Calling all IJN Soryu/Hiryu class Fans!

[Angeliccypher]

Send me a PM with your email address and I will email you high res picture of the painting diagram for the 1/350 kit. It should be the same AA configuration.

[bmkerr]

Now that I'm almost finished ordering the AA guns, My next question is what sizes of the motor launches, life boats did Hiryu use in Feb 42.

Can I use these kits

11m
http://www.bnamodelworld.com/model-ship ... -rain-7087
http://www.bnamodelworld.com/model-ship ... -rain-7085

12m
http://www.bnamodelworld.com/model-ship ... -rain-7086

[Dan K]

Per the Gran Prix Shuppan CV volume:

3 x 12m motor launch
2 x 12m motorized cutter (the ones with the raised canopy that's nearly full length)
1 x 8m " "
2 x 9m cutter
1 x 6m cutter/prow
2 x 13m daihatsu

[Dan K]

I just remembered about this close-up of a Hiryu 9m cutter:

[bmkerr]

I just remembered about this close-up of a Hiryu 9m cutter:

Do you know if this is one from near the bridge as per the photo.

[Dan K]

Well, probably, not certainly. This photo, taken on June 5th, shows the starboard 9m cutter dangling from one davit. Assuming she wasn't full of shrapnel holes, it may have been able to have been lowered. Still, it's likely the port side boat outboard of the island, which was further away from the bomb blast effects.

[bmkerr]

thanks Dan for all your help on all the message boards that I've post on.

I recently bought shattered sword and been reading that at work before I start. I have this sad feeling about what happened on the 4th June when the IJN lost the 4 carriers.

[Dan K]

Most unfortunate for them; not so much for the USN. But, I know what you mean.

I might also recommend reading "Pacific Crucible" by Ian Toll. Aside from being an excellent read on the first 6 months of the Pacific War, the end of the book focuses on Midway; a very balanced and thorough review of events, IMHO.

[bmkerr]

Hi Guys,

What are the closet shades of grey for both the Soryu and Hiryu.

I know that Hiryu was built at Yokosuka
While Soryu was built at Kure

I normally use Humbrol enamels.

[Dan K]

Unfortunately, I don't use Humbrol paints, only Tamiya acrylics.

[bmkerr]

Unfortunately, I don't use Humbrol paints, only Tamiya acrylics.

I've decided to use Tamiya XF-77 IJN Grey (Sasebo Arsenal)

[Dan K]

Tamiya sprays very well when thinned by 25% with their thinner.

[bmkerr]

when I do use Tamiya paints I use isopropyl alcohol to thin the paint and I get a good finish from it.

[garyrunnalls]

Yep the alcohol works and a lil distilled water added. Good paint if fresh.

[Dan K]

I agree with both points.

[Daytona675R]

Hi all,

please, would any one know anything about the flight-deck-ligthing used on the Kido Butai carriers? I am aware of this article mentioning "white lights along centerline and deck edges (full length of flight deck)." However, I've never seen any pictures of these. Or maybe I've seen but didn't notice.

I know the article covers Akagi and Kaga but I assume the same approach was applied to Soryu, Hiryu, Shokaku and Zuikaku.

What brought this question on my mind were colleagues discussing this picture and the small white dots along the flight deck...

Thank you in advance!

[Dan K]

Well, there's two kinds of deck lighting. One is the larger, hooded lights that sit along the very edge of the deck, from midships to aft, that were used to illuminate the deck for flight deck preparations, and actual night time operations.

The other, as seen on the model, is sort of the equivalent of strip lighting on board a passenger aircraft cabin. It's meant to be a guide to the edge of the deck for the pilots while still maneuvering on the flight deck in low light situations.

We don't always see them, and I think that may be because they might have been hinged. The first photo shows one up close on Zuikaku's flight deck, and it looks like it might be hinged. I'm not certain if they are as numerous as depicted on the Soryu model. FWIW. Both types can be seen in the Soryu photo.

[Daytona675R]

Dan, thank you very much for the info provided. I assume the frequency of the "landing strip lights" on the model is just a sort of artist's impression...

[Dan K]

I actually don't know if it is correct or not. I don't know what references were used, and I don't have any detailed plan sets of Soryu.

[Angeliccypher]

Building the 1/350 Hiryu, I have run into an issue. The aft bulkhead for the hangar has some platforms on it that have PE railing. That railing is butting up against the PE assembly for the flight deck support beams. So something is off. Does anyone have any pictures from the boat deck looking forward?