Calling all Japanese pre-war/wartime Merchant Marine fans

[aleccap]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2745/438 ... 925c_b.jpg

[Mav87th]

Gilbert,

Yea both Tone and Kisa Maru are the same class as Akita Maru (all are mentioned in ONI-208-J on page 130) But non of them are the ship that in the game is called the Akita Maru. On the ship from the game the funnel fx. is very low, like a diesel engine funnel, contra the funnel on the real Akita Maru class that all are high funnels (them being coal engines).

Just to clarify - it's the ship from the graphical image (not the real black and white images) that needs identification.

Regards
Martin

[Gilbert]

Martin,

Sorry for the misunderstood. I think it will be very difficult to identify your ship with only a single graphic representation. Definitely not an Akita maru class ship.

Regards
Gilbert

[Gilbert]

Hello All,

I just want to mention the folllowing two 1/700 new builds from Jim Smith:

- RIO DE JANEIRO MARU: http://www.finewaterline.com/pages/gall ... /jsrio.htm

- BRAZIL MARU: http://www.finewaterline.com/pages/gall ... ilmaru.htm

They are both depicted in pre-war colours and are, as usual, very nicely built

Congratulations, Jim

Gilbert

[Dan K]

Yes, excellent builds, Jim

Mav87th: I know you've been asking about this ship for quite a while. Despite the accuracy of the other depicted merchants in the game, it's entirely possible that they got the details wrong or, mistook features from another class sister. Belonging to a particular class does not obviate any given sister having details different form the other members of the class. Something to consider.

[Mav87th]

Yea Dan i have considered that, but since I usualy get "accused" for being stubborn I thought I would try to live up to that :D

No arms - no cookies ! So im still crossing my fingers

[bootneck42]

Hi Martin,

I would think that this could possibly one of the drawing teams earlier renditions of a Japanese merchant vessel, done before they got into drawing accurately detailed vessels? My logic for this is that the drawing has inconsistencies with vessels around the period of ww2 and appears to have elements of contrasting old and new styles of builds:

The 'vessel' looks to be of class MKFM (from front to back - Mast, Kingpost, Funnel, Mast)
The masts have the inverted cross-trees, typical of Kawasaki and Asano built ships of 1918-1925 period
Large composite superstucture (in comparison with overall vessel) presumes passenger carrying as well as cargo
Extremely short foc'sle typical of vessels built late 1800's
There is only one hatch in front of the bridge, but booms and capstans for two
There is a hatch up between the bridge and the funnel which would impede/separate the accommodation
Short funnel denotes, as already mentioned, a motor ship rather than a steamship.

A similar vessel that I have found, not an exhaustive search, is the steamship Akibasan Maru 1924/4,607grt. Although a steamship, it has the same type of masts and a set of kingposts abaft the funnel. However it does not have the additional superstructure decks. I have posted a view of this vessel, scanned from ONI 208-J (Revised) page 256


The drawn vessel also has a similarity (in the superstructure side openings style), with Buenos Aires Maru 1929 (ONI 208-J page 15)


I'm sure that other, more knowledgeable, enthusiasts will join in and contribute to help with your query but these are my thoughts for now

cheers

Mike
Bootneck42

[janschu]

Hello,

for the guys who are interested in the Frog Foot kits. Gernot informed me that Frog Foot plans to release the following kits between
April and August: SS-013 Hario, SS-014 Kazahaya, SS-032 Ose, SSC-017 Tonan Maru No.2, SSC-019 Tonan Maru No.3
Thanks for the info, Gernot!

This week i have started to build SS-IF002, Type Tamano fast fleet tanker/aircraft transport. This kit is real fun!
Their (Frog Foot Model) kits are getting better and better. And furthermore i was informed by Mr. Funayama yesterday, that the next
two kits are on the way! As there are the SS-012 Hayasui and SSC-001 Yasukuni Maru! I am really looking forward to these kits, especially
the Hayasui.

Well, with all these releases from this and other manufacturers this will be a very fruitful year for us!

Greetings from the North Sea Coast, Jan

[Timmy C]

You guys may also be interested to note that Hobby Search has now posted Seals Models' re-release of the Shinano-maru:
http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10110792

[Mav87th]

Hi Bootneck42

Yea i have the same thoughts as you and Don - that this ship could be a complete "make-up" with no real relation other then, as you mention, a mix of tell tale signs for other ships.

I have been "running" this post on different forums, where a lot of knowledge resides, and yet in over 1� year noone has come up with the right ship. That kinda leads me to belive that it is a fantasy ship, that were "named" to the closest comparison.

Still....I'm open to someone with the right pick :D

[Ron Wolford]

Hello Everybody
Here is one I would like to see a model of, the Ural Maru. According to, Hisashi Noma, in his book "Japanese Merchant Ships at War: The Story of Mitsui and O.S.K. Liners lost during the Pacific War" she served both as a trooper and as Hospital Ship. All photos are OSK post cards.

[aleccap]

Great looking Maru and so easily to forget how people use to load and unload those ships back then, no super cargo boxes, everything lifted by crain or hand winch. Great stuff.

[Gilbert]

Hello Everybody
Here is one I would like to see a model of, the Ural Maru. According to, Hisashi Noma, in his book "Japanese Merchant Ships at War: The Story of Mitsui and O.S.K. Liners lost during the Pacific War" she served both as a trooper and as Hospital Ship. All photos are OSK post cards.

Hello Ron,
Thanks for the pictures. Hopefully, Frog Foot models will make a kit in a near future

Gilbert

[Quincy]

I'd be happy with a kit of her myself!



Bob Pink.

[Ron Wolford]

Hello Everybody
I screwed up on my earlier post, the ship pier side at Dairen, is not the Ural Maru, but a similar ship named Usuri Maru. According to ONI-208J Japanese Merchant Ships Recognition Manual (Revised) the two are not sister ships, it lists them 6 pages apart, even though the only difference I can see is the Usuri Maru has 3 lifeboats per side, instead of 4 for the Ural Maru. The Usuri Maru also has solid handrails on the third deck and the stack is 8 feet taller(IAW ONI-208J) other than that I can't see any difference. Here are 2 post cards of the Usuri Maru.

[bootneck42]

Hi Ron,

I have a plan (a cunning plan?) of 'Ussuri Maru' of 1932 which was taken from "The Shipbuilder and Marine Engine Builder" February 1933 when announcing the successful sea trials of that vessel.

I will post it here with a couple more photos to go with yours

Mike

USSURI MARU 1932
6,385grt 5,288dwt
LOA 424' 0"
LPP 405' 0"
Bm 55' 0"

[Gilbert]

Hello Everybody
I screwed up on my earlier post, the ship pier side at Dairen, is not the Ural Maru, but a similar ship named Usuri Maru. According to ONI-208J Japanese Merchant Ships Recognition Manual (Revised) the two are not sister ships, it lists them 6 pages apart, even though the only difference I can see is the Usuri Maru has 3 lifeboats per side, instead of 4 for the Ural Maru. The Usuri Maru also has solid handrails on the third deck and the stack is 8 feet taller(IAW ONI-208J) other than that I can't see any difference. Here are 2 post cards of the Usuri Maru.

Many sister-ships have more visual diference than these two. This Japanese source: http://translate.google.com/translate?h ... pnships%2F mentions some improvments regarding cargo holds and passenger accomodations. Anyway, to me they can be considered as sister-ships, sharing the following same items:
-Lpp: 123.29m
-Beam: 16.76m
-Depth: 10.06m
-Machinery: ST - 6500 SHP
-Built in the same Nagasaki shipyard

Gilbert

PS-And thanks for sharing the pictures

[Ron Wolford]

Mike
Thanks for the two pictures of the Ussuri Maru/Usuri Maru, I really liked the one where she is pier side with all her flags displayed. Could you do me a favor and post the entire page of the plan of the Ussuri Maru? Thanks.

Ron Wolford

[bootneck42]

Hi Ron,

the drawing is rather large so I have had to scan it in 3 parts and stitch it. The drawing is part of an 8 page article which I will send to you.

Mike

[Pieter]

A free 1/700 paper kit was published on the 'net some years ago. Can't find the link anymore but I did download it. PM me if you're interested. It gives you at least some idea of the color scheme though the deck color (green) looks a bit bright to me.