The Ship Model Forum

Does anyone know Hiei's aircraft complement during 1942? - specifically at the time of her sinking. Also, would they all be green on top and light grey underneath by that time?

thanks
Mike

Hello Mike,

Normally Hiei's aircraft complement was 1 Nakajima E8N1 Type 95 ("Dave") and 2 Mitsubishi Type F1M2 "Pete". Looking at her TROM on the Nihon Kaigun website, "on 12 november 1942, at 1530, HIEI catapults an E8N2 "Dave" reconnaissance floatplane". I guess the 2 Petes were onboard as well.
Regarding their colours, my guess would be to have the "Dave" in the two tone (Green and Brown) on top, and the Petes green. All aircraft in light grey underneath. Nonetheless, it's a guess as the aircraft could have been underneath in a grey-green colour.
Hope this helps anyway

cheers

Gilbert

Sources : http://www.combinedfleet.com/hiei2.htm - http://www.j-aircraft.com/gallery/navy/ ... allery.htm

Thanks for that. although I am surprised there wasn't any Jakes on board.

thanks
Mike

So was I but, according to Nihon Kaigun website, the Aichi E13A was allocated to IJN ships as follows :

http://www.combinedfleet.com/ijna/e13a.htm

cheers

Gilbert

Speaking of the aircraft complement - what was it on Kirishima late 1942 and on Kongo in 1944?

thanks
Mike

Kirishima 1942, same as Hiei
Kongo 1944, 2 Petes only

cheers

Gilbert

Thanks for that - Did they ever carry Jakes then?

thanks
Mike

- Hiei and Kirishima, no
- Haruna, yes according to Nihon Kaigun website
- Kongo, not mentioned on Nihon Kaigun website but possibility in 1943 to have one Jake as Daves were not in use anymore.

cheers

Gilbert

After working for long hours trying to mix the right deck tan color, I've given up. lol

I just can't seem to get the color right, so I'm opting to buy the Tamiya deck tan color to use...

What do you guys think about that color on the Kongo girls?

I've seen the various models in the gallery, and just can't seem to get them. So... lol

This color is actually closest to fresh Hinoki cypress. You might consider a custom mix, though IIRC, Tamiya recently released a "wood" color for decking.

Hey Dan,

Cool, would you happen to know that new deck wood color number?

Worse comes to worst, I'll use this XF55... I just can't mix the colors right anymore. lol

hi y'all. I'm building Voyages Models 1/200 scale IJN Kongo, 1944, multimiedia kit with fiberglass hull, white styrene deck, cast resin superstructures, PE, and turned barrels...and virtually NOTHING in the way of instructions! If anyone here has built this monster, I'd love to hear about it. I'm wading through a ton of references and around 2000 parts, so it's slow going.

I posted a question a few weeks ago about looking for PE port hole covers that were welded over the lowest row on the hull. Thanks to those who replied! I just found a very nice tiny tool from Micro Mark to manufacture these covers from thin white styrene: it's a punch and die set on the back cover of their recent catalog. It makes perfect circular covers for any scales from 1/700 to 1/50. I guess this is nothing new to most of you, but it's the first punch and die set I've ever owned, and I have a slew of 1/200 IJN models to use it on: Nagato, Takao, Yamato, Akizuki, Kagero, two subs and a patrol boat.

The color is XF78 Wood Deck Tan see: http://www.tamiya.com/english/products/ ... t81702.htm

As far as a custom mix goes, I'n not sure which type wood the Kongos used - teak or ancient pine.

Kongo= Teak

Hiei, Haruna and Kirishima=Bei matsu

cheers

Gilbert

Well i ended up buying Fujimi's new 1/700 Kongo , i promised myself i wasn't going to buy any other 1/700 scale subjects but from the time i saw it i couldn't stop thinking about it. Does anybody know of a GOOD P.E set to go with it? TIA


Jose

Hi Jose,

Fujimi will release one soon, I have ordered it from HLJ. http://www.hlj.com/product/FUJ11178

cheers

Gilbert

My new kit is in hand, though it will be a while before I get around to building it. Ihope only the casemates need correcting - I would love to build something relatively straightforward for once.

Here's a link to a nice build of this new Kongo kit - can't tell if all the casemates were corrected (go to products, second line - Kongo 1944): http://www.geocities.jp/nenekobo/

Whats your first impression Dan? I got mine the other day and I think it looks really nice. It looks a vast improvement on previous ones. I have ordered the Fujimi etch to go with it.

thanks
Mike

Aside from the casemates, I think it's an excellent kit, & vast improvement over previous ones. I think it will look good right out of the box with basic PE. I'm hoping Fujimi will pop some sisters, with corrected casemates.

That indeed would be most excellent, although I'd take them without the corrections just because they are that much better!

thanks
Mike