Calling All IJN Kongo-Class Fans

[pascalemod]

So this is to update the above.

I found the answer to my question searching on my own, so will share here - hope someone finds these more useful next time they have a problem like I had. Not sure how good of a quality these are for scratch building, but it is best I found so far... This is Haruna in 1916.

[Boro]

Hello friends,

I have one question.
I bought Fujimi 1/350 Kongo.
Which detail set do you suggest?
I am choosing between Pontos and Flyhawk Gold medal, but if there is another one..

I have good experience with Pondos New Jersey set, but their manual is terrible :p
Thanks

Martin

[Dan K]

Fujimi also makes a couple of sets for its Kongo.

[Boro]

Fujimi also makes a couple of sets for its Kongo.

well but they are not so complex as that from Pontos or Flyhawk. And also they usually cost more and are harder to buy.. But if you recomend them..

[ijnfleetadmiral]

RV Petrel announced today Hiei's wreck has been located. She lies (sadly) upside-down over 900 meters down in Ironbottom Sound. And heartrendingly enough, she's only about 4 miles from her sister Kirishima, which is also upside-down.

[Dan K]

What I would really like to see is some photos of Kirishima.

[ijnfleetadmiral]

Anyone have any good clear line drawings for Haruna they'd care to share? Specifically I'm looking for how she appeared in 1915 (as completed), 1924, 1936, 1944, and 1945. Thanks for any help anyone can provide.

[Dan K]

Will this work? The Ishibashi BB book has better, but they are large format and hard to scan.

[ijnfleetadmiral]

Awesome! That should work...thanks! Any of her other forms in that size, by any chance?

[ijnfleetadmiral]

Excuse the double post, but I also have a question about Haruna's final camouflage scheme. Her TROM states "gray with very pale gray stripes on her turrets", but several colorized pics I've seen have dark gray hull, light green superstructure, dark green stripes on turrets, and a light green stripe on the upper forecastle hull...at least, that's what I can see.

Anyone know what it actually was? TIA for any info.

[Jon C Ryckert]

Quick question. What was Kirishima last painted at Kure Arsenal before being sunk?

[Dan K]

Her last drydocking at Kure was in late Dec. 1941, after PH. Her last refit was at Sasebo in May, 1942 before Midway. Some time was spent on alert at Kure, after Midway, before heading out to Truk in August.

[Jon C Ryckert]

Thanks Dan. I read the TROM on Tony Tuilly's website but wanted some more confirmation. Probably going to go with Sasebo.

[Dan K]

That's probably the most detailed information currently available.

[Haijun watcher]

To Dan and all,

In both the PC and the Blitz/mobile versions of the "World of Warships" game (WOWS), there is this playable ship called the Ishizuchi, which is supposed to be a prototype version of the Kongo class, but which includes a 5th twin 14-inch turret, unlike the final Kongo 1914 design, which only had 4 twin 14-inch turrets.

The "historical background info" of the ship's WOWS profile says that it was the penultimate design, known as Design 472 (known to the Japanese as B-46), before the 5th turret was removed.

The name Ishizuchi was an arbitrary name chosen by the game makers but still followed the Japanese tradition of naming battlecruisers/heavy cruisers after mountains.

Was there any particular reason why this 5th turret was removed? Because it impeded propulsion perhaps? Or the issues with superfiring turrets so close to each other as what happened with the early British dreadnoughts?

The Ishizuchi version of the Kongo in the game can only go around 27.5 knots, if I can recall correctly.
Anyways, here's an image of the ship from the game:

[chuck]

I think the 5 turret design had 12� guns. When the caliber was increased to 14�, the 5th turret was removed as weight compensation.

[Dan K]

My first reaction was "what? The Kongos were designed by Sir George Thurston."

A little digging on the Japanese Wiki article helped greatly. This was a preliminary design, before the project was handed over to Vickers & Thurston. Have a read of the translated History of Construction: https://translate.google.com/translate? ... rev=search

[Jon C Ryckert]

Wanting to replace the equipment that was used on Kirishima in 1942. Would anyone happen to have a diagram or know what equipment ( binoculars etc..) was used and where they were located on the various deck throughout the ship? thanks, Jon

[Dan K]

Um, that's a little broad. What kinds of equipment?

[Jon C Ryckert]

What is considered the best reference book in English or any other language covering the Kirishima?