Calling all Akagi (赤城) and Kaga (加賀) fans

[ScottyB]

Is anyone aware of a kit of the IJN Kaga prior to her refit that brought the flight deck out further towards the bow? I'm sketching plans to built comparisons between the two. Thanks in advance!

[Filipe Ramires]

I believe Waveline haves both Kaga and Akagi in their original CV fits in 1/700 (resin).

[ScottBono]

I've seen several kits but, to date, none have the original ship immediately after conversion from a cruiser (with that pronounced bow jutting out way past the flight deck. Perhaps I'll end up 'refitting' the kit myself and then building the original kit to demonstrate the differences.

I deally the entire project is to display the pre-War Japanese ship types with those post 12/7/41 and then go to each phase of the Pacific Campaign - a lengthy project to be sure but one assuredly to keep me from hanging out on street corners for the next half-decade.

[Jose Chaica]

Which are the best written references on the Akagi ???
So far, I�ve not been much lucky...The only (good) book I found (and bought) was Futabasha�s 3D CG book... Are there any others out there ???
Thanks...

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[Dan K]

The Futubasha book is a very good book. THe only other dedicated volume is the Morskie Monograph #2.

Good coverage is avalaible in:

Gakken volumes #14 & the Perfect guide to IJN CVs
Kure Maritime Museum book on IJN CVs via Diamond-Sha
Kojinsha Mechanism book on IJN CVs
Model Art Ship Modeling Special #1
Model Graphix Navy Yard Special #2
Maru Special #2,55, 126 &127
THe various Fukui volumes.
Gran Prix Shuppan volume on IJN CVs

[craiglieberman]

Its by Osprey Publishing and its called "Imperial Japanese Navy Aircraft Carriers 1921-1945".

It features many never before seen photos of our favorite characters, along with high quality illustrations of flight deck camo for the Taiho/Shinanos, Zuiho, Chitose, Amagi and others.

It has side profile shots of the Akagi, Kaga, Hiryu, Soryu, SHokaku, Zuikaku.

The book was cheap, too, like $10.

Most of the pics of Kaga and Akagi are after her 1936 modernization though and I've not seen any pics of the original cruiser-to-carrier configurations anywhere.

[Dan K]

Original pics of Akagi and Kaga in their triple deck configuration are in the KMM, Fukui, Kojinsha, & Maru Special books. As are some pics of both in their just launched state.

Incidentally, if you go into the photo gallery/archives on this site (modelwarships.com), there are pics of Akagi in her original configuration.

[Dan K]

At some point, PitRoad's High Mold division released original configuration 1/700 kits in resin for both Akagi & Kaga. The kits are highly regarded and I believe come with appropriate aircraft.

[Boroboy2]

Hi Stephen,
My Akagi's, Shokaku's, Zuikaku's, Junyo's and Shinano's are still boxed Such a stock pile i will get around to building these in time!!! Alan

[Devin]

Its by Osprey Publishing and its called "Imperial Japanese Navy Aircraft Carriers 1921-1945".

How are the drawings and illustrations in the book? I have the US Navy Pre War Carriers book and to say that it has some accuracy issues is an understatement. Wrong dates, incorrect drawings (there are two drawings of CV-5 and one of them has the island a full level higher than the other drawing!). If the Japanese CV book is good, though, I'd pick it up.

-Devin

[ninjrk]

How are the drawings and illustrations in the book? I have the US Navy Pre War Carriers book and to say that it has some accuracy issues is an understatement. Wrong dates, incorrect drawings (there are two drawings of CV-5 and one of them has the island a full level higher than the other drawing!). If the Japanese CV book is good, though, I'd pick it up.

They seem kind of iffy. OTOH, I kind of like the book since it's sadly one of the best English language references on Japanese carriers and offer a decent intro to them. OTOH, it's pretty skimpy and there is a lot of interesting detail such as speed and elevator dimensions-imposed limitations on what A/C could be embarked on which carrier that aren't in there. It's a handy pocket reference but not much more in my eyes.

Matt

[Jose Chaica]

Does anybody know, exactly, how many aircraft (and of which type), did Akagi had on her flightdeck by the time she suffered the first hit, from US dive bombers, during the battle for Midway ???

Thanks...

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[Dan K]

Aside from possibly 3-4 CAP fighters, she had no aircraft on her decks during the last divebombing attack. THis appears true for Kaga and Soryu as well.

Suggest you read the just released book "Shattered Sword". Reexamines all the facts and myths that have arisen. Impeccably documented and researched and well written. A must have for any Midway buff.

[Jose Chaica]

Aside from possibly 3-4 CAP fighters, she had no aircraft on her decks during the last divebombing attack. THis appears true for Kaga and Soryu as well.

Suggest you read the just released book "Shattered Sword". Reexamines all the facts and myths that have arisen. Impeccably documented and researched and well written. A must have for any Midway buff.

Some confusion on this side....I said "1st hit", you replied " last dive bombing" ??? Didn�t she had A6M2 and B5N ready for take-off ???

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[Dan K]

Actually, Akagi probably received only 1 bomb hit, per Shattered Sword. At that time, her decks were clear of all aircraft, except possibly for 3-4 A6M2s for the CAP. This book make quite clear how erroneous many of the accepted conventions are about this attack.

[Jose Chaica]

Some more questions on the Akagi, and while I wait for "Shattered Sword" to arrive... . If someone knows the answers, please let me know... :

1) What aircraft types did she carried at Midway ??? Zeros, Kates and Vals ???
2) Was Akagi hull, an all-rivet construction hull ???
3) Was Akagi�s flight deck supports (by 1942) all weldeld, or were they riveted ???

That�s all for now....Thanks in advance !!!

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[craiglieberman]

I just finished it last night...I'll look it up in the charts again, but as I recall, she had no planes on her deck at the time of the dive bombing attack or indeed all morning, other than Zeroes she spotted and launched for CAP protection.

I'll get the count for you on the Zeroes, Kates and Vals she carried overall at lunchtime when I go home.

I believe these were the only aircraft she carried.

[Dan K]

Her airgroup was reduced in comparison to ealier ops; a lot of attrition at work and minimal aircraft replacments available in throughout 1942.

Akagi was initially all rivet contstruction; whether any of her reconstruction involved welding is unknown to me.

[craiglieberman]

On page 241 of Shattered Sword, there is discussion about the impending dive bombing attack at about 10:15Am.

The book notes that a handful of CAP fighters was in the process of taking off. These planes were positioned pretty far aft. There was no mention of anything other than Zeroes being launched at this time, although the records seem to indicate that Akagi launched very small groups of a couple of different types of aircraft that morning.

Going to the charts on pages 510 of the book, I could only decipher that there were about 3-9 planes on deck at about that time.

From sometime after 8AM till Akagi was hit (by one bomb, not more), the plane was in a constant state of launching and recovery operations of CAP aircraft.

If I've understood this correctly, I surmised that an "accurate" model would should about 3-9 planes, positioned nearly 80% aft on the flight deck just moments before the ship was hit.

If I've read this wrong, you hardcore guys can straighten me out.

[Jose Chaica]

Thanks....
So, as I want to do Akagi during Midway, and with some more aircraft on deck other than the 3-9 CAP she appeared to have, what are my options ??? Which planes, and how many, did she launched earlier ???
Once again, thanks...

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