The Ship Model Forum

Thanks Dan , very useful and informative , the conversion looks a bit demanding ,but as You said ,possible .Looks like a good project anyway.

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No Whine Policy
1.- Modify it
2.- Ignore it
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Dan, I have a question on the caption for the cross sections you posted above. Obviously, the top is Mogami, pre-refit on the left and post-refit on the right. However, to me it looks like the bottom cross sections are post-refit Suzuya on the left and Tone on the right. Both the top right and bottom left drawings flag the strengthening added in the refit. Tone on the right was built stronger and therefore the drawing doesn't reference the stiffening strakes.

You are correct, Dick. The caption on the lower right clearly says Tone (利根); just never looked closely enough, I guess.

However, for the purposes of the particular discussion, Mogami and Mikuma had a more pronounced expansion of their width as the hull rose to the main deck, with something of a knuckle.

1/96 scale Mogami scratch build on one of my hulls . By Stan Hepler .

Wow. Truly well done.

The RV Petrel has found the Mogami in about 4700 plus feet of water! She looks to be fully intact, only missing the tip of the bow section. Another incredible find by Petrel!!



Bob Pink.

A couple of pics

Thanks for the heads up Dan It was great to see the ship sitting up right. Bridge structure got beat up pretty bad but i could still make out the wind baffles layout. These were very puny structures compared to the Takao's.




Jose

Bridge structure was beat up because she took two direct hits from 8-inch shells in that area. Killed the CO, XO, and most of the senior officers.

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MS State Guard, 08 March 2014 - 28 January 2023

As I believe you're aware, Jose, topweight became a big concern after the 4th Fleet incidents. The Mogami class original design had a much larger bridge structure - see below.

Btw, for those that were waiting, Fujimi is releasing the other 1/700 sisters. Looks promising:

Kumano 1944 - https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10628812

Suzuya 1944 - https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10628810

MIkuma 1942 - https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10635011

Mogami 1942 - https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10635006

[quote="Dan K"]As I believe you're aware, Jose, topweight became a big concern after the 4th Fleet incidents. The Mogami class original design had a much larger bridge structure - see below.

I remember seeing that drawing on my Mogami class Kajinsha book but given my Japanese is awful i never really understood what was being explained here. I thought it was the opposite as a matter of fact, i thought the navy wanted to make their main bridge structures bigger. I remember reading about the nasty typhoon years ago but i honestly forgot. Thanks for the history lesson though BTW, i was watching Chokai's underwater video and Petrel snatched some great shots of the single HA 45 cal guns. These guns are sitting in plain sight there is no shield housing whatsoever i found this most interesting.



Jose

If that's the case i think that bridge looks wonderful after those 2 hits and decades underwater!




Jose

I think it likely that those shields were torn away on the way to the bottom.

Dan any idea why the navy never upgraded the ship with the new Type 89?




Jose

Concerns about excessive topweight. She and Maya never got the the extensive rebuild that Takao & Atago received because of timing. The escalating war situation and busy yards made it impossible to schedule the rebuilds. So, she never got the additional bulges and reduced superstructure that would have accommodated the new armament. That's also why she never received quad TT mounts and reloads.

From what i saw on the underwater footage the easiest upgrade was the addition of single 25 mm MG all over her decks. Hard to believe they didn't replace the doubles for triples.. Thanks Dan!





Jose

So I've decided to build all 3 versions of Mogami in 1/350. I have the Tamiya Mikuma CL and all-gun Mogami, with the aircraft carrying Mogami on order. If I understand correctly, the only mods to convert Mikuma to Mogami is to rebuild the mainmast, similar to Mikuma but taller. Is this right?

Yes, plus the radio aerials atop the turrets.

Excellent, thanks Dan.

Looking around, and I'm finding any etch for the Tamiya Mikuma CL. Has any been made, or am I going to have to use a Mogami CA set?