Calling all IJN Aoba (青葉) and Kinugasa (衣笠) fans

[Dan K]

The short answer is yes. Differences are in some minor details. Can't remember if I posted this before. And, I'm sure Mucho can elaborate.

[Haijun watcher]

The short answer is yes. Differences are in some minor details. Can't remember if I posted this before. And, I'm sure Mucho can elaborate.

Thanks. I am most concerned about the differences in the bow you posted above. Does this translate to both kits? Or is one simply a rebox of the other?

[Dan K]

I don;t have both kits so, I'm not certain. But, I would tend to believe that the same hull was used for both.

[Mutsuo Sasaki]

hi, yea,

Re. question from "haijun" modeler
i�m not familiar with examining those Hasegawa kitmodels. Though,I took a look at a Kinugasa model on a certain hobby magazine to find out that they use exactly the same bow fairlead as Aoba,sadly enough.I.e. Kinugasa is using Aoba�s bow fairlead.uha

Illust (3)of the exhaust pipes, from the then Maru special booklet, are actually not entirely correct for both Aoba and Kinugasa.
As we can see,the illust of the rear mast is from the commisioning til the period before the modernization,howver,I suppose you would be buying Rainbow model�s PE parts or something to express the 1941 or -42 version.

Beside these already known ones there are more kinetic differences between these two sister cruisers,for giving clues to Columbus�s egg won�t be a better solution,but it will be another joy & pleasure for modelers or researchers to strain their eyes and find them by themselves.tja

BR
Mutsuo Sasaki,

[Mutsuo Sasaki]

Had a chance to see very live-looking, lovable models of postwar DD n minesweeper of MSDF lately.
In terms of the above an Aoba model may look like a death mask,oh no;the thing is how one will have to prevent such a death-stricken complexion from appearing on a ship model one builds.


Mutsuo S.

[Mutsuo Sasaki]

Examining various modelling versions of IJN 12 meter motor launches,overall quality has been improved in recent years. Among others this 1/144 launch look like one in 1/100 in it�s fineness...

Mutsuo S.

[blacman]

Dear Friends,

I'm preparing my new project - IJN Kinugasa '42.
Kit I have is Hasegawa No 348. Needs a lot of rebuild and upgrade.

First shot: Main turrets. Hasegawa included the the turrets with sun thermal protection panels:





But I guess during her last fight on Guadalcanal Kinugasa has not carried the sun thermal panels...?


Source: Gakken Series #44

I think the injection here is an unfortunate mixture: either no panels and training device on top (years till '42-'43) or panels and no training device (after '43).

Or I am mistaken.... ?

[Dan K]

Kinugasa is like Aoba - no upgrade to the new model turret like Furutaka & Kako, but the thermal shielding is there.. Not sure about the training devices. I'll try to check some references tonite.

[Mutsuo Sasaki]

I think the two pics of Myoko and Aoba are from the first commission period.(i�m afraid you cannot use these for models of 1941-42)
Then Aoba-Kinugasa in question had those Honetsu-ban radiators and the Shojun Enshuu-ki trainers on the turret roofs later. There�re at least two pis of Kinugasa having those things. One is from late 1941 and,another from a pic where she is operating in the Southern Pacific in 1942.
These two pics show the both(the mount plate of the trainer esp.), rest assured. And you�d say, bravo. Enjoy your good hawk eyes, gents.

cheers,
Mutsuo S.

[blacman]

So - during Battle of Guadalcanal on 19 of Dec. she carried both training device and Honetsu-ban radiators?
thanks for confirming!
Greg

[Mutsuo Sasaki]

So - during Battle of Guadalcanal on 19 of Dec. she carried both training device and Honetsu-ban radiators?
thanks for confirming!
Greg

--------------------------------------------------------
No, under war-readiness condition, the trainer box and the training gear must be stored either inside of the ship or placed on land(of the port). it�s a rule for all ijn fighting ships to abide by.
Radiators are fixed installations on the turret, and they cannot be removed!

MS

[Dan K]

Unfortunately, all my reference photos of Kinugasa are not clear enough to show the presence of the thermal baffle coverings. Nor do I have any later than Oct., 1941. I would not be surprised to learn that Mucho has access to references that I don't.

However, if you accept the premise that the IJN upgraded sister ships to the same level of fit, particularly before the war, then I believe that a view of Aoba answers your questions. The photo below was one of a number taken aboard Aoba enroute to Cape Esperance in Oct. 1942. In the cropping, the bottom red arrow points to some of the thermal baffle openings on turret #2. The angle of the turned turret makes it difficult to determine if this set of openings is to the outside of the starboard 20cm gun, or lies between the two barrels.

The upper arrow points to where the hood of the training box should be, but all I see is a plated over cover.

[Mutsuo Sasaki]

That�s ,,,,,Kinugasa in action on the photo.

/mutsuo s.

[Dan K]

I believe you Mucho but, all my Japanese reference books refer to her as Aoba. Here is the caption from Nihon no Gunkan #6. The English translation at the back of the book also refers to her as Aoba. Of course, it wouldn't be the first time they got this wrong.

[Mutsuo Sasaki]

Dan, i�m afraid to say the caption is wrong about the ship name.
That is to say,they and others just failed to check with ID-able points of the ship at all ,for the last 69-70 years.
I think Mucho did the job himself,already. His� is already on one of the Navy Yard Assos.Journals.

But the researcher/modeler for " Navy Yard payed magazine" ,mr XXmoto is no longer my & our(=the original NYA)alliance,and i don�t,he doesn�t care, either. lol

Mutsuo S.

[Dan K]

Like I said, I'm not surprised there are errors. Sadly, I don't have that Journal. Care to drop a hint or two?

[Mutsuo Sasaki]

I�m not in a position to tell everything now,my modelling mate(my son in-law) is with a certain kitmodel maker:aoba/kinugasa can be one of their plans. But from my humble point of view Kinugasa DID adopt myoko classe�s fwd deck configuration which alianates from her sistership aoba. That will be a very good hint.

Mutsuo S.

[Dan K]

Why do I think that means Fujimi?


Well, I don't know if these changes follow those of the Myokos, but I did notice the following for their respective bow fairwaters (if that's the correct term). These differences correspond nicely to the diagram at the top of this page.

[Mutsuo Sasaki]

There are two considerations;
A)Kinugasa�s similarity points to Myoko class ,and
B) " differences from her sister Aoba
A) =also becomes differecnes from Aoba

I rather think the chrysanthemum fairlead at the forefront of the bow is one of id points thats belong to B) The son in-law used to do with tamiya,,,,,.

mutsuo S.

[Dan K]

Tamiya would be nice............. thanks, Mucho.