Calling all IJN Takao-class (高雄型) fans

[Dan K]

That appears to be the 1/200 Miyukikai plan set, circa 1938. It's excellent.

[iansenior]

Hi Dan K
Yes it is, and plenty of detail for a single sheet,even thruogh some of the details are very faded. Prob a copy of a copy..........
Ian

[Atma]

Anyone knows or has any experience with this particular release from Pit Road of 1/700 Chokai:http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10018503
if I can make an as build or mid 30's Takao class unit ?
Im asking in particular for as build version cause I dont know if the tall main mast is included, cause as you can see from the instructions in the link it gives a lot of options the Pit-Road kit.
Thanks in advance

[Dan K]

Hull-wise, it's actually the only Takao class kit that's appropriate for an as-built version of any of them. You would need to use the Aoshima Chokai hull to make her or Maya as fit for the late 1930s -1943 (Maya) 1944 (Chokai) version).

Despite PitRoad's instructional depiction, the basic bridge configuration is really molded in the as-built configuration. I no longer have it but I don't think the kit's aft mast was tall enought for the as-built fit. You'd have to go with brass rod.

[Atma]

Hull-wise, it's actually the only Takao class kit that's appropriate for an as-built version of any of them. You would need to use the Aoshima Chokai hull to make her or Maya as fit for the late 1930s -1943 (Maya) 1944 (Chokai) version).

Despite PitRoad's instructional depiction, the basic bridge configuration is really molded in the as-built configuration. I no longer have it but I don't think the kit's aft mast was tall enought for the as-built fit. You'd have to go with brass rod.

Well I notice the same with the bridge, as for the brass rods at least is an easy task, Dan do you know if the forward mast as build is also inside the box of Pit-Road's Chokai ?

[Dan K]

The kit and instructions do carry the as-built (1932) foremast. It's not bad.

[Garry71]

Photoetched parts for Takao from GPM (1 : 200 scale):

[Atma]

1/200 ? The scale is interesting.

[Garry71]

1/200 ? The scale is interesting.

It's paper modeling scale.
Paper model of Takao:
http://www.navarin.ru/product_info.php/products_id/1935
And:
http://wmc.kvaksiuk.com/viewtopic.php?f=67&t=1371

[Atma]

Pit-Road's new announcement, 1700 IJN Maya with new parts for heavy and light AA guns,new (and as you can see from the close up, very neat and cool main guns)turrets/barrels, new boats, new searchlights and photo etc parts for the forward main mast and for the catapults.Late March release.
Link:http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10139441.

[Dan K]

Interesting annoucement. They are almost certainly including parts from there own new line of 1/700 slide molded acsessories; the twin 12.7cm HA are the best I've ever seen in 1/700, though I am underwhelmed by the 25mm. FineMold's are better. The mainmast looks like the same set-up issued by FIneMolds as part of its Takao basic PE set fret.

If they are using the same basic hull and bridge, it's less than accurate.

[Atma]

Sadly they are using the same Bridge and Hull(even thought I ordered my own copy cause Im really disappointed with Aoshima's IJN Takao class, even thought Aoshima's Chokai is better than Pit-Road's in my opinion), we have to wait for Fujimi's follow up to IJN Takao (Dan, dont miss that) for an accurate IJN Maya, the Fujimi's developing team knows the defections/errors with the Aoshima's and Pit-Road's IJN Takao class kit, and they aiming to produce at last, an accurate IJN Takao class in 1/700. They already prove that with the IJN Tone class
Im still waiting for my favourite class of IJN Heavy Cruisers to be released in plastic in the big scale(1/350), IJN Furutaka and Aoba class.

Edit:Dan ! I forgot to ask you, do you know if early 1942 the number 1# turret of IJN Myoko and in Takao class had thier rangerfinder's windows removed(cause of ocean spray) and late (by 1943+) the rangefinder was gone or just reduced in size ?IJN Maya's(1944) rangefinder on number 1# turret I guess is wrong at the Hobby Link link in my previous post.

[Dan K]

I have a Fujimi Takao on order - we'll just wait and see

The #1 rangefinder for the Takaos was covered earlier in this thread on pp 7-8. Atago and Takao had their removed during their rebuilding. However, the housing, minus the overhang over the side of the turret, was retained atop the turret. I do not believe that Chokai or Maya ever lost their #1 rangefinders.

(edit: L&W schematics indicate that Chokai & Maya did have theirs removed by 1944 but I'm not certain of that. The one side view of Maya at Tawi Tawi in May, 1944 seems to show the housing for turret # 1 but I can't tell if it's been stripped like Atago/Takao, or fully functional. The Chokai 1944 pix are too indistinct to tell. Still, the trend does seem to be that of stripping them out and leaving the housing.)

A quick view of Myoko, Ashigara, and Nachi indicates that, like Takao/Atago, their #1 rangefinder was also removed by midwar, though the housing minus the overhangs was retained.

[Atma]

So you mean, Takao and Atago by late 1944 (time of Atago sunk) they had no rangefinders at all on turret number 1# or just the overhangs removed ? Well I see in some Aoshima instructions in Takao class units that the overhands shall be removed too on number 1#. That means - I made my Aoshima's 1/700 Takao and Maya without the overhangs - my models are wrong.... I thought Chokai and Maya had also the same treatment in the rangefinders of number 1# turret... Bad news damn !
Too bad I didn't get the Classic Warpships Takao class book yet.

[Dan K]

No overhangs - see this small Takao photos

[Atma]

Oh thanks Dan, so Takao's and Atago's rangefinders on mumber 1# went the same treatment like the Myoko's class.And I see that the rangefinder windows on number 2# turret increased in size like Myoko class.Did Maya and Chokai didn't had any change at all on number 1# turret ?

[Dan K]

I'm just not sure by late war. Certainly, Chokai & Maya had them thru mid 1943. As I wrote above, L & W drawings make it seem like they were removed, and the housing shell minus the overhangs remain. It would make sense. The photos aren't clear enough. Maya at least retained the housing.

[Atma]

Yes I see, is hard to tell I never show a good/not blurry picture of Chokai after 1942, Maya too. Thanks Dan for your effort
I guess I will leave the overhangs for my Maya and just remove the rangefinder's lookouts.I always thought all this went like the lookouts first (around 1942 - cause from some Takao class pictures in 1939-40 I see they got their number 1# "as built"), then by mid 1943(?) the overhangs gone too.Now about the larger lookouts of number 2# turrets of Myoko and Takao class I thought only Takao and Myoko had them during 1945(I never show an Ashigara and Haguro picture of that period and I really cant tell from Aoba's wreck at Kure if she had also the larger lookouts).
Your thoughts Dan ?

[Dan K]

One last try at 400dpi. I think it's just a housing remnant on top of the turret.

[Atma]

Yes Im deffinetly sure is a housing remnat of the rangefinder there Dan. But as you said too, is hard to tell if the overhangs have been removed too.