1/350 Tamiya Tone (Backdated to 1939)

[J. Soca]

Hi fellows, i've been a little busy with a few things but i'm hoping to get back to this model next week and do the most i can on it since i start school once again in 2 weeks here is some of the process on the Tone's bridge:

i took all these shots before i primed the structure, if you'd like to see it you can always go to the Tone section on "Calling all ship fans" i'll take fresh new shots next time

Jose

[Dirk]

Good start. Very interesting.
Dirk

[USS California BB44]

Impressive idea. Looking superb so far.

[Kym Knight]

Jose, when you say the rear entrance to the torp bay is inaccurate, do you mean for the year you (1939) are building or for its entire lifespan?

[J. Soca]

Thank you so much guys!!

Jose, when you say the rear entrance to the torp bay is inaccurate, do you mean for the year you (1939) are building or for its entire lifespan?

Kym, on the few sources i have, models i've seen in the past there is no such entrance ( OPENING) into the torpedo bay through the rear deck, i've seen bulkhead doors along side the aircraft slide on some models though which is the case of the new 1/700 Fujimi Tone (1944 &1945) but like i wrote there is no such entrance of that magnitude. if and only if Tamiya found a good source which we havent seen yet and thus based their model on that source then i'll rest my case but as far as i know i believe is wrong. my 1939 miyukikai plan shows an enclosed bulkhead. btw, how is your Tone coming up?


Jose

[Dan K]

Looks great so far, Jose. Very crisp.

[Atma]

Excellent so far, and dont forget that the turrets had exercise aim devices on the turret's roof.

[mima]

Hi Jose,

Great work so far, I'll kepp watching!

Greetings from Switzerland

Michael

[J. Soca]

Thanks again guys!!, i got a question..

Jose

[J. Soca]

Disregard my question i was just being lazy about going through some of the pages on the " calling all ship fans" section i got the linoleum answer already.



Jose

[J. Soca]

Fellows i need advice on the paint i know Tone was built and launched at Mitsubishi yards and i think i remember looking at a Tamiya bottle of grey with the Mitsubishi name on it but today while looking at Tamiya's paint charts i couldn't find it. Is Tamiya still selling this paint if not which Tamiya paints can i mixed to come up with something similar? TIA



Jose

[J. Soca]

tomorrow i'll try to buy the paint at my LHS, hopefully i'll have an answer tonite regarding the color, thats all for today,, stay tuned for more



Jose

[ussvf17]

Regarding the rear bulkhead in question. I think it is possible that Tamiya has it somewhat correct.

For of all, the area in question was just an empty space according to Japanese Cruisers of the Pacific War. If it was just an open space, it might not be necessary to enclose the entire area with bulkhead. I also find some photo evidences to somewhat supports what Tamiya suggests.

Picture 1 - This photo of Tone showed it was not a door that was next to the ramp but an opening. It was too wide to be a doorway. It was true there was bulkhead there but it also proved other drawings that had doors in the area were also wrong

Picture 2 - This photo of Chikuma in 1941. It is clear to me there wasn't a solid bulkhead as you can see the perforated bar. I believe the area was open with perforated supporting bean across similar to the Takeo class CA.

I don't know for sure either way but based on the evidences, Tamiya could be right.

[J. Soca]

Thats quite an observation on the perforated bar and from this picture it doesn't look like a solid bulkhead at all. Empty space? i thought it was all part of the torpedoe bay? there is something i can't overrule on the kit and it bothers me why is the opening asymmetrical? left side extends more than that the right. your points are noted and is good evidence but why not make this entrance all symmetrical? Wish we knew what souce Tamiya used. thanks for chiming in!!

Jose

[Dave Rowe]

Very nice work so far Jose

[Dan K]

Unfortunately, clear photos of the area in question are rare. I think that the photo above of Tone 1940 has it right, full bulkheads with apertures that are not necessarily hatches on both sides. See also the last two photo belows, also of Tone, taken on the same day. It appears to match the first photo to me.. IIRC, the aperture is reminiscent of a similar feature on the Myokos, sort of a loading bay aperture. Probably has a garage roller style door that comes down in heavy weather.

Some other photos - Soryu and Chikuma from the IJN 1940 Naval Review, with cropping, Chikuma at Leyte Gulf, 10-25-1944, and Tone from the other side at the 1940 Naval Review

[sirpaul]

I would leave it open. I'm pretty sure it was to store floats to the planes and drums of fuel. Plus to relieve in case a hit to the torpedo rooms. The Japanese always worried about the long lance 1000lbs warheads going off in an inclosed space. this is part of the design like it or not. Remember these ship did not have a hanger!

[Dan K]

I just can't agree. My take of the photos is some large bay doors for access, set within the bulkheads.

[chuck]

Dan, When I look at your photo from the book cover, I think I see the bulkhead in essentially the Tamiya configuration. The only question is whether there was a small closed section right ahead of the aircraft ramp.

In any case, leaving it open greatly expands interior detailing opportunities for Jose. Imaging all the overhead porforated deck beams, deck support pillars, torpedo handling gear that he can now sink his fangs into.

[Dan K]

Funny, I see it the other way, a close bulkhead with an aperture, that matches the other side.

Front pictorial page of Gakken # 47