Calling All IJN Kongo-Class Fans

[chuck]

I don't have the photos or paintings in front of me, but those from Ballard's expedition to Kirishima probably gives some clue about whether that ship had sealed portholes.

[Dan K]

Let's check. I would be hesitant to accept those Musashi illustrations as fact; many ships commissioned in 1942 such as Akizuki, Agano, Noshiro and Oyodo had their full complement of portholes when commissioned. Oyodo in 1943 as flagship still shows all portholes.

[J. Soca]

This is Kirishima's drawing on Ballard's book I tried to enhance the drawing the best i could, i also made it brighter. i'm seeing some openings there but since this is nothing more than drawing its really hard to say, we either rely on the guy who described the scene to the artist or it's up to the experts around here
HTH

Jose

[madwolf]

I was wondering if someone could help me with this, as I have a hard time finding exact data on this:

What is the exact breakdown of AA weapons the Kongo had when sunk?

All sources I've found agree on the following:

6 x twin 12.7s
18 x triple 25mm
8 x dual 25mm

(total 70 x 25mm guns)

but the single 25mm number seems to vary in each source.

Aoshima's instructions say 30.
Wikipedia lists a total of 118 guns, which would mean 48 singles.
Warship profiles lists a total of 94, which means 24 singles.


Thanks.

[chuck]

Most Japanese single 25mm mounts are portable, and not permanently affixed to the metal structure of the ship. They are held down by large wood screws that screw directly into the deck planking, They are added or removed, or moved from ship to ship, by the ship's crew without dockyard or even routine maintenance orders, as availability and mission requirements may dictate. Consequently the record keeping on exactly which ship had how many when may be very spotty.

[Jojo Janolo]

Finally got my Aoshima Kongo, it�s really a gem. One issue with me is that ALL the mushroom vents (which Kongo has a lot) were depicted as cylindrical. Aoshima decided to have them molded on the deck so getting the vents to look like mushrooms were sacrificed. Fujimi molded them separately hence they captured the different vents� look really well. I may decide to replace this drum-like pieces but I�m not sure if there are aftermarket replacements in 1/350th already.

[chuck]

Finally got my Aoshima Kongo, it�s really a gem. One issue with me is that ALL the mushroom vents (which Kongo has a lot) were depicted as cylindrical. Aoshima decided to have them molded on the deck so getting the vents to look like mushrooms were sacrificed. Fujimi molded them separately hence they captured the different vents� look really well. I may decide to replace this drum-like pieces but I�m not sure if there are aftermarket replacements in 1/350th already.

There are 2 sources, Fukuya offers sets of metal mushroom vents in packs of 60 identical vents. Hasagawa offers injection versions as part of their IJN equipment set. These come in a variety of different sizes and shapes.

IHMO Hasagawa's is much more value for the money. In each set you get a variety of other IJN equipment, such as 5" AA guns, IJN pattern capstans, anchors, pedastal mounted binoculars, searchlight controllers, different IJN gunnery directors, boat davits, etc, that are all greatly superior to Aoshima's parts.

[Jojo Janolo]

Hi Chuck,

Thank you very much for the info. I searched the item over at hlj, I must say http://www.hlj.com/product/HSGQG18 (along with http://www.hlj.com/product/HSGQG19) is really necessary for those wanting to replace some parts off of their Aoshima Takaos and Kongo kits - also, the price is quite reasonable in my opinion.

[Mperor]

Hey guys...

Kongo-class is my next target, after I complete my Yamato sisters...

But I wanted to know some basic reviews from you guys....

I'm planning to get, both at 1/700...

Fujimi 42073 - Battleship Hiei

and

Hasegawa 43112 - Battleship Kirishima


I can't get a Kongo because my store ran out of them.

I was wondering if any of you have had previous experience with either of these kits, and your reviews?

Any advice/opinion would be greatly appreciated!

I'm not sure if I should get the photo-etches, as from experience, they really cost a lot. =\

[Dan K]

I would suggest waiting on the release of the new Fujimi 1/700 Kongo 1944. IT is a new tooling, and photos indicate that it is a serious step up from the current Hasegawa offerings, themselves superior to the original Fujimi kits.

Chances are that Fujimi will release others in the class. None of the previous kits has been as accurate or as detailed as most would like. THe Japanese modeling community has been waiting on a worthwhile release for years.

Mine is on order.

FWIW.

[Mperor]

I would suggest waiting on the release of the new Fujimi 1/700 Kongo 1944. IT is a new tooling, and photos indicate that it is a serious step up from the current Hasegawa offerings, themselves superior to the original Fujimi kits.

Chances are that Fujimi will release others in the class. None of the previous kits has been as accurate or as detailed as most would like. THe Japanese modeling community has been waiting on a worthwhile release for years.

Mine is on order.

FWIW.

Thanks for the info - do you know when the kit in question is coming out?

[Timmy C]

It is available now, actually - at least, from Japan-based online retailers:
http://www.hlj.com/product/FUJ42017

[Mperor]

Ah... I see.

My place doesn't carry it. *sigh*

They only have the two kits I've mentionned above.

[Timmy C]

You can ask to owner to see if he is willing to order one for you.

[Mperor]

Perhaps I'll try that.

Thanks for the information, guys.

[Dan K]

Just got noticce that it shipped. I will give you an in box review whenI get it.

[Mperor]

Just got noticce that it shipped. I will give you an in box review whenI get it.

Thanks a ton, Dan! Looking forward to reading it.

[Dan K]

The following in-box review was just posted on Steel Navy. Sounds very promising. Mine still enroute:

"Arriving in the mail from overseas on the last day of the year, the new tool Fujimi Kongo displays outstanding, state of the art molding. Slide molded one piece hull has delicate fairleads and superb fineness to details, especially the degaussing strip enciricling the hull. (Admittedly, the casemate gun posiitons suffer the same accuracy as has been mentioned on this board WRT 'angularity', but it is hardly noticeable in 700th....) The ONE-PIECE main deck is superb, with AA ammo boxes present, nice shields and small detail - as good as PE on hatches and doors as an example. The trusswork towers supporting FC directors, AA and searchlights are the best yet in injected plastic - beautifully realistic if not completely "open" per the prototype. AA is finely molded, and up to the standard of the Leviathan sets, if not quite up to the fineness of the recent FineMolds 700th 25mm AA. My vote for 700th plastic kit of the year, and a worthy subject to enter as an OOB entry!
Happy New Year all!
cheers,
Mike Quan
"proponent of the waterline divine scale"

[Frank R.]

Regarding the Fujimi 1/350 Kongo; the second aft most casemate guns (port and stbd) are shown as removed both from the actual ship and the model. On the model the base of the gun is still present and is depicted more or less as a semi-circle base raised off of the deck outboard of the superstructure deck in this area. Is this actually the way the real ship was modified? I'm certainly no Kongo class expert and was wondering if anyone could shed any light as to how this area should actually be modeled. Did the real vessel have a circular base left when the actual gun was removed or should the semi-circle be removed to show only the deck in this area? Thanks

[Mperor]

Regarding the Fujimi 1/350 Kongo; the second aft most casemate guns (port and stbd) are shown as removed both from the actual ship and the model. On the model the base of the gun is still present and is depicted more or less as a semi-circle base raised off of the deck outboard of the superstructure deck in this area. Is this actually the way the real ship was modified? I'm certainly no Kongo class expert and was wondering if anyone could shed any light as to how this area should actually be modeled. Did the real vessel have a circular base left when the actual gun was removed or should the semi-circle be removed to show only the deck in this area? Thanks

Hey Frank.

Not being a Kongo expert myself, just an enthusiast, I looked around and found evidence that somewhat contradicts what your Fujimi kit states.

Looking at this artist rendition of the 1944 Kongo based on Wikipedia, this is what we see:

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kongo1944.png

Both the most and second most aft case guns seem to be present on both sides. On the other hand, the first case gun at the bow is missing.

I'm not sure, perhaps more people in here can give you more insight.