Pre-war, yes. . I did my best to review wartime photos of IJN subs. Hull bottom�s are red, hull is grey. However, for many of the boats for which there are photos (of uneven quality), it does appear that the decks were darkened, if not blackened, as were many of their conning towers.
I suppose it depends on the yard that they last visited.
This photo I-56 in May, 1942, from Gakken #17, is a pretty good example of their wartime appearance. Note that the hull is lighter than the deck and conning tower. And, that it is sunny out, as you can see the shadow of the railing on the deck.
Both I-16 & I-24 were C1 cruiser class subs. I-124 was launched more than a decade earlier as one of the I-121 class minelaying
subs. It's a completely different design. I don't think there are any such kits of that class.
While searching the Aoshima website, I found they do an I-6 and while looking into that its a Junsen II submarine. The original Junsen class subs where copied from U-125 which is a UE-11 type submarine.
Since I-124 is a modified UE-11 designed sub, I believe this could be a start I need to make I-124 from this kit.
Here is whats written on Wikipedia.
The Empire of Japan received six U-boats as a reparation payment after World War I. The IJN copied U-125 and designed the I-21 class (later renamed I-121 class) minelaying submarine. Six boats were ordered, of which four were completed, two were cancelled. All boats were built in the Kawasaki Yard at Kobe.
Since I've gotten numerous IJN pics over the years from this site, and since I can't do modeling right now (no space or money), I'll contribute pics so others can make awesome kits. Here are some pics I have for the KRS-type subs.
I have a pic of I-124 as well, but for some reason Imgur won't post it no matter how many times I upload it. If you guys want the pic, PM me your emails and I'll send it to you.
Here is colored video of I-155 during its surrender and sinking by the British and Indian navy in 1946. I looks close to you I-122. Note the nearly black paint and the brown stained decks.. http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675 ... 55_sailors
Does any "insider" know if Aoshima is planning to do more 1/350 scale submarines?
I would love to have a Type A class (I-9, I-10, I-11).
Also, one of the subs made years ago by Pit Road in resin: I-13/I-14 = Type A mod. 1, these would go well with the I-400 class subs; or the Junsen class I-1. (I have the Pit Road kits, but have not built them yet.
Hi I made this post on the main forum and have decided to put it here as well:
Model Ship Builder Sep/Oct 1991 No 73 has an article The Japanese Submarine I- 76 and I-361 conversions
I have most of the 1/700 IJN submarine kits mentioned above are there any others out there or any other conversions? I made the converted the I-58 to the I-53 by just redoing the conning tower to a drawing I found in a book.
I you look at the I-30s wiki bio there is a section where you can look at a German newsreel of it in France It arrived there painted grey with the top of the conning tower painted black from the looks of things. Towards the end there is a film clip of the boat painted light grey with black decks.
The I-8 it looks like was painted IJN grey when it arrived in France but I believe there is a picture of the ship painted light grey with black decks in the book "Submarines of the Imperial Japanese navy"
