Calling all IJN Minekaze-class, Kamikaze-class, Mutsuki-class fans

[Dan K]

And another...........

[Dan K]

And yet another. Perhaps Mike is on to something.

[DavidK]

And yet another. Perhaps Mike is on to something.

Perhaps he is. I tried to attach a photo scan (Minekaze or Kamikaze class, not sure). but I don't think it's working.

[DavidK]

This set of three drawings of Mutsuki class DD may be relevant.

[Dan K]

Interesting. I've found no photo of a Mutsuki class with this setup. However, I've found two more interesting pics. First is Asanagi in 1938. Unfortunately, it's grainier than I would like.

[Dan K]

There was a second photo of Yunagi taken shortly after the first on the previous page, from much closer.

[DavidK]

I was comparing the Hasegawa and Pitroad Minazuki kits (Mutsuki class). My measurements suggest that both hulls are a tad short at the waterline (the Pitroad is shorter than the Hasegawa by 4-5 scale feet). The maximum beam is almost dead on at the waterline for both, but the Pitroad kit seems to flare out about 10% (5% to either side) at the deck level along the back two thirds of the ship. The photo records I have seem to indicate that the side of the hull should be nearly vertical in this region, although the hull flares out near the bow (captured in both kits). I have never found any cross-sections for this class, only plan and elevation drawings. So I'm unsure whether or not I should sand down the overhang at deck level (which could have disastrous consequence to the final kit appearance).

In all other respects, the Pitroad hull has considerably more molded on detail on both the sides and on the deck itself. I guess I'd agree with others that the correct starting point is the Pitroad kit (until someone does a new molding - any rumors?). Is this the general consensus of the forum?

(And, yes, something clearly needs to be done to the Pitroad 4.7" shields - I checked the gun barrel length, however, and it is scaled almost perfectly to 45 times the barrel inside diameter as it should be - pretty close in both kits; so it's unfortunate that the Hasegawa kits had a solid gun shield (not hollowed out inside). The Hasegawa guns don't look bad from the front or side (a bit simple, but a fairly delicate gun barrel), but there's no disguising how wrong they look from the back.)

[Dan K]

At midsection, the hull has no flare; in fact, it's actually a tad wider at the waterline than at the main deck level. I'll have to check the Hara Shobo plans to see if there's a midsection drawing. AFAIK, the hull cross-section is identical to that of the Kamikazes, which shows the same greater bulge at the waterline. There's certainly no hint of a midsection flare in available photos.

While I always like the shape and crispness of the Hasegawa kit, it's biggest flaw is that it places the funnels on top of superstructures, as opposed to the actual standalone nature of the funnel. The Pit-Road kit captures that aspect correctly, and is, IMHO, the better starting point.

[Dan K]

Nope, no cross-section info. available on the Mutsukis in my references.

[DavidK]

I measured about 13.5 mm wide at deck level versus about 12 mm wide at waterline in the midships region of the Pitroad kit. Sounds like a correction of some sort is needed (the 12 mm seems to scale pretty close to the beam given in Dull).

[Dan K]

Should be 13.1mm wide

[MatthewB]

Also for reference, esp. rigging, is the modernized Kamikaze class Yunagi, 1937. Colorized

When the Y?nagi was modernized in the late-'30s, did she get the housings for the Torpedo Tubes that other destroyers received?

I have seen other related classes, such as the Mutsuki, which had the turreted torpedoes. I was wondering if the kamikaze class also had these when it was upgraded/modernized.

MB

edit: Or at least the PE upgrade set from RB shows the Mutsuki with torpedo tube housings:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/181674576690

[Dan K]

The Minekaze and Kamikaze classes did not receive shields for the TT mounts.

[MatthewB]

The Minekaze and Kamikaze classes did not receive shields for the TT mounts.

Took me a while, but I finally located an image of the Yunagi during the war.

Now if I could just get an answer about the white stripes on their stacks... From anywhere.

MB

[Dan K]

I finally located an image of the Yunagi during the war

I was unaware of such a photo. Could you possible post it?

[MatthewB]

I finally located an image of the Yunagi during the war

I was unaware of such a photo. Could you possible post it?

I'll need to find it again. It's in a book on Scribd, which isn't searchable.

MB

[ijnfleetadmiral]

I also would be very interested in seeing it.

[fuda]

Ive looked around everywhere(even as far as searching in japanese), but I can't for the life of me find the gakken mutsuki book for sale anywhere that can ship to the states(only ones i found were on amazon.jp, for 4000 yen)

In addition, I cannot find the Gran Prix Shuppan Anatomy of IJN destroyers anywhere either

Can somebody point me in the right direction?

Wanting to build a wartime IJN Satsuki but there's virtually no information out there on the net

[Dan K]

Unfortunately, both books are out of print. You'll have to look for them in used bookstores/webstores. The GPS volumes are particularly hard to find.

You may have better luck with the Gakken volume. It does carry several fit illustrations for Satsuki. What year?

Photos of her are slim. This is 1935, after modernization

[fuda]

I might try some used bookstores in Taiwan when I go back this summer. I would try for Japan as well but honestly if I am to pay the extra to stop in Japan for a few days I might as well just dish out the $70 for one on amazon, overall cheaper that way

I believe you already know the year after seeing my build thread, but again anything immediately prewar/early 1942 would be invaluable information for me.

That photo of her in 1935 is a very great help! thanks!

do you have anymore? even her sisters in the same time period would be a tremendous help to me.