I have a few questions of my own to add to this thread, as I'm now building an IJN sub, though a rather small one - specifically Fine Mold's 1/72 IJN midget sub, the Sydney Harbour attack version. The kit's detail is excellent, as is the fit of the parts, so there is not a lot of extra work needed (other than rigging the aerial wires) but I still have a few questions:
I don't have any books covering the subject, so did some searching on the web; there are quite a few websites with information on IJN midget subs, including photos of the preserved example at the Australian War Memorial museum -
http://www.pacificwrecks.com/ships/subs ... b-m22.html and
http://www.combinedfleet.com/Sydney.htm . However, none of the photos I found answered my questions:
- The "conning tower" has a round crew access hatch at the top. Did this have a handwheel, grab handle or similar on the outside? None is represented on the kit part. (I found an archive photo of a sub with an opened hatch, clearly showing a handwheel on the inside. But I haven't managed to find any clear photos of the other side of the hatch!)
- The props of the preserved sub are painted black, like the rest of the hull. Is this accurate for its original appearance, or was it repainted for museum display? (The kit instructions specify brass/gold paint, as usual for props)
- There appear to be two small chains connecting the torpedo tube covers (
photo 1 and
2) along with two small "grab handles" on each cover - are these original, and are there any photos showing this area more clearly? Some of the fittings in this area on the AWM's sub also appear to have an unpainted bronze appearance, which I assume isn't original.