Calling all IJN Destroyer/DE fans

[Plastic Habit]

Hi everyone,

I'm pretty new to the board and definitely new to ship building. I hope this is the right place for this as a little help is needed. I recently purchased 8 IJN destroyers in 1/700 at the local hobby store when they obtained them from someones personal collection. I'm looking for some good starting points for online research, not others to do the research for me. Is there a site that is anything like navsourse that would be good to use. also, if anyone could share there experience with various PE items they may have used in their builds this too would be greatly appreciated. I'll be doing my own searching for these items ofcourse , but some firsthand knowledge of whats out there to get me started would be wonderful. Below is a pic of the 8 destroyers. If this is the wrong place for these questions please piont me in the right direction. Thank you in advance for any knowledge that you might be able to share. PH

[Dan K]

It is the right place, and welcome. There are several here who are prepared to help you, I would think.

As far as an online reference like Navsource goes, there really isn't one for IJN ships. Much material was destroyed or burned at the end of the war. Over the decades, much reference material has surfaced, but most of it really only exists in Japanese language hardcopy. The Kure Maritime Museum (KMM) has a website that offers photographs for sale, (with thumbnail pics for inspection), as well as published volumes by ship type but, honestly, the best online source for IJN information, particularly in English, at this time is Wikipedia. One searches by ship or class. The information is generally correct, and there's usually one large format photo (likely scanned from one of the KMM volumes) per ship.

There are several IJN DD class dedicated CASF threads in addition to this general thread on MW. Similarity of equipment means that some of these threads may contain information that is relevant to your particular question.

Incidentally, a breakdown of your kits is as follows:

Mutsuki class - Mikazuki and Mutsuki, see: viewtopic.php?f=49&t=57007
Asashio class - Asashio, Arashio & Minegumo, see: viewtopic.php?f=49&t=153092
Yugumo class - Yugumo and Akishimo, no dedicated thread yet
Matsu class - Matsu, no dedicated thread yet

The Asashio, Kagero & Yugumo classes are basically subsequent refinements of the IJN Type A DD, and therefore extremely similar. There is a dedicated Kagero class thread, some of which is applicable to much of all three classes, see: viewtopic.php?f=49&t=8806 viewtopic.php?f=49&t=8806.

In the FWIW dept., I'm currently in the middle of a Yugumo class build, which might be instructive, see: viewtopic.php?f=59&t=106793

And, of course, you can always post a question on this thread, or the main page.

HTH,
Dan

[Plastic Habit]

Thank you for your reply Dan. It is a good starting point for me. I looked at your destroyer build and am amazed at what can still be done detail wise at 1/700. I would like to get some PE sets and replacement armament for my builds but I do not think I will go all out with detailing. I have some other builds I would like to get done before I do the IJN destroyers so that will give me time to do the neccessary research. I was recently at my local model shop and picked up the battleship Kongo. It is a 1/700 Fujimi kit, plus the shop had a Tom's MW PE set for the Kongo class. Thought it would be nice to have amongst the destroyers once all are gone. Thank you again for the info you have shared.

[Dan K]

You're most welcome. Feel free to ask any questions. The new tool Fujimi Kongo is very good, and of course, there is a dedicated CASF Kongo class thread: viewtopic.php?f=47&t=30051

The last few pages probably have the most observations about the Fujimi new tool versions.

[fred_sirois]

Hello Dan and all IJN Destroyer Fans. I would like a little help with the old Tamiya 1/700 scale Shimakaze kit. Quite simply, what do I need to do to make her more correct? (Please don't say "Throw it out!") Seriously, I'd like to add whatever aftermarket stuff I need to make it as close to accurate as I can. For some reason, I've got a wild hair to do this kit.

Thanks in advance.

[Geno the Viking]

That was a wonderful kit when it first came out and is still a real fun build. I don't know why but I have five kits on my shelf right now.

Was it they only kit made with a metal waterline hull? I think so.

[Dan K]

The only metal bottomed kit that I know of.

Fred, the PitRoad NE05 accesory set will give you much of the equipment you need, particularly the D model turrets: http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10190722

[fred_sirois]

Thanks Dan. Does it also include the quintuple torpedo tubes?

Fred

[Dan K]

Sadly, neither this set nor any other has quintuple TT tubes. You'll have to dress up the details a bit. Also, the tubes as molded are a bit on the short side. I can't remember if there is enough room to lengthen them, by substituting longer tubes from other PitRoad sets.

For PE, you'd have to assemble some different sets together.

[redoctober27]

Any new destroyer kits to come out? Was thinking about buying some more destroyers but im always afriad that the moment i buy one, a new release from fujimi will come out of the same ship ( for example when i started buy my kageros!)

[Dan K]

You know about the pending PR Shimakaze kit, right?

[Geno the Viking]

A new Shimakaze finally? Yahoo. I can't wait. Maybe I should get rid of the 5 old Tamiya kits on my shelf?

[redoctober27]

No way!!! I did not!! By who!? And why does every one know this stuff way before i do!! Lol

[redoctober27]

Im guessing PR means pit-road lol

[Dan K]

Yes, to PR. Site says Spring, 1014. I don't have a pic handy at the moment.

[J.F.S.]

Yes, to PR. Site says Spring, 1014. I don't have a pic handy at the moment.

Hi Dan,
This will be 1/700?
Thank you
Joe

[Dan K]

Yep, 1/700

[redoctober27]

Aside from the new release from pit road... Are there any new destroyers other than that to come out? I only ask this because it Pit-Road has already covered almost all of the destroyer classes. That being said their kits are somewhat out of date and do carry many errors. Not saying that fujimi is perfect but you get the idea. After watching Dan k's Yumagumo and fubuki builds.. I am hesitant on buying pit road kits only because of such strenuous work that I don't know I have the talent to do. Does anyone have any idea of what kit are to come out and what class is least likely to come out? Thank

[Dan K]

Well, I don't know of anything else. I don't think you've going to see a perfect 1/700 IJN DD in the foreseeable future

[redoctober27]

How close are the bridges of the late war Kazes and the ship IJN Kasumi? In the pit-road kits, both kasumi and the 3 kazes all have the same bridge. Are there any late war photos of IJN Kasumi or drawing/ blueprints or any kind of layouts of this ship?