5500 tonners. THere's an excellent 1/150 model of Tama, with those saluting guns

[Filipe Ramires]

Thanks Dan, will try to take a look on that!!!

[archiane]

Gakken #32 is unfortunatly out of print
And this one, I would give anything to gain it

[Laurence Batchelor]

Also Maru Pictorial Special No.40 is on the Kuma Class.

[DanCinSD]

Looking for help! I am going to build the Tamiya, 1/700 IJN Kuma. I have looked in the Lacroix and wells book on Japanese cruisers and see for the time I want (1942) that her deck was extended almost to mount 7, this book shows it extending aft and to starboard..... I also have the new Model Art ships #29, and it shows this same deck extended aft and to port...... which is correct???
Another question..... did the 25mm twin and/or triple mounts used on the 5,500 tonners use gun shields, tub, or both?? I can't decide looking at the few pictures that I have access to.
Thanks for any help

[peppe]

it is a foto of the kuma with the deck looking like extended on starboard side
ciao peppe

[Gilbert]

Looking for help! I am going to build the Tamiya, 1/700 IJN Kuma. I have looked in the Lacroix and wells book on Japanese cruisers and see for the time I want (1942) that her deck was extended almost to mount 7, this book shows it extending aft and to starboard..... I also have the new Model Art ships #29, and it shows this same deck extended aft and to port...... which is correct???
Another question..... did the 25mm twin and/or triple mounts used on the 5,500 tonners use gun shields, tub, or both?? I can't decide looking at the few pictures that I have access to.
Thanks for any help

Hi Dan,

I have as well Model Art #29. If you look at the drawings related to Kuma as in 1941, p.32 and to Kuma as in 1944, p.33, it seems quite clear to me that her deck, after refit, has been extended aft and to starboard. Additionnally, Tama, from the same class is being depicted as in 1944, with the same accomodation. You can clearly see it on p.52.

Regarding the light AA on IJN light cruisers, usually those placed on deck had no tub or shield. Sand bags were added for splinter protection.

cheers

Gilbert

[Dan K]

No, no, no, it's to her port side. Easier to see in this colorized version

[Gilbert]

No, no, no, it's to her port side. Easier to see in this colorized version

Hi Dan,

, I stand corrected. You are absolutely right. I have checked on my "Lacroix and Wells Japanese cruisers of the second WW" and you have on p.190 Kuma's drawing showing clearly the aft deck extension on the port side. On the other hand, Tama's aft deck extension is being confirmed on the starboard side according to the drawing on p.197.

Question for you : why is there such a difference for two ships of the same class ?

cheers

Gilbert