Calling all IJN Kuma-class (球磨), Nagara-class (長良) & Sendai-class (川内) fans

[Atma]

I have no information about Hasegawa and Aoshima, only Tamiya, Fujimi and Fine Molds. But the IJN Agano and IJN Yahagi in 1/350 were good sellers. They sold more than any new 1/350 USN and RN ship in Japanese market.

[TomG]

Hi,

I've been searching for a kit of the Yura, however cannot find one. Has anyone a suggestion? if there's no such thing, which kit is then probably the best to start from?
any pictures out there?

I recently delved into the family history and discovered that my great-uncle in '42 scuttled his merchant ship rather than give it up to the Yura and the destroyer Asigiri. So I would love to build a model of these ships.

thanks for the help
Tom

[Timmy C]

Yura was of the Nagara class, of which models are available. Both 1/700 and 1/350 - which do you prefer?

[D-Boy]

Yura was of the Nagara class, of which models are available. Both 1/700 and 1/350 - which do you prefer?

Just Googled some pictures of the ship and would thank an adaptation of a Nagara kit would be relatively straightforward.

[Atma]

IJN Yura, IJN Sakawa, IJN Noshiro and IJN Hiyo is the only large Japanese warships that they never had any model made in any scale.
But for a IJN Yura you can use/base your IJN Yura conversion on this two models by Tamiya in 1/700:
IJN Kinu:http://www.tamiya.com/english/waterline/31321.htm
IJN Natori:http://www.tamiya.com/english/waterline/31320.htm

IJN Isuzu, IJN Nagara and IJN Abukuma models will require more work, as they all after 1942 period. And IJN Abukuma had a lot of differences from IJN Yura.

[Timmy C]

What about if he used the Aoshima 1/350 kits?

[Dan K]

Yura's configuration, particularly the peaked compass bridge roof & starboard side main deck overhang aft, is closest to Nagara. However, the Tamiya Nagara is a late war version so, Atma's correct in that an early war kit must be used.

The easiest conversion is to kitbash a Nagara bridge with a Kinu early war hull & fittings. The only other possible thing is that Yura may have had her bridge roof extended aft to intersect with the foremast by 1941. Would have to check L&W for that.

[Dan K]

In 1/350, the Aoshima Nagara is an early war version, so the conversion is minimal. We'd just have to check for particulars.

Plus, the 1/350 FineMolds Ayanami is a straight shoe-in for Asagiri

In 1/700, the PitRoad Ayanami accomplishes the same thing, though some improvements are needed to make it truly accurate

[Atma]

What about if he used the Aoshima 1/350 kits?

As Dan said, the IJN Nagara by Aoshima in 1/350 is the only kit that requires almost zero modifications for a IJN Yura.

[TomG]

Thanks for all the helpfull hints!!
tom

[DanCinSD]

I am starting the Aoshima, 1/350th Nagara kit tonight. I need something for a contest on June 2nd which gives me 60 days to get her built.
I will be using some generic IJN p/e and a set from Aoshima for the Nagara. For references I have the Model Art #29 on the 5,500 ton cruisers, the L&W book on IJN cruisers of the Pacific war, an older Maru book on IJN light cruisers and what I have learned from Dan K during a 1/700 build of the Natori.
Is there any info on which float plane she carried in 1942 and colors of the plane?

Does anyone have any coments on this kit or the accuracy of the kit?

I will post a build log in the picture post board once I get some pictures taken.

[Atma]

I thnk a Type 95 Nakajima E8N - Dave-.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nakajima_E8N

[Ledinot]

Rainbow Model has just released the new series of PE sets for 1/700 IJN Kuma class (Tamiya):
http://www.hobbyeasy.com/en/data/whnkci ... cvwqh.html
http://www.hobbyeasy.com/en/data/pscpwi ... 69e0r.html
http://www.hobbyeasy.com/en/data/ogm4un ... ky1jf.html

�and 1/700 140mm gun turrets sets:
http://www.hobbyeasy.com/en/data/cpt0rv ... ydh73.html
http://www.hobbyeasy.com/en/data/oyrnhr ... xmat9.html

PS Colour instructions for Kuma class sets are very thorough; unfortunately the scans are too big to be uploaded...

[D-Boy]

Almost done collecting back issues of Model Art Special - four early issues have been challenging to track down. Two of my final four missing magazines arrived in the mail today, and I want to note for this forum that Model Art Secial #13 (or Model Art issue #665) is dedicated to the 5500 ton light cruisers.

Model Art Special #29 is also dedicated to the 5500 ton LCs (and has been referenced in this thread), but I don't think this earlier issue has. I'll try to parse the characters for ships names, but there are lovely line drawings that depict the changes circa 1920 - 1945 for a number of these vessels.

- D-Boy

[Richard J OMalley]

I would like to know the difference in length overall between Sendai and her sisters Naka and Jintsu ?Naka got a yacht shaped bow after the earth quake while she was being built .Jintsu received the yatch bow after a collision in 1928 .
Sendai kept her spoon bow .Refrences have them all the same but that has to be wrong .

[Dan K]

There was no change in OA length. They fashioned what translates as a "doublespooned" bowform within the parameters of the original bow.

[Richard J OMalley]

Thanks Dan !

[redoctober27]

Any new 1/700 Light cruisers set to come out? how about from fujimi? Any input Atma?

[Atma]

The new IJN Isuzu by Aoshima in 1/350 is out :
http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10198701

[tenacioustanaka]

Has anyone redone the Nagara in 1/700 to "accurately" represent her during early war (up to late 1942).

The Tamiya offering looks decent but I hate to kitbash a Kuma hull just to fix the issues I have with that late war fit the Nagara is molded in.

I plan to build a Nov. 42 representation and I'd at least like a good solid starting point instead of building a FRANKENAGARA!