Calling all IJN Mogami-class (最上) fans

[graham]

The both types of Torpedo control stations, Closed and Open are included as part of the Tamiya 1/350 generic weapon set in both Mikuma and Mogami

Graham

[chuck]

Did the Mogamis acquire wind baffles around their bridge windows during their 1940 refit?

[Dan K]

I don't believe so, not until the same 1942-43 timeframe, IIRC from L & W.

[chuck]

Dan, do you know of any close-up photos of the Mikuma showing what type of hull plate strake joint she had just prior to her 1940-1941 refit? Overlapping for flush butt jointed? The reason I ask is because I suspect the Mogami class had welded flush butt joints when first completed. During subsequent refit parts of the hull was said to have been riveted to correct problem with welding. I've seen no diagram showing exactly which part of the hull was modified, and exact what was involved in the change over from welding to riveting.

[Dan K]

I'll look thru my references; not sure if there's the sort of closeup pic that can answer that question.

[chuck]

Question answered. I located close up photos of Mogami and Suzuya under construction. Both ships had overlapping joints even when on the stock.

[Dan K]

After reading thru the text of L&W, and looking closely at pictures of both Suzuya and Kumano bows under construction, I think it may be a combination of both. Bows were of welded construction, and of modular build. They were connected to succeeding hull section by a vertical band of riveted, overlapping joints. But then, the hull appear to resume further aft with abutting joint. FWIW.

[nick]

Hi!


I have a question. What were the colors of the aircraft aboard Mogami at Midway? I have Tamiya's 1942 version of the Mogami but I'm not sure if it depicts the kit at Midway.

Thanks!
Nick

[Morton_In_Formosa]

Just curious..with the release of the 8" cruiser version of 1/350 "Mogami", what differences would I need to make an 8" gunned version of Suzuya or Kumano from this same era? Were there any? I'd like to make one of these two from that kit as I already have the "Mogami" as an aircraft cruiser and the "Mikuma" in light cruiser rig.

Regards!

[Dan K]

Well, there are some differences in the hull cross section, and venting around the bridge. There are some small differences in the lower bridge as well.

The HA deck in Mogami/Mikuma (that's the first deck above the main deck, where the TT mounts are located) juts out to either side over the hull/main deck; enough to form a knuckle of sorts at the horizontal juncture. The HA deck width in Suzuya/Kumano was reduced so as to be almost flush. So, you'd have a bit of sanding ahead of you, assuming the kit hull sides were thick enough to take it.

Attached (from a Maru Special), shows the venting, and lack thereof, between the two groups. Also, the bridge layouts from L & W

[Morton_In_Formosa]

Wow! Thanks for that Dan! I guess I'll wait for Tamiya to make their own Suzuya and Kumano as the modifications would likely mean a new kit by them with sprue covering the changes to the bridge and other details.

{Also thanks for your input on the Kirishima thread a few weeks ago. Meant to thank you about the IJN navigation-positioning light arrays that face the stern on that ship.}

Cheers!

[Dan K]

You are most welcome, Morton

[Atma]

Wow! Thanks for that Dan! I guess I'll wait for Tamiya to make their own Suzuya and Kumano as the modifications would likely mean a new kit by them with sprue covering the changes to the bridge and other details.

{Also thanks for your input on the Kirishima thread a few weeks ago. Meant to thank you about the IJN navigation-positioning light arrays that face the stern on that ship.}

Cheers!

Something is telling me that we are going to see a 1944 version of Suzuya/Kumano at Nuremberg toy fair 2011, from Tamiya in 1/350:)

[Dan K]

I would like to see that.

[Atma]

Well Tamiya knows that an average skill modeler that desires an accurate Suzuya/Kumano is hard to make it from a 1/350 Mogami 1942 version or from 1/350 Mikuma. At the moment in Japan there a lot of garage resin home companies that produces conversion kits for a Suzuya and Kumano based on Tamiya's Mogami 1942 version and Mikuma (Noshiro and Sakawa too for the Hasegawa's Light Cruisers and Chikuma for Tamiya's Tone).

[MartinJQuinn]

When Mogami was rebuilt after Midway, was the aircraft handling deck the same color as the rest of the ship?

[Atma]

When Mogami was rebuilt after Midway, was the aircraft handling deck the same color as the rest of the ship?

The aircraft handling deck was painted IJN Sasebo Gray, the kind of gray the rest of IJN Mogami was painted.

[MartinJQuinn]

Thanks Atma - appreciate it.

[LAE519]

At the moment in Japan there a lot of garage resin home companies that produces conversion kits for a Suzuya and Kumano based on Tamiya's Mogami 1942 version and Mikuma (Noshiro and Sakawa too for the Hasegawa's Light Cruisers and Chikuma for Tamiya's Tone).

Hi Can you tell me what companies are producing the Conversion kits for Chikuma? My research did not show many differences between the two ships.

Larry

[Atma]

I can tell you the manufacture name, but unfortunately I can't find anything about a site of how to contact them. I think is strictly mail order.
Anyway here it is:
Tohoku Blue
21-47-1 Kitayama, Aoba-ku, Sendai City, Japan.