Calling all Japanese pre-war/wartime Merchant Marine fans

[chuck]

A rather low resolution broadside photo of the Hikawa maru as a hospital ship seem to show that, compare to the prewar configuration as depicted by hasagawa, a low superstructure was added to connect the main superstructure block midship, and the rear superstructure, creating something like an promenade gallery under the main rear king post mast. This configuration seems similar to the current configuration of the museum ship Hikawa maru, but the gallery doesn't extend quite all the way to the main superstructure as on the museum ship.

Does anyone know of any drawings showing the hospital ship configuration to confirm?

[Jim Smith]

Bob, Great news about Pacific Front stocking Frogfoot kits. Any idea about when and what they will stock?

My thanks to Gernot for acting as middleman in past transactions and for his help in getting these kits out to the wider world.

Jim S

[Quincy]

Not sure what and when but, it did say soon on their news page. Hopefully it will be what Fleetnet has listed for FrogFoot on their website.




Bob Pink.

[Harry @ BFM]

Hi Chuck,

Model Art has: MOD-JPS004 Japanese Passenger Ship Series Vol.4 "Hikawa Maru"

This has some color plates of her in 41 & 42.

[Dan K]

I have the booklet so, I will try to remember to check. That rear area originally held two large cargo hatches fore and aft of the rear mast. It may have been reconstructed for more accomodations and an 01 deck extension.

[chuck]

Hmmm, not sure what happened to the deck cargo hatch when they built the superstructure extension, but the rear king post and cranes booms are still on the museum ship today. They may have just elevated the cargo hatch one deck so it now discharge onto 01 level of superstructure instead of weatherdeck.

[Dan K]

(note to moderator - please move this thread to the CASF All Japanese prewar/wartime Merchant ships so as not to lose the info. Thx)

Ok, per the recent recent Model Art Publication on Hikawa Maru, the timeline illustrations show a slight change to this area that could just be spars and awnings for a brief period in late 1941 and agin postwar. However, the photographic record speaks differently. Apparently, this area was built up during her wartime service as a hospital ship, yet eliminated again postwar, probably while on repatriation duty. It was resurrected for her resumption of passenger service in 1953. Incidentally, she retained her cargo booms until 1960. See below

[reigels]

Ran across some BW footage online of a couple of 2A's which I thought might be of interest to some here. (Caution - film of a pretty bad time in human history.)

http://www.bbcmotiongallery.com/gallery ... 09_3600.do

http://www.bbcmotiongallery.com/gallery ... 34_4900.do

EDIT - one more: http://www.bbcmotiongallery.com/gallery ... 28_1900.do

[chuck]

(note to moderator - please move this thread to the CASF All Japanese prewar/wartime Merchant ships so as not to lose the info. Thx)

Ok, per the recent recent Model Art Publication on Hikawa Maru, the timeline illustrations show a slight change to this area that could just be spars and awnings for a brief period in late 1941 and agin postwar. However, the photographic record speaks differently. Apparently, this area was built up during her wartime service as a hospital ship, yet eliminated again postwar, probably while on repatriation duty. It was resurrected for her resumption of passenger service in 1953. Incidentally, she retained her cargo booms until 1960. See below

Having examined the broadside photo more closely, I suspect the rear portion of the ship in the photo was extensive retouched. I am not sure what the purpose of the retouch might be, but the pillars gallery between midship and aft superstructure appear to be sharper than the rest of the photo. This would be a sure sign that these pillars were not that way on the film when the film first left the camera.

So I think the drawings might be correct, that there was no substantial new addition to the ship around the aft crane masts during the time when she served as hospital ship.

[Quincy]

Been very quiet lately here. Whatcha been up too folks????????





Bob Pink.

[D-Boy]

Been very quiet lately here. Whatcha been up too folks????

Bob Pink.

Building ships that sink merchantmen...

[reigels]

Some photos here I haven't seen before: http://www.jsu.or.jp/siryo/

[Ron Wolford]

Hello Everybody
The top photo is either the Yamagiri Maru or the Yamazuki Maru, and the bottom photo is one of the following, Katuragi Maru, Kirisima Maru or Komaki Maru.
Can anyone tell me why on the Yamazuki Maru and the seven other ship of this class, the mast and kingpost on the back half of the ship are reversed. In every other class of Japanese Merchant Ships that have both masts and kingpost, the kingposts are always right after the superstructure. Thanks!
Ron Wolford

Yamazuki Maru


Kirisima Maru

[Gilbert]

Hello Everybody
Can anyone tell me why on the Yamazuki Maru and the seven other ship of this class, the mast and kingpost on the back half of the ship are reversed. In every other class of Japanese Merchant Ships that have both masts and kingpost, the kingposts are always right after the superstructure. Thanks!
Ron Wolford

Hello Ron,

First, thanks for the nice pictures.

The absence of a kingpost right after the superstructure for the Shinko Maru Class (Shinko, Yamagiri, Yamazuki, Tamogawa, Kamogawa, Yodogawa, Zenyo and Keiyo Marus) is due to the No. 4 hold being very small and not necessiting a kingpost for lift. On the other hand, the No.6 hold was a large one, hence the kingpost presence.

See Motoyuki-san model's here: http://ww6.enjoy.ne.jp/~iwashige/yamagirimaru.htm . Another better picture can be found in his "visual guide of Japanese merchant marine", vol.2 p.35.

Regards,

Gilbert

[Gilbert]

Just noticed a post on the main forum about these kits. Photos can be seen here: http://www.freetimehobbies.com/DAZ-DM-11.aspx and here: http://www.freetimehobbies.com/DAZ-DM-10.aspx .

Gilbert

Please Moderator, could you replace this topic in the "Calling all Japanese merchant..." topic where ir belongs. Thanks in advance

Gilbert

[Ron Wolford]

Hello Gilbert
I am not sure if I agree with you that the size of the No. 4 hole is the reason for mast being between the number 4 and 5 holds. The number 4 hole was traditionally smaller in most Japanese Merchant Ships, check out these picture and compare the number 4 hole to the photo of the Shinko Maru. O well thank for the reply, and I would like to see a model of one of these ships.
Ron Wolford

Kamikawa Maru
http://tinypic.com/r/o73kzt/5u
Kano Maru
http://tinypic.com/r/2v9q61f/5
Shinko Maru
http://tinypic.com/r/2nurpt3/5

[Gilbert]

Hello Ron,

Yes, you are right about the size of No.4 hold being most commonly smaller than the others. However, I see no other reason for the absence of a kingpost after the bridge and its particular placement on the stern for this class.

And I agree it would be nice to get a kit for these interesting ships.

Gilbert

[redoctober27]

hello, i was wondering if any one has any pics of the Doryu Maru and any idea as of what type of merchant ship she was. And what model out there would be closest to her. IJN merchant ship arnt really my cup of tea but i have taken some interest in this ship. I think I remember seeing a pic of her towing the crippled IJN kumano one time but not too sure.

[Gilbert]

hello, i was wondering if any one has any pics of the Doryu Maru and any idea as of what type of merchant ship she was. And what model out there would be closest to her. IJN merchant ship arnt really my cup of tea but i have taken some interest in this ship. I think I remember seeing a pic of her towing the crippled IJN kumano one time but not too sure.

DORYO MARU (also known as DORYU MARU) was a 2,274 GRT wartime Std. 2D Type, built by Mitsubishi Jukogyo K.K., Shanghai and completed Jul '44. She was owned by Nippon Yusen K.K. and registered in the port of Tokyo. Requisitioned by the IJN as a Kaigun Ippan Choyosen (B-AK), she was torpedoed and sunk by USS SPADEFISH (SS-411), 100nm WNW/ Takara-jima @ Tokara Retto, 29-24N, 127-31E on 23 Mar '45 while in convoy SAI-05 (voy. Sasebo - Ishigaki Jima ) with IJA troops and IJN 39th Shinyo unit with 28 "Shinyo" explosive motor boats, war supplies & cement. 39 crewmen, 21 IJA troops & 262 IJN troops were KIA.

A painting by Ueda-san

and a picture of her (Credit: Jsu.org website)

For the time being, AFAIK, no model of 2D has been released in any scale. Hopefully there will be one in the future.

HTH

Gilbert

[Quincy]

Does anyone know or heard if Pitroad will release the Gokoku Maru ? Or, will she be the odd one left out.......





Bob Pink.