Calling all Hiyo (飛鷹) and Junyo (隼鷹) fans

[Dan K]

Says October, 1942 version!

[Dan K]

Here's a photo of Hiyo under construction as Izumo Maru at Kawasaki, Kobe on this date, April 20, 1940. She and Junyo's construction were 60% subsidized by the IJN, with her design enabling a quick conversion to an aircraft carrier should she be requisitioned by them. I've glanced at the photo dozens of times, but I only came to an interesting realization about it today.

At the time of this photo, her keel had been laid only five months earlier. The IJN would not requisition her for another 10 months, in February, 1941, with launching barely four months after that. Commissioning would take another year.

Understandably, much work would take place after the requisitioning, but even so, plenty of design features had to be built in from the start to enable a quick conversion. And that's what the photo shows. Most obvious is the shell of the forward elevator shaft, and the bulkheads of the lower hangar deck behind that.

[Tracy White]

Hmm. I wonder what they would have used the elevator shafts for in civilian service. Large storage? Fuel?

[Dan K]

I dunno. Fuel storage up that high in the hull would likely lead to stability issues. No access hatch above it in the original design for large cargo.

Movie theater?

[Tracy White]

Squash court?

[Dan K]

Holodeck.

[Tracy White]

Obviously for practicing damage control.

[Mike Lowe]

Hobbylink Japan has new photos of the kit, showing the big red ID marking on the flight deck. I don't remember seeing this mark on her in any reference material that I have. It's supposed to be around the 1942-43 time frame. I thought that after Midway, they stopped using that mark.

[Dan K]

It certainly seems very unlikely, unless she wore it in home waters for early training. But, the kit is supposed to represent her Santa Cruz fit. It would be nice to know upon what information Hasegawa based this choice.

[W.H.min]

Not exactly. The kit is supposed to show Hiyo in 1942.8 or Junyo in Santa Cruz.

[Dan K]

Thanks for the clarification. However, use of the red hinomaru on the flight deck is still very unlikely. Maybe the instruction sheet has more information that can be translated.

[Mike Lowe]

Hobbylink has a picture of Hiyo's decal sheet. you have to use the Hinomaru it seems to be in the deck striping. They say there are some markings for both Junyo and Hiyo. Maybe you can depict either one in 1942. I believe they are almost identical in their remodeling updates.

[Dan K]

I'm still not convinced of the applicability of the red hinomaru. I suppose it is possible that Junyo wore one for the attack against the Aleutians, given that it was in style for most ships that June, but certainly unlikely for Hiyo.

There is an overhead photo of what is purported to be Hiyo in June 1942 (it would have to be on trials), with white circles. Maybe the larger forward one was though to be filled with red.

[Mike Lowe]

Thanks Dan K. Probably, if you left off the one radar array and the two Type 94 directors, you could do Junyo for OP AL. Then like you suggest the Hinamaru could be used. I'm going to order the Hiyo this week, and see what they say in the kit. I'm wondering what the new airplane parts are, also. After July, 42 Junyo gets radar and directors and gun upgrades. Still these two carrier kits are some of Hasegawa's better ship kits.

[Mike Lowe]

Dan K. the kit offers markings for Hiyo, August, 1942, and Junyo, Oct, 1942. Minor differences between Junyo kit. Less guns and radar. Back to clear aircraft. Aircraft markings for both carriers. I think the hinamaru must be a holdover from Midway time frame. I still haven't seen anything for Hiyo like that.

[Dan K]

Thank you for the update, Mike. Moderator, we should move this information to the CASF thread.

[Admiral John Byng]

What are the two "wings" or projections from the sides of the aft end of the flight deck on Japanese carriers? There is nothing like them in US or British carriers.

[Dan K]

They are latticed sponsons with lights/markers at the trailing edge, to help pilots center up on the landing glide path.

[Admiral John Byng]

Thanks Dan!
I have the Hasegawa Junyo kit and it looks good.

[Brian 1]

Does anyone know which Flyhawk mast set has the correct parts for the 1/350 Junyo? Thanks!