Calling all IJN Kuma-class (球磨), Nagara-class (長良) & Sendai-class (川内) fans

[Santi Caro]

Hi guys,

Just another question about the searchlights. It�s known that Nagara carried 90 cm SU type searchlights in her initial configuration. But in Model Art N�29, page 64, seems, to me, in year 1939, the original 90 cm were changed to the new 110 cm. I can�t read japanese, but this is my guess. Can anyone confirm this point? It would be great to use the Veteran�s outstanding searchlights instead the Aoshima�s ones.
Also, I think it would be better an Alf as recon plane, better than Laura. Opinions?

TIA

Santi Caro

[Dan K]

I'd have to doublecheck L&W but I believe all the cruisers had their searchlights upgraded to 110cm in their late 1930s refits.

[drewdobber]

I am building a 1/700 Kuma and am having a hard time finding any useful reference pictures online. Does anyone know where I could find some good detail pics? Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated. Thanks and happy building...

[maxim]

I am building a 1/700 Kuma and am having a hard time finding any useful reference pictures online. Does anyone know where I could find some good detail pics? Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated. Thanks and happy building...

This depends on which fit you want to depict her. The best reference material is probably still Japanese Cruisers of the Pacific War by Lacroix and Wells. Some good photos could be found in Japanese Light Cruisers in action (Squadron) and IJN Photo File #13: Tenryu class, Kuma class & Yubari. Useful drawings can be found also in Model Art Ship Modeling Special 29 (this volume is about the three 5500 t classes).

You will find several good photos of Kuma in the 1920s and 1930s - but probably no photo of her in good quality made during the Second World War.

[DanCinSD]

Timmy C � Tue Feb 10, 2009 8:29 pm

It should be the Nagara.

Timmy C you were correct and I finally have a 5,500t CL in 1/350! I will try to finish the 1/700 Indianapolis before I start Nagara.

[chuck]

Did the Japanese 5,500 ton light cruisers carry any reload torpedoes during WWII? Is there any sources for plans showing the internal arrangement of the aft torpedo well in the Nagara?

[maxim]

Did the Japanese 5,500 ton light cruisers carry any reload torpedoes during WWII? Is there any sources for plans showing the internal arrangement of the aft torpedo well in the Nagara?

Lacroix/Wells stated that all the 5500 ton cruisers had 16 torpedoes. 8 in the twin tubes and 8 stored forward of the tubes under deck (2 each near each twin torpedo tube).

Also Jintsu, Naka and Abukama (the three ships, which got 1941 the 61 cm quad torpedo tubs) had provisions for 16 torpedoes. Therefore they were able to reload the torpedo tubs. Nagara and Isuzu got latter (1944) the same modifications of their torpedo equipment.

But I have not found any drawings showing the reload equipment.

[peppe]

i find this on modelart 29 on the 5500t cruisers. is on the "sendai" but i think the "nagara" was the same or very close.
note the fore stovage up and down and the rear stovage side by side
ciao peppe

[Dan K]

L&W states that Nagara was modified in January 1944 with two quad mounts replacing the twins aft. It also states that 12 torpedoes were carried, but I thin this is a misprint and that 16, as in all other ships so modified, were carried.

The only available space for reload bays is directly forward of the TT mounts.

[Mike W]

Hi

Was there much difference in Naka in 1933 and 1942? I'm looking at the Aoshima 1/700 Naka but want to do it in WW2 condition.
thanks
Mike

[peppe]

from a russin book on japanese cruisers of Apalkov, and from the bible on japanese cruisers of 2ww, lacroix/wills
ciao peppe

[Mike W]

Hi

Thanks for the pics - providing the Aoshima kit of Naka is accurate for 1933, these drawings show theres more work involved than I was hoping for. Plan B I think would be to see if I can modify either Jintsu or Sendai as Naka in 1942 then.

thanks
Mike

[maxim]

Aoshima offers all three ships of the Sendai class also in the 1942/43 version

[Mike W]

Hi

Do you know where I can buy it? I've only ever seen the 1933 version of Naka by Aoshima

thanks
Mike

[maxim]

All six kits by Aoshima of the Sendai class (all three ships in the 1933 version and all three in the 1942/43 version) should be available in all bigger model shops, e.g. Hobby Link Japan, White Ensign Models. If they are not listed in their online shops or if they are not in the store, it should be possible to order them, because they are available from Aoshima.

[Mike W]

Its not listed in WEM, Hannants, Pac Front or Free time. I have found it on Aoshima's website and it is listed as discontinued on HLJ. No luck on ebay either so if anyone knows an online store selling the Aoshima 1/700 Naka (1943) please let me know.

thanks
Mike

[Dan K]

Hard to believe it's discontinued, it was just released.

[Dan K]

Naka 1942, via Fukui. One of several of her after being torpedoed. DOn;t think she changed much, aside from AA into 1943


Revised photo w/o lines

[Mike W]

Yeah I'm surprised too Dan but check out this link

http://www.hlj.com/hljlist2/?word2=naka ... age=Navtop

[Dan K]

I've been told that, unlike Tamiya and Hasegawa, Aoshima has moved to aluminum molds. The molds wear out quickly but, given that all the tooling guides are digitized, can be replicated fairly quickly. It was a decision guided by the need for flexibility in re-allocating production demands, also upfront investments for tooling.

So, chances are good that it will be reissued at some future point. Also makes changes/improvements to the mold posssible, given any emergence of new research/reference information, This is why the new 1/700 Takao kits went thru a series of changes. In the meantime, you'll have to keep searching. Or settle for Jintsu

Another photo of Naka from Fukui, 1942