The Ship Model Forum

I am currently working on the Skywave Akikaze kit. My dilemma is what was the Minekaze class' armament in the early parts of the war 1941-2? In the Model Art Battle of Midway issue there is the IJN Yukaze with no AA guns at all. All she carried was her main armament and 3 torpedo tubes.

Bob Pink.


Mutsuki class kits updated 4/24/2025 -DK

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Hasegawa issued, 1st Generation, 1972

Mutsuki 1941 - Item # 49416, kit # WL 416
Mikazuki as-built (1920s)- Item # 49417, kit # WL 417


Pit-Road (Skywave) issued , 2nd Generation

Mutsuki 1941 - Item # 11448, kit #W-69, released 2004
Minazuki 1941/1944 - Item # 11455, kit #W-70, options for early or late war fit, released 2004
Nagatsuki 1942/1943 - Item # 11691, kit #W-76,mid war fit, released 2004
Mutsuki 1941 with PE- Item # 37943, kit #W-69E, with small fret of photo etched parts, released October 2008
Nagatsuki 1943 with (2) PE Item # 40554, kit #W-76EP, with two small frets of photo etched parts, released May, 2010
Mutsuki/Kisaragi 1941 FH Item # 17716, kit # W-173, with full hull option and minisub, released April, 2015
Minazuki 1941/1944 – PE Item # 40585, kit # W-70EP, with brass barrels and small PE fret, released June ,2015
Kisaragi, October, 1941 - Item #54438, kit # W-41, with full hull option and minisub, released September, 2015
Yayoi, October, 1941 - Item #56906, kit # W-47, with full hull option and minisub, released July 2016
Mutsuki 1941 with PE+ Item # 68152, kit #W-173E, with small fret of photo etched parts and minisub, released June, 2022


Yamashita Hobby issued 2018, 3rd Generation

Mutsuki, 1941 - Item #20439, kit # NV11, released November, 2018
Mutsuki, 1942 with PE - Item #20484, kit # NV11SP, small PE fret (railings, davits, mainmast), released July, 2019
Fumizuki, 1943 - Item #20446, kit # NV12, mid-war AA and high-speed transport fit, released June, 2022
Mikazuki, 1943 - Item #20453, kit # NV13, mid-war AA and high-speed transport fit with reduced #2 funnel, released August, 2022
Satzuki, 1943 - Item #20590, kit # NV16, mid-war AA fit with both sets of TT mounts, released November, 2022
Yuzuki, 1944 - Item #20705, kit # NV17, late-war AA fit with one TT mount, paravanes/minesweeping subgroup, released December, 2022
Kikazuki, 1942 - Item #20712, kit # NV18, early war with two TT mounts, paravanes/minesweeping subgroup, released February, 2023

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A.B. & K Hobby Kits (Ukraine), Resin,

Mutsuki 1941 - Kit #35002 - posted on FB March, 2023, now HLJ and Hobbysearch Japan, released August, 2024

Triump Models

Mutsuki 1941 - Kit# TM35001WL, standard waterline version, resin hull, 3D printed parts, brass PE, released April, 2025
Kit# TM35001DXWL, deluxe waterline version, resin hull, 3D printed parts, brass PE, released April, 2025
Kit# TM35001DXFH, deluxe Full Hull version, resin hull, 3D printed parts, brass PE, released April, 2025



Galleries (begun 12/29/2020. Gonna take a while)

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Kamikaze class
Yunagi 1942 (Pit-road) by Vladimir Karen: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm

Mutsuki class
Nagatsuki pre-1935 (Hasegawa) with Rainbow comprehensive set by Michael Markiewicz: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm
Mutsuki 1941 (Pit-road) by Nanond Nopparat: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html
Mutsuki 1941 (Pit-road) by Marco Magrini: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html
Fumizuki pre-1935 (Hasegawa) with Rainbow comprehensive set by Bartosz.B : http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm

I forgot to add that surely at Midway the Yukaze must have had some single, double or triple 25 mm guns and depth charge racks / throwers.
The Akikaze kit has two versions. As built, or the alternate (doesn't state a year) with 2 single 25mm's on either side of the bridge wings. She still has minerails aft, no depth charges, retains all main armament and 3 torpedo tubes.




Bob Pink.

It's possible that she carried no AA as of Midway. Information is a bit thin but several of the Minikazes began the war without AA upgrades.

Sister Sawakaze, photo is noted as 1942 but, I don't have the source referenced. They may have had 7.7MG on the lower bridge wings.

Thank you Dan for the pic and the answer. Boy, they sure went naked as far as AA concerned during the beginning of the war. At least it will be an easy ship to build.




Bob Pink.

Finally fans of the Mutsuki class!
I'm currently trying to finish the hasegawa Mutsuki and really loved this boat. I'm thinking on buying the Gakken book of the Mutsuki with the intention to build a 1/200 ship of this class and wanted to ask to any of you who own the book if it have plans of any of the class. I really can't find any on-line source to buy them.

Martin

Let me check. There are plans in the Hara Shobo book, but that one is very hard to find.

The Gakken volume does have a two page pullout with an overhead, side & exposed plan view of Mikazuki, March 1941. There are also 7 frame views, but not numbered, of Nagatsuki in 1935. Plus the very nice illustration of Satsuki 1944. Maybe you should build two versions

Thank you for that info! I have the little Mutsuki on the fridge for like 6 months now, added tom's photo etch, some scratch and replaced the main guns with the pit-road ones. I'll post pics on the week of the progress. And I'll buy the Gakken book then. Anyone know if somebody makes 1/200 anti-skid plate? Or it would be easy to scratch?

Martin

I know of no such plating in 1/200. Several people scratchbuild in that scale so you might want to post that question on the scratchbuilding or tips & tricks categories.

Strictly for reference, from Ebay, modernized Yuzuki in Chinese waters. I believe she wears armor plating around her bridge.

Also for reference, esp. rigging, is the modernized Kamikaze class Yunagi, 1937. Colorized

It may be of interest that there is a 1/200 paper model of Mutsuki, edited by the polish producer Answer, and containing everything that's needed to scratchbuild this ship

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Thank you guys for all the info. I saw pics on the net of the papercraft Mutsuki but left me wondering because it has a triangular bridge. Anyway would be a good point to start. On another note, I ordered the Gakken's Mutsuki book so I'll wait till it arrives.

Martin

Triangular bridge = as built. Changing to a modernized bridge may not be that difficult to scratchbuild for a card model. FWIW.

Here's my Mutsuki so far, I'll wait to the book arrives for any new detailing/corrections. Suggestions are welcome too

Martin

Well, received the Gakken book and is awesome. Really sad I can't read a word of japanese. Now on the side of detailing my model it left me wondering... Every picture of the Mutsuki shows the bridge-sides cutted, while the Hasegawa model has the long or (I suppose) early version. On the Mutsuki class book, the only pics of ships with the long bridge-sides has the triangular bridge, but this model has it rounded. So I'm not sure if this model is really accurate. So sad i started detailing it instead of spend some money and buy the Pit-Road version. Well, I think I'll finish this baby anyway and come back to it in the future with the Pit-Road model.

Martin

Keep in mind that the Hasegawa model is about 30 years old, so there are several errors, and a mix of fits, molded in. For instance, the funnels should really extend down to the main deck. OTOH, the main guns are scaled very well (better than PitRoad), and the bowfrom is nice as well.

Does anybody here know what happened to that 16' giant scale "mutsuki" that was for sale a few years back in LA. The dealer said it was from Tora 3x but I seriously doubted it as no three stacked destroyers were shown in the movie.
It is the one found here...
http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/1 ... odel-movie
Thanks for looking,
HH

_________________
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http://www.modelwarshipcombat.com/
http://www.scrapcombatships.com/

I've no clue.

Hello everyone,

I wonder what would be the best kit to build 1/700 IJN Yunagi in her 1942 (Savo) fit? Pit-Road was selling Kamikaze, Hayate and Yunagi. There is a review of their Yunagi at http://www.modelwarships.com/reviews/ships/ijn/dd/yunagi-700-pr/yunagi.html. The back side of the box there shows both early and late versions of the Yunagi. However, the photo of the sprue and the copy of instructions seem to suggest that this kit contains only parts for the late-war version which replaced the backward and mid-ship 4,7“ guns with 2x25mm AA guns on differently shaped platforms (and also added another AA platform just in front of the bridge). I believe she received these mods in March 1943 (or perhaps January 1944) but not before.

Does anybody have an idea if the Kamikaze or Hayate kits (or any other) were more apropriate for Yunagi in 1942?
Also, any drawings of Yunagi in 1942 fit would be great. Thanks!