The Ship Model Forum

I was looking over Ebay's naval books today and saw that someone put up volume 1 Battleships and Volume 2 Crusiers together as a one bid item. Starting at $100. They look to be mint condition from the photos. Has anyone else ever seen the Fukui books "Japanese Naval Vessels Illustrated 1869-1945" go on auction before? I am interested to see what kind of bids come in!
There is also a volume of Warship 1996 I need for my collection, but it is already at almost $90!

Bob B.

Yes, they turn up on eBay occasionally. Normally they would sell for about $100 each. However, Fukui's 3 volumes have recently been matched by the 6 volume series published by Diamond Sha in association with the Kure Maritime Museum. These are still in print and much cheaper. Check them out at HLJ...

http://www.hlj.com/company/DIA/

Thanks for the link. Very nice books and resonable prices. Although if one already has the Fukui books, most of the photos would be repeats. But I did jump at the chance to order the Destroyer volume. Since Fukui never published his destroyer volume. Thanks again.

Bob B.

Fukui's 2 and 3 vol sets typically have more pics per vessel than those in the KMM series. But the KMM series images are unsurpassed. And yes, the DD book is invaluable as you have described.

I wonder if the KMM series has computer enhanced the original photos? I've seen old news reel film of warships and naval battles on tv that have be enhanced and what a difference! Many of the photos in the Fukui books have a lot of flaws and out of focus aspects to them. Computer enhancement could clean all that up.

Bob B.

As a new collector in IJN vessels both in model and now also books. I will be glad to see some prints or photo of the books - now I had read of the Fukuki books for a while and wonder if they are a scoop regarding pictures of IJN BB that has my interest in particular.
I'm now starting to collect the Diamond books also.
So if someone will share info about the books I will be glad.

Lars

_________________
Lars
IJN WWII ships rocks
visit my models at http://www.aeronautic.dk/Warships%201-700.htm

Hey Lars,
Have you never seen a copy of any of the Fukui photo albums? There were 4 published. Battleships, Crusiers and Aircraft Carriers. Then also a volume on Japanese Naval Vessels of the Pacific War, covering all classes of WWII Japanese Warships. They are quite old now being printed around 1980 or so. Up till now, they have been the best source of photographs of IJN ships. Large size and printed on quality paper. The Ebay books I mentioned above, never sold, not one bid came in. I wonder if he will re list them? I haven't seen the Diamond books, but am waiting for the Destroyer volume. Do you have the English language version of "Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy-1869-1945" by Hansgeorg Jentschura,Dieter Jung and Peter Mickel. Translated into english and published by the USNI press in 1977. A great reference book. And also "Japanese Warships of World War II" by A.J. Watts. a nice reference book. They both appear on ebay often and also a used book search will turn up some copies, if you don't already have them.
About photographs of Japanese naval vessels, most were destroyed at the end of WWII before US occupation of the country. So there are a very limited number of photos. You tend to see the same ones in any publication on the subject. Or else there are many poor quality photos taken by IJN crew members during the war that turned up in a large number of soft cover books on Japanese warships, printed in Japan. Not worth the price I think. The big Fukui albums were by far the best books around, up until the diamond books were published. The diamond books might be the best books now from what I understand. Might be a waste of money to buy Fukui's books now. Sad that there are so few photos in existence of Japan's warships.

Bob B.

Anybody wanting to see photos of the 3 Fukui books, and many many other IJN titles, should check out Ed Low's site:

Reference section top level:
http://www.ijn.dreamhost.com/Reference/Reference.htm

IJN Technical books, including the 3 Fukui books:
http://www.ijn.dreamhost.com/Reference/Reference%20-%20Technical%20.htm

Hi

No I have never seen a copy of the Fukui books. And now on several fora they were highly ranked by specialist in IJN. More and more I wondered if this was the ultimate choice of book for me, but if I'm willing to paid up to over 100$ per book in a language that I cannot even read, the pictures most be top quality. I know now how important it is to have the right reference materials on model building and it's also nice to have some fine book to enjoy when the building has a pause.
I have the German copy of "Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy-1869-1945" by Hansgeorg Jentschura,Dieter Jung and Peter Mickel.(at 50€)But on this copy there is no pictures whatsoever only moderate to good drawings (they are not all correct and will not do for reference on model building) and a accurate text. I have seen a cover pic. from the English copy here on the net. - Have the English copy pictures? and is the book in a bigger format?.
I have the copy of "Japanese Warships of World War II" by A.J. Watts. yes it's a "great" little book.
I was lucky to get all 3 copies of the "Conway's All the world Fighting ship for just under 130$ they are very good book's.
In the future I will try to get as many copies of the Gakken series, they are very good as reference on model building the IJN ships. But sometimes I regret that I first started my collection last year, because lots of the good ones is out of production now (may we all wish that they will be re release in English copies someday-I think there is a big marked for them!)
Now I wait for my first copy of the diamound book (battleship and battle cruisers) - if it stand up to my expectations ,I will order the rest in the near future.

Lars

_________________
Lars
IJN WWII ships rocks
visit my models at http://www.aeronautic.dk/Warships%201-700.htm

I have Fukui's 2 vol set (which includes DDs), the carrier and cruiser volumes from the 3 volume set, and the new, full set of 6 KMM books. Each offers something that the others don't, be it photo clarity and size, coverage, or whatever. If you can afford it, get the BB book, you wont be disappointed.

For those who can't afford it, the KMM set is an excellent foundation upon which to build a collection.

I got my 3 Japanese Naval Vessels Illustrated 1869-1945 through eBay from a Japanese seller.
It was 3 years ago and I paid £60each and mine were mint and perfect condition with each in their individual slip-cases, can't remember the shipping though I went surfacemail to keep the costs down

I want whatever is out their on Japanese Destroyers, can anyone point me to what is the best book? A photo of one would be great if possible please!

I got my 3 Japanese Naval Vessels Illustrated 1869-1945 through eBay from a Japanese seller.
It was 3 years ago and I paid £60each and mine were mint and perfect condition with each in their individual slip-cases, can't remember the shipping though I went surfacemail to keep the costs down

I want whatever is out their on Japanese Destroyers, can anyone point me to what is the best book? A photo of one would be great if possible please! [/quote]

It depends on what particular angle you are after. Pics of ships/ detail drawings/class analysis etc.

The above is not available in one publication unfortunately, but as you have already discovered, a lot of OOP books are available from Amazon.com in Japan if you can get a Japan resident to buy them for you as they will not deal with 'foreign' buyers.

I managed to get several 'rare' books this way for bargain prices, and I mean "bargain" prices. Take 'The Hara Shoba book of plans of the Imperial Japanese navy' for instance. They sell from $250 and up on ebay. I got mine cheap enough to be able to give a copy away to a friend for services rendered, and I am surviving on a pension.

_________________
Art
NZBG
The world is but one country and mankind its citizens.

It depends on what particular angle you are after. Pics of ships/ detail drawings/class analysis etc.

The above is not available in one publication unfortunately, but as you have already discovered, a lot of OOP books are available from Amazon.com in Japan if you can get a Japan resident to buy them for you as they will not deal with 'foreign' buyers.

I managed to get several 'rare' books this way for bargain prices, and I mean "bargain" prices. Take 'The Hara Shoba book of plans of the Imperial Japanese navy' for instance. They sell from $250 and up on ebay. I got mine cheap enough to be able to give a copy away to a friend for services rendered, and I am surviving on a pension.[/quote]

Strange I've bought Japanese warship books and they delivered them to the uk???

On Japanese destroyers what has Fukui done?
I ask this as the 3 books I have leaves me covered well for carriers, battleships and cruisers but not their destroyers.
I know I have Fukui book Japanese warships at the end of the war and a few other Watts publications and a few others.
At Telford I'm going to examine and see what's in this recent mechanisms of Japanese destroyers book, forget the proper name, but whay else is there in English?

Laurence,

For photographs the best quality books currently available are the Diamond Sha / KMM series mentioned earlier. Volume 5 covers Japanese destroyers:

http://www.hlj.com/product/DIA95060

Kaijinsha (publishers of the monthly Ships of the World) produce a series of special editions with high quality photographs. Special Issue No.34 covers Japanese Destroyers:

http://www.hlj.com/product/KAS453

The Kojinsha photo file series has more photographs, plus some some technical information and drawings. Volumes 16 - 18 cover Japanese destroyers:

http://www.hlj.com/product/KJSWS16
http://www.hlj.com/product/KJSWS17
http://www.hlj.com/product/KJSWS18

The Kojinsha warship mechanisms series has drawings, photographs and technical information. These are not very extensive and are mainly useful for modellers. Volume 4 covers Japanese destroyers:

http://www.hlj.com/product/KJSGM04H

The Gakken series are among the best for photographs, technical information and drawings, but most (including all 4 Japanese destroyer volumes) have recently gone out of print:

http://www.hlj.com/product/GAKPW-18
http://www.hlj.com/product/GAKPW-19
http://www.hlj.com/product/GAKPW-23
http://www.hlj.com/product/GAKPW-43

The Grand Prix Shuppan warship mechanisms series were possibly the best for drawings, but the volume on Japanese destroyers is out of print:

http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/487687154X

The Fukui Shizuo Collection is a series of technical books about Japanese and world warships. Volume 5 covers Japanese destroyers:

http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/4769806116

Cheers, I need all of those then!

RN is the area I have the most on, then DKM, then IJN, then RM, then FRN in that order.

I seriously need to build up my IJN reference library!

How about the old "The Maru Specials" "Japanese Naval Vessels".

I sold a few of mine off a few years back, some had only very poor fotos like the one on Kagero class DDs.
But, I held on to my Number 21 because it had some amazing photos of Fubuki class DDs. Some action damage photos and a few close ups that would be a gold mine for model builders!

Published in 1978 Number 21 was one in a long series of Maru Specials. I saw and paged through all of them at Foyles in London back in the 1980s. I only bought a few on DDs because of the lack of quality photos and the fact that I had the Fukui books which had all the best pictures.

But Number 21 was and is amazing. There is so much detail seen close up that never appears on models built of these ships.

Sad so many of the above books are out of stock or print, But I ordered the Diamond book on DD's. It is on it's way right now

Much thanks for the links to buy these books

Bob B.

The 21-volume Kojinsha photo file series are essentially reprints of the Maru Specials in a smaller and more compact format.

The Diamond Sha book is verrry nice. It shows a few excellent close ups of a DD in drydock, plus a new pic of Shimakaze, conclusively proving she never landed her #2 turret.

Thanks for that information. I thought I remembered a reprint had been done on these books.
I do have the Grand Prix books on Japanese DDs and Aircraft Carriers.
A wealth of fine detail drawings and some internal layouts. A model builders dream Out of print already?


Bob B.

Actually the Maru Specials have been reprinted twice by Kojinsha. First in a 14-volume hardback series in 1989-1990, and again in the 21-volume paperback series in 1996-1998. Most of the hardback series are still on sale, though alas not the 2 destroyer volumes (10 & 11).

And yes, the 3 Grand Prix volumes on cruisers, destroyers and aircraft carriers are out of print already. The 2 battleships books are still on sale though.