Calling all IJN Kuma-class (球磨), Nagara-class (長良) & Sendai-class (川内) fans

[Ed R]

If you want to be accurate, Tama was actually repainted solid gray prior to the Aleutian campaign (Tama TROM):

http://www.combinedfleet.com/tama_t.htm

[Vladi]

Thank you for pointing that out, Ed R!

16 May 1942:
Arrives at Ominato. During her stay, TAMA's camouflage white patches are painted over and the ship is restored to her orignal Yokosuka Arsenal dark gray color.

I somehow took it for granted that Tama (and Kiso) carried their camo into the Aleutian campaign... it would clearly deserve some additional research (not mentioning the need to learn reading Japanese ).

[redoctober27]

Any word on a new release of a new tooled Yahagi or Agano or the others in this class in 1/700?

[Atma]

Nothing at the moment, sorry, 2014 is very quite for the 1/700 and 1/350 scale, well until the summer. After summer we expect some new releases.

[ajkochev]

Any word on a new release of a new tooled Yahagi or Agano or the others in this class in 1/700?

If you are in a hurry to build a 1/700 Yahagi look on ebay at the start of the month for a Super PE set for it By a company called Star Models. I got one and am quite impressed. It combined with a few generic IJN PE and plastic aftermarket sets will make it look magnificent. The company has no website but does have a email, if you want it, PM me.

Also I have a few references and line drawings of Yahagi but if you have more I'd be greatful for them as this is my next project. Not a lot of photos of it in this thread but I might have missed them.

[ijnfleetadmiral]

Interestingly enough, Tama and Kiso weren't the only CLs to ever sport camouflage. Yura sported it too, and pre-war, no less.

[prowler0000]

Hey Guys!

I'm doing Aoshima's 1/350 Nagara with their extra PE set, some turned main guns & some generic railings.

What grey would she be for a 1942 scheme? & is there anything else that needs to be added/changed, or am i good with whats provided?

Many thanks!

Dean.

[Dan K]

Paint-wise, I don't have L&W handy so I'm not sure where her last refit prior to the start of the war took place. She did have a major refit at Maizuru in April, 1942, where twin 13mm are added (to her bridge, I think). Another quick drydocking at Kure in August, then another refit at Maizuru in late December when #5 mount is removed.

So, your choice is basically Maizuru or Kure Grey.

[prowler0000]

Cheers Dan!

Now i just need to find an equivalent colour in the Vallejo range.... Any advisers???

BTW, Nice kit so far. I like the way Aoshima had located the relevant parts on the same sprues, So the Bridge parts are mainly located on the same runner. Have to say some of the extended P.E is a bit too small to fit the windows they replace, but (as you would!) I used em anyway!!!

[maxim]

Here is a table with Vallejo colours for different WW2 navies:
http://www.ipmsswamp.com/files/VallejoW ... alents.pdf

[prowler0000]

Me again.

As i'm over halfway thru the build, i wondered when the radar would be attached. Thing is, i can't see any....

Are there any on the Nagara, or indeed any of the class? & if so, where would they be?

Thanks again!

[Dan K]

No radar in 1942.

[D-Boy]

Box, art, photos, and instructions for the new Fujimi Kitikami in kaiten mode at Hobby Search website: http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/image/10284330p/10/1

[Dan K]

Should be nice

[tenacioustanaka]

Ok, IJN CL freaks... I need some hard advice. My Nagara was just posted today on the "What's New" page and I have the Sendai and Jintsu standing by. While I feel the Nagara turned out fairly well, considering that late build disaster I had (Some of you may remember the post I made about that). I have some kind of incurable virus that will not allow me to be content with my accuracy when depicting IJN subjects. If anyone would, kindly direct me to what I should pay attention to for those CL builds during the 1942 to mid/late 43 time frame. The radar and AA gun setup is pretty much a no-brainer and L&W Cruiser bible is always the go to guide. But... what do you guys tend to focus on when/if trying to be as perfectly accurate as possible?

I try to focus on deck fittings and other easily moved and modified deck/superstructure additions but photographic references for subjects like this and at such an early time frame pretty much make it impossible to get a perfect match.

Do any of you build with a rule of thumb, use references from a different subject and just infer, totally make it up as you go etc?

I'd like to hear what you cruiser freaks, IJN fans or ship modelers in general do to salve that irritating accuracy itch.

P.S. YES.... I am a rivet counter, but without the nasty and condescending attitude that so often occasions it.

[Dan K]

I dunno, seems pretty complete to me. On a slightly separate note, do you finish them with a flat coat applied by an airbrush? The photos are picking up a hint of sheen, particularly on the linoleum decks. (A critique, not a criticism.)

[tenacioustanaka]

Yes, actually I do. After most of the building is done, I will spray on some Future floor wax and eventually work my way toward a coat or two of modelmaster acryl. I've noticed that sheen as well the past few builds and I don't know why I can't eliminate it completely. Perhaps the Future is overpowering the acryl or perhaps the Acryl is just far too opaque? I've no idea! I may try using modelmaster clear flat lacquer for my next project and see if that solves anything. By the way, critique or criticism... no worries. No matter how good I may get or hope to get I'm ALWAYS open to ways of doing things better or even differently so... fire away!


Of course, in all fairness, still photography is a bit of a chore for me, probably the reason I suck at it so badly.

[Dan K]

I do think you worked in an incredible amount of small details, extremely well executed. Nagara is extremely well done. Congrads!

[Angeliccypher]

Hey guys I had some questions regarding the 1/350 Nagara for Aoshima. I am currently working on her and decided to look through this thread to make sure I was not messing something up in accuracy. I am doing a Midway configuration for her. Earlier in this thread I saw posting that brought aspects of the kits accuracy into question.

"The pre '42 refit had the quad 13mm and post refit (midway etc) replaced it with a single twin 13mm. Apparently it is according to some recent Japanese reference.
The top of the main mast of the 1/350 Aoshima kit is incorrect (depicted the '30's shape, it should be shorter and with 1 cross bar only).
The range finder in the aft mast may not be there, due to a comparison of a '43 photo of Natori which has the range finder replaced by the search light on top of the range finder in the aoshima kit.
The 2 vent platforms (with the binocular/range finger on top) are of different heights, the one closer to the stern should be taller and the one closer to the bridge should be lower (which the aoshima kit apparently depicted the other way around)"

There was also something mentioned about the search lights in the kit possibly being the wrong size.

I am also attempting to figure out what the 13mm gun emplacement would have looked like.

If the main mast was really shorter does anyone have any good shots of rigging with the updated mast?

I have read the TROM and know what it says about the quad 13mm gun being replaced by two duals. Everything else seems to be questionable to me as I have found nothing to either prove or disprove any of these points. Can someone shed some light on this for me please?

Thanks,

[Dan K]

L&W is the source of many of these points. Re: the AA

According to Japanese Cruisers of the Pacific War by Lacroix and Wells on Page 393 it has the following entry, "After her return to Maizuru the Nagara was refitted until May 4th, being dry docked at the Navy Yard 12 - 24 April. During the refit, the single quadruple 13mm ount in front of the bridge was replaced by two twin Type 93 13mm mounts." Her next operation was Midway.

I believe the text refers to the foremast that was shortened, not the mainmast.