Calling all Netherlands Hr.Ms. De Ruyter (1935) & Java-class fans

[Quincy]

I will have to be adding some green to my DuRuyter when I start on her again. There is a good quality Dutch Museum model of her wearing this when she was sunk during the Java Sea battle. Now I have to figure out which green to use?




Bob Pink.

[MichelB]

Those plans look excellent, are there any like that for the De Ruyter?

You can order full plans at the Netherlands Institute for Military History, or else order the Profile Morski issue on her.

[EJFoeth]

The NIMH has several blueprints on microfilm but no ready-to-order drawings (their website shows the wrong De Ruyter pic with the drawings; it is the post-war De Ruyter cruiser). Getting everything copied is at least 100 prints. (I went there last Friday). The larger drawings are put on several microfilms, so you have to copy and paste everything together. The Leegemate book has done just that and shows (more or less) the material that the NIMH has. So, the Profile Morski or the Dutch model drawings mentioned earlier are a good alternative.

[EJFoeth]

I spent some time looking for the twin 0.5" machine guns on De Ruyter. If you go to Maritiem Digitaal and search for colt 12.7mm, you'll find them. (Language settings top right).

Collection numbers 015801 to 015803, 037950 to 037955.

[MichelB]

For the drawings from the Dutch Modelling association, best visit www.nautiek.nl. They have a decent online shop with creditcard support.

[Dave Rowe]

Thanks for the info EJ and Michel. I found a set on the Nautiek site which should do nicely

[Dave Rowe]

With help from the Profile Morskie book I've been working on a 1/400 De Ruyter for a while now. I've shaped the hull but I'm having some doubts about the shape of the hull near the stern.






The hull seems to have a 'pinch' and to me it doesn't seem quite right. The urge is to keep sanding and streamline the hull further still but then I will be sanding into the styrene 'ribs'
Does anybody have any thoughts on this?

[Felix C]

Nice looking hull. I have said it before but it looks like a german pocket battleship with the early bow.

[Dave Rowe]

Thanks Felix.
As a point of reference I took a few pictures of the De Ruyter alongside the Heller Graf Spee. I was having a few doubts about the overall size but it seems to be shaping up quite well.



Dave

[Felix C]

I think if you cast a few hulls you would find a customer base for them.

[Dave Rowe]

Thank you for that Felix but you are probably viewing it from the optimum distance. The imperfections aren't so obvious

[MichelB]

Looks good! btw, I noticed how your Karel Doorman build thread on the Dutchfleet forum got hijacked by some moron building his kit. My apologies for that particular compatriot.

[Dave Rowe]

Hi Michel, thanks for that
No worries about the Karel Doorman thread, it's on hold until L'Arsenal has the single 40mm bofors back in stock.

Groeten
Dave

[EJFoeth]

A nice link from most Dutch musea and archives is Maritiem Digitaal (Maritime Digital). Searching is not so convenient, but the material makes up for it. Enter "De ruyter 1936" as a search term and enjoy.

[Dave Rowe]

Thanks EJ, I've sent you a PM.

[Banchee]

Hi guys
new to the forum and wanted to incude some picts of a customised 1:400 Java i build last week.
Not actual size /measurements but good enough for my little WW2 Dutch navy.
used a german Lutzow as base and added some Scharnhorst and hipper parts to help mimic the Java after last refit.

[AussieBuilder]

Hi Banchee.

Welcome!

The biggest issue with the hull from the Lutzow (or any Deutschland class cruiser) is that they are actually a different shape to the Java hull. At first glance they look very similar, but they are actually quite different when it comes down to it widths etc, which especially poses a problem at the top end and bottom end.

That said, they are as close as you'll get with the mainstream models, so it's a good option for a 'fun build'.

Look forward to some pics.

[maxim]

Is there a time period, in which Java had her aircraft plus the camouflage scheme? Perhaps in early 1942? And which camouflage scheme the Fokkers had?

I know that the aircraft were not on board during the last battle.

[EJFoeth]

The aircraft were landed during her repair/maintenance period from 26/11/41 to 7/12/41. The camouflage scheme is from around 12/41 or 1/42? (source: Hr Ms Kruisers Java and Sumatra, by J. Anten). It seems not!

[maxim]

In the same book I read that the aircraft were landed in Singapur in December 1941 (p. 138). If the camouflage scheme was applied in Soerabaja during her refit, there would be a short time window - if I had understand the text correctly...