Kawasaki class oil tankers in 1/700�Kenyo & Kyokuto Maru (F)

[Lester Abbey]

Take note that I am admitting to only ONE screwup per stage. "Master"? I wish.........

If you wish to increase your screw up rate to 20-30 screwups per stage - I have some useful techniques that I can recommend.

In this I AM A MASTER. Take heed.

[Dan K]

Duly noted. I suppose I should try and remain open to yet even more challenging experiences. (NOT!)

[J. Soca]

Simply fantastic!! Those little bridge structures look phenomenal!




Jose

[Dan K]

Progress slowly grinds on. The catwalks for both ship are now complete and in place. There were the usual missteps along the way. The technique I expected to use for the trestle (pp 4-5) proved to be too fragile and time-consuming. So, I just used the kit supplied PE part as the trestle, with the catwalk glued on top. Using one ship as a test bed definitely paid dividends in terms of ease of fabrication for the second. All the catwalks gained additional auxiliary piping below the walkway, which turned out as nicely as I could have hoped for.

I�m not crazy about the kit PE, which is made of stainless steel. The forward walk rises up to match the rise of the forecastle deck; if the bend wasn�t just right (no give to the steel), then the whole walk was subject to additional stress as it was glued into position. And, the footers needed trimming, which could be problematic.

Kenyo Maru first.

[Dan K]

Kyokuto Maru. I know some of these shots seem repetitive, but they are two different ships. I'm particularly happy about Kyokuto Maru's trestles in that the spacing worked out almost completely correct.

[Devin]

Very nice. Great progress.

Am I correct in assuming that the large pipe on the fantail is the main fueling point and these ships would pass fuel only while stationary, or by floating/dragging the hose behind them? I seem to recall from "Shattered Sword" that underway refueling was the one thing the Japanese were very deficient at, and never really sorted out during the war.

[Angeliccypher]

That looks amazing. Especially given all the tweeks you have done. Seamless work.

[Dan K]

Thx, guys.

Am I correct in assuming that the large pipe on the fantail is the main fueling point and these ships would pass fuel only while stationary, or by floating/dragging the hose behind them?

Not exactly. At the end of that pipe is a "Y" shaped fitting for attaching a UNREP hose. If you look at the overhead, you'll see that there are seven such end fittings. Refueling was conducted both side by side as well as fore and aft. There are photos of ships being refueled in all these positions. It is true that the hoses were floated/dragged for fore and aft refueling. Not the side by side.

I seem to recall from "Shattered Sword" that underway refueling was the one thing the Japanese were very deficient at, and never really sorted out during the war.

There is some truth in that, but I think it a bit more nuanced. The IJN was well acquainted with UNREP; they'd been doing it since the 1920s with their Erimo and Shiretoko class oilers (USN Kanawha class tanker was their contemporary in most aspects). The IJN recognized the need for a larger and faster ship, which resulted in the Kawasaki type. These ships were owned and operated by private Japanese shipping companies until requisitioned and re-equipped with UNREP equipment by the IJN right before the war. So, it was just a matter of the learning curve, which was ramped up significantly in the months leading up to Pearl Harbor.

Most of these ships were assigned to the fleet train/supply force for UNREP throughout the war. However, the IJN did not conduct ongoing fleet operations, so many were the times that the Kawasakis anchored and acted as fuel depot ships for the fleet, or even were used in a regular tanker capacity, merely to convoy oil from oil fields to Japan.

The USN Cimarron class tanker was the US response to the same need. The difference between the USN and the IJN is that some of the Cimarron ships were dedicated from the outset as UNREP ships, so the experience reservoir for the USN was larger at the outset of the war. IIRC, the problem for the USN was that they had a very limited number of these vessels at their disposal for the first year or so, fewer than the Japanese.

[Angeliccypher]

I love watching your threads not only for the build itself (which are great) but great facts get handed out as well!

[Joe Simon]

Beautiful of course Dan!

[J.F.S.]

Amazing!

[Devin]

IIRC, the problem for the USN was that they had a very limited number of these vessels at their disposal for the first year or so, fewer than the Japanese.

Thanks, Dan, for clearing that up. I've only read "Shattered Sword" once, and that was the only book I can recall discussing Japanese refueling protocols, or any protocols at all, so my memory is a bit spotty.

For a no means concise, but definitely interesting, take on the first year of the war and the U.S. refueling issues, give Lundstrom's "Black Shoe Carrier Admiral" a look. He gives a good overview as to what the issues were, how Fletcher had to work within those limitations, and how historians like Morrison branded him as over cautious and more willing to fuel than fight because of it.

[MartinJQuinn]

Brilliant work, Dan. That's quite of pair of targets you've got there!

[marijn van gils]

They're coming together beautifully indeed!
The catwalks give the ships a lot of extra delicacy and busy feeling. Stainless steel can be a pain to work with (although I like it for very thin items like railings), the PE parts certainly look good when finished, as do the different gauges of piping.
Looking forward to the last steps!

Cheers,

Marijn

[sgtryan13]

Looking great as always Dan! These two will certainly look unique among your fleet, that's for sure.

[Dan K]

Thx, guys, that's much appreciated.

[Dan K]

Just a quick update. Accommodation ladders installed from the main deck. This was more difficult than anticipated, given the need for exact placement at an angle and not much room. Plus, I used Flyhawk ladders, which are very delicate. These ships have an awful lot of accommodation ladders in total: 19 for Kyokuto Maru, 20 for Kenyo Maru.

[gscott]

Beautiful work, Dan. Amazing attention to detail and historical accuracy in this scale. Looking forward to seeing what's next after these 2 are completed.

[marijn van gils]

Well, the up-side is that they look very delicate too!

What is left to be done? They must be almost finished now?

Cheers,

Marijn

[LE BOSCO]

hello Dan

really a great job, very finely executed I like it
well done Dan
cheers
Nicolas