The Ship Model Forum

The rigging would be left in place, just relieved of its load (except temporary guide ropes that would be rigged up andd down as needed to control the boom when in use). The cargo booms could swing out to the side, there is a hinge thingy at the foot of the boom.

Some booms would be stored vertical against the mast, by the way, instead of horizontal. The purpose was the same - just lash it in place so that it's not in the way and has no risk of coming down.

This little document I found may be interesting:

https://maritime.org/doc/merchant/deck/part2.htm - basically part of a seamanship primer, it deals with cargo booms and their use among other things.

Thanks, Bouncy great link. Nothing too exciting, deck lights and life boat struts.

Deck lights

Lights that overlook life boats.
2018-10-29_07-39-44
Lights at the end of life boat gang plank.

2018-10-29_07-40-08
Life boat struts.

2018-10-29_07-41-26
Everything installed.... All parts are from the second detail set meant to go on the Hikawa Maru in prewar configuration. Whether they retained on the Sub Depot I don't know, but liked the detail and added them anyway.

Beautiful details. Never noticed those before.

Thanks Dan. Just a small update. Forgot the life boat hooks.

20181031_182331[5991]

20181031_200101[5992]
Hooks still need painted, but the should complete the mid section.

20181110_182027
Aft mast... Only mod was drilling out support beam holes and PE.

20181110_181731 by jking207, on Flickr
Profile shot.

20181111_152215
The aft deck remains pretty barren. Replaced the kits flag pole with stainless wire and plastic cap (looks like a 1/1 replica of a pin). The small crane must has been only used on the Sub Depots as there was no PE pulleys for it. Added an extra from the PE kit.

20181111_185538
And installed...

Phenomenal amount of intricate work. Doing a few of those would drive me insane!

Thanks Thom. Thought I'd toss up some prewar history and a few photos Dan was kind enough to send.

Seattle_StarHeadlineJan1938
Plot to sink the MV Hiye Maru in Elliott Bay fails on January 20, 1938.

http://www.historylink.org/File/7569
News link.

Hikawa Maru model by NYK 2013 return by jking207, on Flickr

Hiye Maru 1937 vancouver by jking207, on Flickr

Hiye Maru 1938 vancouver by jking207, on Flickr

Heian_Maru-1943
Heian Maru

20181112_153740[6351]
Better shot of the crane and pulleys. The pulleys are 4 folds think the hook is 2 folds the lines have no folds, so they are a pain to bent and sometime break at the folds.

20181112_163512[6350]
Two more cranes on.

20181113_152148 And Happy Days, the last of the cranes! Some in the front will have to be reworked a bit with the leftovers I have.

Another milestone reached!

Well yes and no. There was an accident.... I was struggling to unplug a heavy Ac Adaptor, stumbled, and basically threw it at the ship. Did some nice damage and some of the mangled PE can't be replaced.

20181116_195031
Was to be the of the end of the railing. Did pin wash on details then scrub with a tiny que tip down to the primer for some raised detail. Quit a lot of battle damage litters the ship.

20181116_195016
The front gun was found in the corner of the room. The railing was really damaged on it, so I tried to do a canvas with some white glue and paint and was wondering if it looked ok. Only did a fairly small section.

20181116_194843
Top bridge railing ruined and some details MIA after the disaster. Dan thought the funnel boot should be lowered, so I did a bit. Also trying the canvas on the search light tower. It has all been glued, but only a few sections painted yet.

Ouch. Having damaged plenty a build on process, I feel your pain.

The canvas covered railing will be fine, but, if at all possible, use some fine needle tweezers to straighten up as many vertical stanchions as possible. Just take your time. In fact , if you can come at them from above and clamp them flat while on the vertical axis, it would work.

Hiei Maru was near missed by a B-24 on Nov. 11, 1943 while in convoy. 31 KIA, many more wounded. So, you are historically accurate.