Convert 1/200 Nichimo Yamato to 1945

[Guest]

Hi,

Anyone knows how to convert a 1/200 Nichimo Yamato to 1945 stage?

Thanks

[bucketfoot-al]

Hi,

Anyone knows how to convert a 1/200 Nichimo Yamato to 1945 stage?

Thanks

Well (since I am in the middle of doing just that - I just finished resin-casting the extra .25 cal deck-edge turrets and their supports tonight as a matter of fact - first I made the moulds), I'd suggest getting Janusz Skulski's book and becoming familiar with the 1945 configuration (but even HIS diagram is out of date now as the ship actually carried even MORE .25cal guns than he shows, per the latest Japanese research).

The main difference is the number and position of the .25 cal guns. The 1945 configuration had 52 3-barrel .25 cals, PLUS 8 single-barrel .25 cals. Many of those were mounted on the deck and 4 on top of main turrets 2 & 3, and its important to get the shape of the 'shield' or walls surrounding each machine gun nest correct - they were not round - the ones on top of the main batteries were hexagonal, the ones on deck were half-octagonal (sort of) and the two built over the stern may have been complete octagons (don't hold me to this because I am speaking off the cuff - I'd have to dig out the photos to remind myself).

If you send me your email address I'll email you the latest diagrams showing the position of the guns.....feel free to ask any other questions....

[bucketfoot-al]

Hi,

Anyone knows how to convert a 1/200 Nichimo Yamato to 1945 stage?

Thanks

Of course, as I alluded above, 'converting' means casting the extra turrets, getting extra .25 cal guns (I'd recommend replacing ALL the guns that came with the kit with GPM metal barrels - including the .25 cals) - you also have to be able to make - using Evergreen or Plastistruct plastic strips, flat pieces, etc. the 'guards' around each .25 cal nest, as well as building the double nest erected over the stern.

You also should re-sculpt the front half of the fire-control station on top of the superstructure into a semi-circle using putty, and open up the hole in the rear deck - it was NOT an elevator, but a permanent hole in the deck from where the big crane pulled the planes out of prior to their being catapulted into the air.

Finally I'd recommend getting both of the GMM photo-etch sets. Sure, between the photo-etch sets and all new GPM metal barrels you'll be out another $300 or so, but if you want to do it right there is no substitute. The mould-making rubber and resin for casting the extra turrets will add another $40 or so to the total.

Basically you'd better be sure of your ability to build things up from scratch before you get serious tackling this type of re-sculpting job. If you've never customized any model kits I'd HIGHLY recommend working on a few smaller cheaper models just til you get the 'hang of it'.....

Sound like a lot of work? You betcha. The longest project I've embarked on, I've put at least an average of 3-4 hours a DAY into it since May 1, and won't be done before year's end at the earliest....life interferes so you go through stretches when you can't find time to work on it....so it all depends on whether you're a singleminded batchelor or if you have responsibilities to a lot of other folks as to how fast it goes.....

[Guest]

Thanks mate.

Check this page out

http://www.geocities.jp/dancyou3/yamato0.html

[Guest]

The mould-making rubber and resin for casting the extra turrets will add another $40 or so to the total.

Where can we get the mould-making rubber and resin? Sound interesting. Feel like trying. I think we might be able to buy extra turrets from Nichimo.

[bucketfoot-al]

Thanks mate.

Check this page out

http://www.geocities.jp/dancyou3/yamato0.html

That Japanese dude is SICK. Mine won't be 1/10th as awesome looking as his, but it will have its own unique features. He stuck to the 1944 configuration - a shame.

I love the fact that he fixed the main mast as well as that he added the airplane doors to the interior of the hold - I had not seen those before and now I will add them to my ship as well.

I also love his 'waterline' display. I have toyed with the idea of doing one once the ship is finished - its too bad I can't read Japanese but the photos will be a great help.

One pet peeve I have is the excessive weathering that modelers put on the Yamato. I understand their desire for 'realism' but the fact is that, as the flagship of the fleet, the Yamato was painted up and down each time she made port in Kure. Heck - just look at the fact that the entire deck was a different color each time she went out (compare the darker 1944 deck with the lighter 1945 one).

I believe that she went down as pristine as she had been when she first sailed in 1941...

BTW, check out my re-sculpt of the main turrets (nothing added yet, photoetch will come last...)

http://bucketfoot-al.tripod.com/DinoMod ... t?i=83&s=1

[bucketfoot-al]

Where can we get the mould-making rubber and resin? Sound interesting. Feel like trying. I think we might be able to buy extra turrets from Nichimo.

Just Google "Allumilite" and you should come up with a bunch of places that sell the $50 complete start-up kit - more than you'll ever need for such a small project....

[JIM BAUMANN]

Most excellent as that model is--and I really like the waterline display-- ...


I cannot help feeling the contrast between individual deck planks is too strong-- real decks do look--as far as I can ascertain-more homogenized in appearance!

just my tuppence worth...

Jim Baumann

[bucketfoot-al]

Most excellent as that model is--and I really like the waterline display-- ...


I cannot help feeling the contrast between individual deck planks is too strong-- real decks do look--as far as I can ascertain-more homogenized in appearance!

just my tuppence worth...

Jim Baumann

Got to agree with you there Jim. But otherwise that Japanese fellow is "sick" as the saying goes. The level of detail he added is simply amazing.

My in-progress Yamato will have some unique features not seen elsewhere (for example, the crane will be pulling a folded-wing Zero out of the hole in the deck, and the custom metal trolley rails have been altered on deck and underneath to match the most recent research - and you already know about my modifying the main turrets - they look better from above and from in front, but are a little too smooth from the side) but just the same it won't be in the same universe in terms of the quality of construction or paint job as this fellow's - or any of your fine ships for that matter. Still, I'm aiming for a family heirloom. It will be FINE for that role....

[Guest]

This is a link to some Jap research on Yamato deck color.

Summary:
Original color brown.
Turned Grey after a few months
Painted black during an operation
Turned Grey before final mission

http://watakan.world.coocan.jp/eng/yamato/index.html