1/700 IJN escort carrier UNYO

[Jarekk]

Hello all shipbuilders, Nippon Kaigun fans.

I've always loved Japanese aircraft carriers and decided to build a small collection of them.
That is my first contact with the scale (1/700), so I decided to gather experience on a small model. My choice is the Japanese aircraft carrier Un'y? by Aoshima. The model is very simple. However, a literature search made me realize that it is too simplified and making a correct model will not be easy. There are significant differences in details already at the planning stage.





First of all there is a problem with the location of Bulai. There is also something wrong with the air intake on the left side. One, two identical or two different sizes?
I cannot determine the correct appearance of the bridge using available photos. Each picture has errors. Which one is the closest to the original?

At the beginning I made a solid hull.




This picture made me puzzled. Is this the fantasy of the builder or the real appearance?



I am counting on the support of my colleagues.

Jarek

[Quincy]

Nice start! I will be watching with interest!



Bob Pink

[Joe Simon]

Looks good so far!

[Timmy C]

You might try asking over at the CASF thread of general IJN carriers: viewtopic.php?f=46&t=4717

[Dan K]

I'm researching it - definitely not Unyo, though. From where did you find that pic?

[gscott]

Welcome! I'm looking forward to seeing further progress on your build.

[marijn van gils]

Good start of an interesting project!

I'm sorry I can't help with the research on Unyo. But do I understand correctly that the last photo is not of your model, but someone else's' and you wonder if the bridge construction is correct?

Cheers,

Marijn

[Jarekk]

I'm researching it - definitely not Unyo, though. From where did you find that pic?

The photo of the bridge I found on this forum.
Seems to me that, it should be similar to the bridge of Ruyjo and Kaiyo.

[Jarekk]

Good start of an interesting project!

I'm sorry I can't help with the research on Unyo. But do I understand correctly that the last photo is not of your model, but someone else's' and you wonder if the bridge construction is correct?

Cheers,

Marijn

Yes, exactly.

Jarek

[Dan K]

I can't speak to why that builder chose to configure the bridge as he did (proably based on their own references) but it really doean;t match any known configuration. The bridge windows were not recessed back from the front of the bridge face; everything was flush.

[Jarekk]

Dan K, thank you very much for interesting pictures.
The problem with the weapons has been resolved.
Do you think, that there is free space just behind the windows, on both sides?
My idea on the wheelhouse is showed on the drawing.

[Dan K]

Yes, good eyes!

the compass bridge deck is open aft the window structure. I now realize why that modeler did what he did. He probably mis-interpeted this overhead illustration of Taiyo's bridge.

The opening is quite clear in the beam view of Taiyo.

[Jarekk]

Once again, thank you for your drawing. Everything has become evident.

In the next step, I managed to get the correct shape of the compass bridge deck.
The front wall of the compass bridge deck I am going to make as a brass detail.



I also began to build a lift shaft.




Dan K, can I count on your help in the construction of the lifeboat deck at the stern?

[Dan K]

Yes. I believe I have something at home. I'll check tonight.

[Dan K]

Theses photos of Taiyo are dated October, 1942, and are from the Shizuo Fukui volume on IJN CVs, part of his 3 vol JNVI set. The picture quality is not great, but neither are the originals. There are also some pics of the flight deck and, most surprisingly, the deck does not appear to be wood planked. It's covered by some non-skid surface; it may even be linoleum (my guess.) This is much earlier in the war than I would have expected, though these sisters were really just glorified aircraft ferries.

[Milan Kuliffay]

Jarekk, you made a good choise of model ship. In a future I would like to build same model ship and that is why I will closely monitor your job and good luck by creating your ship.

Dan K � Big thank �s for publishing excellent photos. If I will have more photos I be happy. Why? Because building of models will be for me more easier.

[Jarekk]

A short report of the progress of works on aircraft carrier Un'y?:

[gscott]

Looking good!

[Jarekk]

Dan K, could you help me to locate places where rangefinders of 25 mm and 120 mm guns should be installed on your model from Jan 08, 2017?

Buildings stern is in progresses.

[Dan K]

Well, I have to say that I am a bit stumped on this one. I've been through all my references but one (I'll look tonite), and while it's clear that Chuyo has both Type 94HA and the smaller 25mm MG directors, it's not all clear for Taiyo and Unyo. In fact, I can find no trace of a director usually associated with the 12cm mounts. No sponsons for same. It is possible that the 25mm MG director are located forward close to the bridge, in the catwalk/sponsons to either side of the flight deck.

The photo below is of Unyo in Feb, 1944. (It is often mis-identified as Chuyo, who suffered very similar damage from a torpedo. However, if you look closely, one can see that the bow is actually gone, and the forward flight deck has collapsed all the way back to the forward large caliber gun sponsons and the bridge area. Chuyo's damage was further forward.) Admittedly, it's not the clearest photo, but this is the best version I could find. There are no large sponsons that hold large directors.

I can't really say why this omission appears to exist.