Calling all IJN Fuso (扶桑) and Yamashiro (山城) fans

[Atma]

You are the first I meet that encounters such problem. So far I had no complains with fitting problems, from Fujimi models. >snip<

[redoctober27]

Hey guys, I don't mean to keep beating a dead horses about the whole Japanese navy order about the removing of linoleum. But I have a question about the linoleum on Fuso. now i know about the Japanese navy order about the removing of linoleum and all, but i remember seeing back in the day pics and people models of Fuso having linoleum floors in the bridge area and throughout the tower like I believe its Aoshimas old paint sheet for there 1/700 Fuso and like Jiff lin's awesome Yamashiro. But now I see alot of pics and new models like fujimis new 1/350 scale paint sheets having every thing on the bridge being all grey and no linoleum on the floors of the bridge. was it by 44 that all Battleships had the linoleum removed from there towers? Is this just due to new information on the ships? If so then why do we still see models being built with Kongo and Haruna built with linoleum on top of the bridge and throughout there towers or was it just a thing of there crews just removed the linoleum when they had time too.

[Steve]

Hobby Search has Aoshima's 1938 Fuso (1/700) plastic kit posted with contents and instructions.

[Carter]

Which shade of Gray for Yamashiro in the 1940s? Thanks!

[Atma]

Yokosuka Grey from mid 1930's till August 1942, then Gray Kure Arsenal until 1 March 1943 then Yokosuka Grey again and finally, at 13 October 1943 a retun to the Gray Kure Arsenal till she is lost during Operation SHO-I-GO.

[redoctober27]

Question guy I know that for IJN Yamashiro TROM say that there was plans calling for the replacement of five lifeboats with six Daihatsu landing craft, but it is unclear if this is carried out. Dose any one know of any pics are evidences that would confirm this?

[Atma]

IJN Yamashiro's upgrade after 1943(radar, AA guns, etc) is perhaps the most questionable thing.
IJN Yamashiro after 1943 appearance is shrouded in mystery. No pictures and few conflicting informations.
She even might dont had a type 21 radar, the only major warship in Japanes navy that never had a type 21 radar !

[Ledinot]

Dear colleagues,
please take into account the new Voyager "Fuso 1/700 Wood Deck" repeats the original Aoshima deck mistake � the shape of "wood deck" follows the sort of freehand line (raised) on the imaginary edge of deck planking, either starboard and port side.

I had thought Voyager wood deck would correct that mistake; they had never ever thought about it.

[Atma]

Thanks for letting us know that.

[Ledinot]

The retake version is just the correct shape of the aircraft handling deck at the stern, nothing else is new.

I don�t have the �retake� version of Aoshima 1/700 Fuso 1944 (#125) in my stash, so I can only compare instructions published on Hobby Search site with the previous Aoshima Fuso 1944 (#121). It seems there is another addition, which makes �retake� kit closer to 1944 Fuso: single 25mm gun tubs on either side of bridge tower (Level IV).

Nevertheless, another thing, inherited from the previous version (#121), makes this kit closer to 1941/42 version; it is the 25mm gun platform on the top of conning tower. Skulski in AOTS �Battleship FUSO� shows this platform in 1944 version shorter and of different shape, with two triple (not twin) guns - and there are no directors on it.

[Atma]

Also in Skulski in AOTS �Battleship FUSO� the vegetable room is revemoved in the 1944 version, but Aoshima still has it on 1944 "new" version.

[redoctober27]

Ah thanks again Atma ! btw what is the vegetable room? I hope I removed the right part on my Fuso !

[Atma]

Okay first the vegetable room(I guess is a storage room of some kind), the red circle:
1941:

1944 is gone:

[Atma]

And something that Aoshima seems to got it wrong, the replacement of 3.5 rangefinders with MG fire controls. This change occured at April 1938, so all the vrsions of Aoshima's IJN Fuso(1938, 1941 and 1944) got it wrong. Aoshima's kit still has the 3.5 rangefinders at the level IX of the pagoda tower.
Fujimi's IJN Fuso got this right.

[Atma]

I will later try and provide pictures with the removal of the 3,5 rangefinders at IX level of IJN Fuso's Pagoda tower.

[Atma]

There:

This was removed after the Arpil 1938 reconstruction.

[Atma]

[Atma]

And finnaly the replacement of 3.5 rangefinders with MG fire controls at April 1938. Aoshima's kit(all versions) still has the 3.5 rangefinders wich is wrong.

[redoctober27]

THANKS ATMA !!!!! I always wondered about the 3.5 rangefinder as well the other rangefinders on Fuso's tower since there is some noticeable differences. Do you know of any aftermarket rangefinder packs that would have the proper rangefinder?

[Atma]

The 3,5 rangefinder was completely removed, you need to replace with a MG fire control.
Pit-Road set number 3 has a replacement:
http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10145602

There is also some resin MG controls, but unfortunately cant remember the name of the manufacture.