The Ship Model Forum

At one point, Eduard had sets for the CL version, but these may be OOP.

The MK1 Design set for Mogami is probably the most cost effective Mogami set to use.

I thought that might the case, already have that set.

Well, FedEx just delivered the WEM Mogami PE that I ordered for Mogami, and it has details for all 3 versions. So between the Mk1 set, and the WEM set, Mikuma is covered.

That's good. What does the WEM set provide that the MK1 does not?

PE for the triple turrets, and the early turret antenna masts. I was thinking that I would need to get a Yamato set for the turret pe. And early mainmast parts.

Good to know. Thx.

Hi,

I am currently working on Tamiya's 1/350 Mikuma Light Cruiser and I have already built up most of the hull and superstructure subassemblies. However, I am now contemplating on converting her to her heavy cruiser version. I have the complete sprues of the Tamiya 1/350 Aircraft Cruiser Mogami Kit that has been a victim of recent flooding and I plan to use her 8 inch guns for the conversion. The Mogami mast sprues also have a tub-like structure that probably represents the torpedo control station. My question is, aside from replacing the guns and possibly adding the tub-like torpedo control station to the mast, are there any other changes that I have to do to the kit? I am not very particular with the period, as long as it is at the time when she had the bigger guns and least number of modifications so as to suit my novice modelling skills LOL. Thanks in advance.


Aldo

The only things that come to mind are the addition of windscreens to the bridge (see the Mogami CA pic), and a couple of Aichi E13A seaplanes. If it is a wartime fit, you will also need to add a degaussing cable.

Thank you very much for this info Dan, forgive my ignorance of nautical terms, I'd like to clarify if windscreens are the same as wind baffles? If yes, I think they come as parts R20 on the Mogami sprue and maybe I could adapt them to fit on my Mikuma's bridge (?) Thanks.

PS: Apologies, I can't seem to attach pictures, still working on retrieving my account access after my 10-year hiatus.

The things that extend forward of the superstructure below the bridge are "venturis." They capture air blowing against the superstructure and deflect it upward. The rising air mixes with air coming over the bulwarks and deflects it upward, forming an invisible "wind screen." It really works! I have been standing on the open bridge in rain squalls and the rising air from the venturis deflected the rain over me.

Phil

_________________
A collision at sea will ruin your entire day. Aristotle

Different navies refer to it differently. Venturi is actually the wind effect. Windscreen or wind baffles also works.

The important thing here is that only the lower baffles were added by Midway, and the top of the bridge had not yet been transformed into an AA command position. IIRC, the L&W IJN cruiser bible does not point at that baffles were added before Midway, yet the photos clearly bear this out.

Thanks for the explanations, Dan and Phil, much appreciated.

Dan thank you very much for that picture, I was about to ask the same exact question: I plan to replicate Mikuma in her 1942 fit when she was sunk and wanted to ask whether she should be represented as in Picture A in the link below (Fujimi's 1/700 version of Mikuma 1942) with wind baffles both below and above the bridge windows and presence of numerous binoculars on the topmost level of the bridge, or picture B where the wind baffles are only present below the bridge windows and the topmost level of the bridge doesn't have any binoculars. Based on the picture you have shown and another Midway picture of Mikuma as posted below, I think it's safer to copy picture B for a 1942 fit. Many thanks again for the help.




https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FIJFIAF7-3ktwmjzgc8EqUQCcbQDeR-O/view?usp=sharing

My pleasure. Choice B for certain.

Were the larger lower baffles added to all 4 by Midway? L&W is indeed missing this detail. But in that case, why do the Tamiya 1/350 kit and Fujimi 1/700 kits that claim to be in 1942 fit have the upper air defence platform with its own baffles when L&W clearly state these weren't added until April 1943 and the pictures support this?

Outside of Mikuma, no photo of their respective bridges exist for mid 1942. According to their TROMS, all four CruDiv 7 sisters were at Kure for drydocking and hull cleaning in the last week of April through Mid May 1942. This seems the mostly likely time for an installation.



Erroneous data and/or extrapolations.

I guess just a kit blooper then, although Fujimi are usually quite well researched.

What's your take on this picture by the way? I was told this is Kumano at Rabaul in December 1942. To my eye it looks like the air defense platform might already be there? As the ship is silhouetted the roof of the compass bridge looks quite thick.

Hi. With regards to Tamiya's Mogami, incidentally, the picture B that I showed is from a demo shot of their assembled 1/350 Mogami kit in her 1942 heavy cruiser fit (link below). It appears that they got the demo sample right but made an error when making the instructions. It's easy to rectify this however, since the parts for the plain topmost platform without wind baffles is also present in the kit's L sprue... part L26 if IIRC.

https://www.tamiya.com/english/products/78023/index.html

Ooops, apologies, I sent the wrong link, this is the Tamiya demo model I was talking about, it has the baffles only below the bridge windows:

https://www.modelsport.co.uk/product/tamiya-1350-mogami-heavy-cruiser-with-guns-427391

https://www.modelsport.co.uk/_images/products/800/gallery_78023_05.jpg

Yes, it is Kumano at Rabaul in Dec, 1942, and yes, it certainly does seem like her foretop has been changed. She spent a week in drydock at Kure in November, 1942, so it is possible that some work was done. It may not be the entire AA command platform, but at the least the start of it, particularly the baffles.

Interesting, thanks for confirming I'm not seeing things. It seems Suzuya didn't have this drydocking, so Kumano would be the only one that (maybe) briefly had the upper baffles before addition of extra AA and radar.