Calling all IJN Takao-class (高雄型) fans

[Dan K]

Can't answer for the Japanese on that. OTOH, I can correct myself again; apparently, the portion of the housing spanning #1 turret was never removed. See postwar Takao photo below.

As to her single 25mm armament in 1944, it seems that our IJN cruiser bible< Lacroix & Welles "Japanese Cruisers of the Pacific War", is accessible on-line as a massive PDF file. Can't download it, view only. See here and scroll to p345:

http://books.google.com/books?id=dP8Yue ... er&f=false

[djandj]

Dan - the preview that you linked to only goes to p. 236. If 345 is the operative page - see if we can get a hold of just that page. (the bulk of the book deals with other cruisers etc. anyway.)

Thanks for your help

David

[Dan K]

I was able to scroll all the way thru. Just drag the sidebar on the right down a bit, then finetune with the page up/down key.

[Firecaptain]

Could one of the Aoshima 1/350 heavy cruiser experts or someone that may have all the mentioned kits, give me the cliff notes version of the KIT differences between the:

Chokai 42
Chokai 44
Takao 42
Takao 44
Myoko 42
Maya 44

phew.......is that all of them.........and are all of the ones listed from the same master?

Thanks

[Dan K]

cliff note version - not really possible but ........., you really should look thru all of this thread and the galleries

Chokai 42 - Takao class, post mid 1930's rebuild/refit, with weapons/equipment upgrades fo early war. Kit is accurate for Guadalcanal campaign.
Chokai 44 - no time for planned upgrades per 1944 Maya, received addtional AA, radar, etc. Leyte Gulf version.
Takao 42 - Takao class, post 1938-39 rebuilds that added hull bulges, revised bridge, a/c deck and moved mainmast, among other things. Kit is circa Guadalcanal. Atago almost identical.
Takao 44 - additional AA, radar, etc.
Myoko 42 - previous Myoko class, similar general layout, different tooling. Kit by Hasegawa, not Aoshima
Maya 44 - Takao class, identical to Chokai until late 1943 bomb damage led to rebuilding as an AA cruiser. Bulges and a/c deck added as per Takao and Atago. #3 turret deleted and replace with addtional 12.7cm HA AA mounts. Hangar deleted. Additional late light AA, radar. Kit accurate for 1944.

[Timmy C]

Myoko 42 - previous Myoko class, similar general layout, different tooling. Kit by Hasegawa, not Aoshima

He means the 1/350 Aoshima version, I do think.

[Dan K]

You're right. Not sure what I was thinking.

[Firecaptain]

He means the 1/350 Aoshima version, I do think.

That's correct Tim.....thanks.....

Reason for the inquirey......friend has the above mentioned Aoshima 1/350 "set" and wants to sell.....trying to determine if
there are somewhat significant differences, changes, additions etc between the kits to visually notice a difference in each one.

Thanks

[Timmy C]

Massive visual difference between the Maya '44 and Chokai '44 and the rest, in my view. Much more substantial and visually fearsome superstructure. Also, some of them have the mainmast placed more forward than the others, giving them a different silhouette which may or may not be important to you.

Maya '44 (improved kit version):
http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10096208

Chokai '44:
http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10070307

Takao '42:
http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10057931

[Firecaptain]

Thanks Tim......I personally don't mind building more than one of the same or similar class of ship, so long as it's no "cookie cutter", and
has some visual differences.

I think I'll buy the lot.

So Aoshima has released a Maya previously, but now just released an updated "new mold" version?

Thanks

[Timmy C]

Not a complete remold, but includes the updated AA guns that were included in their more recent Kongo class BB releases in addition to more PE and other little bits.

[chuck]

Does anyone know when Takao's 13.2mm twin machine guns (located on either side of the bridge) were replaced with twin 25mm guns? Was it at the same time as when the 4.7" guns were replaced with 5" guns? What about the new more extensive wind baffles under the bridge windows?

Also, is there a good photo of the Aoshima's PE set for the Takao? I am curious whether that set includes one or both of the steel support frames for the foreward stack. The molded plastic ones look horrible.

[Timmy C]

The 1/350 1942 version? http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/image/10057941a/20/1

[chuck]

No, that's not it. That set has parts specific to the 1942 Takao. I remember there was a generic set including deck edge railings and so forth that is useable on all their 1/350 Takao class ships. Since the funnel supports were probably identical on all 4 ships, I thought they might have been included in the common PE set.

[Dan K]

I believe that Takao and Atago received their upper bridge 25mm twins upon reconstruction in 1938-39. They certainly had them by 1941. It is Chokai and Maya whose twin 13mm where replaced by twin 25mm in May, 1942. And, those 13mm were not originally installed until late 1941/early 1942.

Unfortunately, the Aoshima fret does not carry the trusswork for the support for funnel #1. However, I know that the Flyhawk set does carry it. Not sure if anyone else does. It was a pain to scratchbuild in 1/700 so, can only be easier in 1/350.

[chuck]

ATOS shows Takao retaining 13.2mm machine guns after her 1939 refit, but having been upgraded to 25mm twins by 1944. So the change over must have occurred sometime in between. I like to depict the Takao as of early 1942. So I am interested in when the change over occurred.

[Dan K]

We'll have to check L&W for the exact date. This photo of Atago in June 1942 clearly shows 25mm, though no wind baffles as of yet.

[Timmy C]

No, that's not it. That set has parts specific to the 1942 Takao. I remember there was a generic set including deck edge railings and so forth that is useable on all their 1/350 Takao class ships. Since the funnel supports were probably identical on all 4 ships, I thought they might have been included in the common PE set.

Ah, this one then: http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/image/10057938a/20/1

[chuck]

We'll have to check L&W for the exact date. This photo of Atago in June 1942 clearly shows 25mm, though no wind baffles as of yet.

No, the new wind baffles are there in the photo. When she first completed her 1938 refit, there was just a small balcony like wind baffle below the main bridge windows. Later she received a new set of more extensive baffles with vertical vanes under the bridge windows as shown in the photo.

[Dan K]

You're right about the wind baffles - original set

Timmy - that's the railing PE fret. Nothing else.

I'll check the GMM frets to see if there is a funnel support. That is a great PE set. WEM might have one as well.