Vladi wrote:
Hello MatthewB,
you should definitely use Chokai as a starting point for Maya in 1942. Although all the 4 ships were nearly identical when built, Takao and Atago superstructures were vastly modified in 1938-39 (bridge rebuilt and lowered, foremast changed, aft superstructure changed, mainmast and crane moved, aircraft handling area added instead of hangar, secondary and torpedo armament changed etc.) while Chokai and Maya received only minor modifications (and both the same). Janusz Skulski´s Anatomy of the Ship - The Heavy Cruiser Takao book (AOTS) is a great help here as almost everything pre-1938 directly applies to Chokai and Maya, too. Correct me if I am wrong but I think the "most important" difference between Chokai and Maya in 1942 was slightly different arrangement of hatches at the torpedo deck level - something that you would hardly notice.
EDIT: I only now noticed that Dan K wrote for you an even more detailed summary already at previous pages
Quote:
Did the Takao-class also have these White Rangefinder/Directors at this point?
yes for Chokai, as can be seen on her October 1942 photo from Truk (below). The main rangefinder of the Takao class was much smaller than that on Aoba/Furutaka so it is not that prominently noticeable.
Attachment:
194210 Chokai at Truk white rangefinder.jpg
It seems that Atago even had more white painted than just the main rangefinder on this photo:
Attachment:
194206 Atago white rangefinder Skulski.jpg
Thanks for the points.
Yes, I have the AOTS-Takao book. It is very helpful (I think I have a few of that series). It is a pity that the details in that book could not be extended to cover 1942 and later, as well.
When I finish my current "San Francisco" (sort-of San Francisco - too many errors) and Laffey & Farenholt, I am going to do a few IJN ships (Takao, continue work on the Aoba & Kinugasa, finish the Nagara, and do a few IJN DDs - likely 2 Shiratsuyu-class, and 2 Kagerō-class). I would kind of like to do all four of the Takao-class at the same time, but doing four large cruisers at once might push my space available to its limits.
MB