Calling all IJN Mogami-class (最上) fans

[Nopefield]

No, I mean the portion that between the third turret and the flight deck. Is it wooden like in turret deck or it is same as the flight deck?

[Dan K]

It was never wood. That portion was covered by red-brown colored linoleum, held down with brass strips.

I'm not sure if the linoleum was removed as part of her refit. I will do some research and get back to you.

[Dan K]

Actually, Tamiya erred with its 1/700 kit, yet corrected properly with its 1/350 kit. The linoleum extends aft to where the mainmast and aft boat storage begins. You can just make it out in the attached image of the 1/350 model.

[Nopefield]

I see, I always thought that part of ships is wood, I need more research into ships. Any idea how to fix/remake it?

[Dan K]

Well, I would carefully mark the dividing point between the end of the linoleum covered area and the start of the treaded steel. Then, I would scrape off all the treading from the linoleum covered area, probably lightly sand it as well. Then decide whether or not you want to depict the brass tie-down strips. Truthfully, these are always over scale in 1/700 (the real ones were barely an inch wide and a 1/4" high). Then paint with linoleum colored paint (Tamiya Acrylic XF-79 Linoleum Deck Brown is an excellent match).

Here are two pics to help show the delineation between the two surfaces. The model is from a Japanese modeler's site: http://d.hatena.ne.jp/hakurai/20120603

[Guest]

Thanks for the tip and the reference! It will hard to scrape it with details around the deck and I've already glued the AA and boats, but will try anyway.

[Nopefield]

Another question, the third turret has some kind of tower and it's rigged to the superstructure, isn't the rig would be a problem when the turret rotate?

[Vlad]

Another question, the third turret has some kind of tower and it's rigged to the superstructure, isn't the rig would be a problem when the turret rotate?

I always assumed the mast at the top was placed central with the rotation point of the turret, and the turret just rotates under it but the attachment for the rigging stays in the same orientation.

[Dan K]

That's basically correct. There's a rotating spreader bar atop the mast, which keeps the aerials in place as the turret rotates beneath it.

[Dan K]

Kit listing and gallery entries posted

[Nopefield]

Ah I see. Is that mast still there in aircraft carrier configuration? Also, what is function of that mast? Why it's need to be on top of turret instead, say, tower or superstructure?

[Dan K]

No, it was removed during her conversion.

As to why, I believe it has to do with the pace of their radio reception (and transmission?) technology. I'm conjecturing, but from the 1920s thru the start of the war, long aerials were probably a necessity for long range radio wave reception. Extending the aerial forward to the superimposed turret lengthened the wire without endangering it from the firing arcs of the main battery. I'm guessing that either that particular technology improved through the war, or that type positioning proved to be detrimental, leading to revamping how the IJN set up its aerials. It may be the latter, as I recall Mogami as rebuilt had long aerials streaming back to the stern over the a-c handling platform. No firing arcs to worry about.

[Atma]

Fujimi will release in 1/700 IJN Mogami and IJN Mikuma early-war versions (1942) and IJN Suzuya and IJN Kumano later-war versions (1944) in new tool, late 2019.

[Dan K]

It should be interesting to compare them to the Tamiya kits.

[Miguel]

It should be interesting to compare them to the Tamiya kits.

Tamiya kits very nice for sure but are 15 years old, those Fujimis should be better, let's wait and see them, I like the Mogami class.

[Reddawn27]

Are you KIDDING ME!!!!!!!!! After ALL these years!! I've waited!!! I literally just gave up hope. And got the PE set for the Tamiya Suzuya kit and this happens!!!!! I may just kit bash the PE set for Tamiya and the new one to save money if possible... Are you kidding me!! ... damn it! Lol well hopefully they will come out with a 1/350 scale of these!!

[Miguel]

well hopefully they will come out with a 1/350 scale of these!!

IMO no need for those, Tamiya's full-gun Mogami is quite new, about 8 years only and is gorgeous, more needed is a Kako class since Veryfire will make the Aoba, also I will kill for a Torpedo Cruiser, Kitakami or Oi, that would be awesome.

[Reddawn27]

Wait its Veryfire making a 1/350 IJN Aoba????? I had not heard about this! Also I was more leaning on a 1/350 scale of Suzuya and Kumano since of the class those two are my favorite!

[Miguel]

Wait its Veryfire making a 1/350 IJN Aoba????? I had not heard about this! Also I was more leaning on a 1/350 scale of Suzuya and Kumano since of the class those two are my favorite!

Yes, VeryFire 1/350 IJN Aoba was announced a couple of months ago, when they will release it? Nobody knows.
And not an expert, but to convert the 1/350 Mogami into her sisters, I don't think will be very hard, maybe our IJN sensei Dan Kaplan can comment on this.

[Dan K]

Well, a conversion is possible, though there are differences that need to be taken into consideration. The upper hull and 01 High Angle Gun Deck are different, as are the arrangements at the base of the superstructure. Some of these references have been posted previously, but these should be a little larger.