Calling all Japanese pre-war/wartime Merchant Marine fans

[janschu]

Gilbert, thanks for the link to the kit of the Kinezaki Class!
Unique vessels, and since there are two in a box one just needs to buy two kits in order
to build the whole class (Kinezaki, Hayasaki, Shirasaki, Arasaki)!

pagodaphile, actually the Tamatsu Maru /Mayasan Maru kit is not done by Niko Model.
I have done the master and the kit is exclusively distributed by BMK. https://shop.modellmarine.de/index.php?language=en
as mentioned before.

The Kozu Maru from Niko Model (kit no.7076) has just arrived. The kit is beautifully detailed, the measurements are correct.
But it looks like there are some misinterpretations concerning the armament. The kit has 4 75mm guns on both the bow and stern
platform, the real ship had 4 guns on the bow platform, but only 2 on the stern platform. The other two guns there have to be replaced
by two 25mm singles. The 4 twin guns on the rear gun platform of the superstructure have to be replaced by 4 25mm singles.
The bulwarks of the 75mm gum platforms need to be replaced by square shaped profiles (ready ammo shelves). In fact these shelves
acted as the bulwarks themselves! See attached picture.


Well, nevertheless the mentioned issues can easily be corrected and this kit will turn into a real beauty!

greetings from the North Sea Coast,
Jan Schulz, SIG-Waterline

[Timmy C]

Fujimi 1/700 Sagaramaru: http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10155421

It's in her seaplane carrier guise, so not quite the merchant marine, but figured you guys might be interested.

[Dan K]

Thx. Never saw that view of the camo. Any difference between she and Sanuki Maru, outside of camo? Just armament?

Got the Sanuki kit but would want to build Sagara Maru.

[Jim Smith]

Just like buses - you wait (search) ages for resin kits and then manufacturers pop them out in plastic at one a month!! Still, its good to see Kinesaki, Aikoku Maru and Sagara Maru making it onto the market.

I made the Kobo Hiryu Kinesaki years ago. Also Sagara Maru from Pit Road (Resin). My Aikoku Maru (Pit Road resin) appears earlier in this thread.

It will be good to compare, and build alternatives with this easier availability. With the release of these plus Seta Class gunboats, Niko, Frog Foot and BMK transports, there's never been a better time to be a Japanese vessel builder.

Now, when can we expect the 'plastic' launch of Noto/Noshiro Maru?.....

Jim S

[Gilbert]

Hello Jim,
Don't know about Noto, Noshiro but Frogfoot has just released Kinai Maru.
Gilbert

[Ron Wolford]

Hello Hugh L
Will Loose Cannon's have the new kit of the, Mini Maru, Kinesaki, for sale, at the IPMS National Convention in Omaha? Are there any plans for a large Maru in the foreseeable future? I will be at the Convention, so if you want me to bring any information on pre-war Japanese Merchant Ships, let me know. Thanks

Ron Wolford

[Quincy]

I'll be there too! Looking forward meeting you guys!!



Bob Pink.

[Hugh L]

Hi Ron,

Sorry but I wont have it ready by that time frame, wish I could but Loose Cannon bit off a big chunk and we are working to the last minute to get everything ready. There is a holdup with brass, instructions and getting everything cast in sufficient numbers. Some items may be represented by a display model only and orders taken and most of the others will be limited. It wouldn't be bad if we were only coming out with two or three new kits but we are doing 20+ with four more by the end of August. I haven't had time to update a lot of old kits during our sabbatical and all the effort went into new kits. There is quite a range of subjects with a time range of over one-hundred years and size from 1 1/2" to 13" in ship kits and there are plenty of auxiliary diorama accessories too. There are two Japanese ships that I want to produce but haven't got them started yet. Loose Cannon East is working with Japanese ships also but not quite ready at this point. If there is any of the old kits you want to pick up at Omaha let me know and I try to throw a few in with the new stuff. Hope to see all of you in Omaha and leave time for the vendor's BBQ Thursday evening.

Hugh

[Ron Wolford]

Hello Hugh
Could you please bring the following extra kits,
� Kit # 106 1/700 USS Sunnadin and Barge with Pontoons
� Kit # 36 Wooden Dock Section
� LMA001 1/700 & 1/350 Scale Ruler
I'm not sure if I can make the vendor's BBQ, because that's the night of the Strategic Air & Space Museum Tour, and I all ready signed up for it. I would like to get together with any one from this board and talk Japanese Merchant Ships, if anyone is interested please let me know. Hugh I will stop by Loose Cannon's booth and pick up the above kits. Thanks!

Ron Wolford

[Timmy C]

The Aikoku Maru by Pit-Road has been released: http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10152501

[Quincy]

Mine is enroute now!





Bob Pink.

[janschu]

"My" Aikoku Maru is also on the way now!

I am curious about another announcement of Fujimi. http://www.hlj.com/product/FUJ40109
Does anybody know, what kind of vessel that is?

gGreetings from Germany, Jan

[Gilbert]

I think it is a typo for Sakura Maru, sistership of Sanuki, Sado and Sakito.
Gilbert

[Gilbert]

Hi, either Fujimi, or the page that came up in my search using the HLJ information (2ch LOL) may have gotten the wrong kanji ( now how could that happen)?

Explanation: I checked now based on your information of no such ship, and a search of Sanuki Maru reveals the sister ship is written with these characters: ??? . The proper reading is Sagara Maru, but can also be read as "Aira". What a mess

The above is a quote from Gernot, on the main forum.
Therefore, the ship is Sagara Maru another seaplane tender, sistership of Sanuki Maru.
Gilbert

[Gilbert]

Model Art Magazine extra edition "Kansen mokei special Vol.41" will be released at August 12. The content was open to the public on the website.
h
ttp://www.modelart.jp/wls.041.html
(all Japanese language text)

And, such a word is written in the cover.
"Shocking release!! Hasegawa's 1/350 Nippon Yusen KK Hikawa-Maru"

The above is a quote from MOMOKO on SN.

Gilbert

[reigels]

I see that Fujimi is releasing their AA set from their Sado Maru as a seperate item:

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10155406

Also http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10155405

One can never have too many guns in the parts box.

[Dan K]

I don;t think Motoyuki-san was too impressed with their weaponry. For that matter, all the main decks of the Fujiimi S class is wrong. Should be plating, not wood.

[Quincy]

I'll be picking up my Kinezaki at the post office tomorrow. It arrived when I was at the NATS. Also, Tony Bunch had one at his table. If I knew that, I would have bought it from him instead. Check out Gone Asiatic's WIP on the Kinezaki.



Bob Pink.

[Graham Boak]

Note there is a thread on the main forum about the Pit Road Aikoku Maru.

What is known about other releases of this tooling from Pit Road?

[Quincy]

I'm working on the new but very nice and small kits of IJN Kinezaki. Were any of these ships painted in greens later in the war? I checked Motoyuki's site and books but could not find these ships at all. The others of the class are Arasaki, Hayasaki, and Shirasaki.

It is a very detailed kit with lots of photoetch but, very small to work with. I must be getting old.




Bob Pink.