The Ship Model Forum

As a primer for the Zuikaku metal deck parts I just used Tamiya black for the airbrush. Then I sprayed the camo over it and then I was able to use the Shipyard masking on it. That way you can control the amount of paint running in the panellines.

1/350 scale ! No way! Never thought i'd see this day Dan! I had the hunch you were going to model a 1/350 Taiho someday but the Hiryu at the battle of Midway with Yamaguchi at the helm is a great choice Beautiful work




Jose

Thank you all for the advice. I've some Tamiya Fine Surface primer on order, and will look to pick up something like Rustoleum, all to experiment with.

Jose - Thx. When I started this about 1.5 years ago, there was no hint of a 1/350 Taiho on the horizon. Now, it will be great practice I figured it was time to push the envelope a bit.

In the meantime, I finished up the aft portion of the flight deck. I was even able to get the rounddown to set properly.

While waiting for my various primers to show up, I scratch-built new rain gutters for the bow and stern flight deck sections. I'd already removed the kit's molded-on version, as it was too shallow and unsatisfactory. Not to mention that the various deck cuts had disrupted its continuity.

I actually goofed, and used the same jig set-up as for my 1/700 carriers, but I caught my mistake after one length was attached to the forward flight deck. I built a new jig, and was able to get the gutters done fairly quickly.

After experimenting with the primers, I chose to use the Tamiya Fine Surface Primer. Wow, this stuff is great. Covers very well with a couple of coats, and allows all the detail to shine through. Dries to a sort of matt-satin finish. Perfect for what I needed. Toxic as hell, though.

Dan K wrote:After experimenting with the primers, I chose to use the Tamiya Fine Surface Primer. Wow, this stuff is great. Covers very well with a couple of coats, and allows all the detail to shine through. Dries to a sort of matt-satin finish. Perfect for what I needed. Toxic as hell, though.

Ironic to survive COVID and be done in by Tamiya rattle can primer instead...

Looks great Dan. Love the rain gutters.

Glad, but not surprised, the primer worked out!

Excellent work in those rain gutters too!

A belated thank you, M & M.

A brief progress report: The support box for the wind barrier/palisade was constructed and added to the forward flight deck, then all glued to the hull.

In order to cut down on some handling later (as more fragile items are added, the dicier handling becomes), I decided to add some vents forward, along with the forward 12.7cm mount sponsons and bow portion of the degaussing cable. Here, only the starboard side is done.

One note: Fujimi supplies a metal-treaded top piece for the crew compartments that lie between the 12.7cm mounts. Unfortunately, this piece is larger than the compartments underneath. (I used a photo off the 'net to illustrate, because I forgot to take that photo.) Its all supposed to be flush, so, some filing and filling is needed.

Great progress!


I just love the bows of IJN carriers... But I have to admit my favorite is Soryu!

Thank you, Marijn. Matching port side work completed, aside from a little clean-up.

But I have to admit my favorite is Soryu!

Everybody has one. I actually prefer Hiryu over her sister but..........

It is very odd that no manufacturer has yet produced a 1/350 Soryu. I would think the market/revenue for her exists. Perhaps we can hope that Hasegawa or Veryfire can find a way to do so.

In the meantime, how about a 1/350 scratch-built version of Soryu? See the build thread from master Japanese modeler Toshiro Akiyama (there's over 220 posts; at the very bottom of the page, look for this symbol ">", and it will take you further back, though in a linear fashion): http://tospop.livedoor.blog/archives/cat_195070.html

Yes, I've seen that thread! (you linked to it already a long time ago in the 'calling all...' thread I think?) Fantastic!

As a 14-15 year old teenager, I contemplated doing the same, and I even drew some 1/350 plans of her. Well, that is, I redrew to 1/350 the very simple plan and elevation in this book:


But now, I will leave that to Toshiro Akiyama, and I'll wait for the kit myself...
It is bound to be produced sooner or later, no? I also find it very odd no-one has made Soryu yet.
It is actually one of the only carrier/battleship sized ships I would consider building in 1/350. That much I like her!
But that's of course purely personal; I can easily see how you would prefer Hiryu, of Taiho, or Akagi, or...

Well, let's hope you get that opportunity some day. In the meantime, practice with 1/700?

Moving back to Hiryu, I gave the degaussing cable and the worked over bow areas a light spray of gray to check for blemishes. Once satisfied, I moved on to the stern.

I began with the intent of installing the upper boat deck, along with railings for it and the main boat deck below. This meant removing the molded on triangular support braces lining the underside, to be replaced with brass versions. However, the underside of the deck is curved, which then meant filing the slope flat, to accommodate a good fit on the braces. I also attached PE versions of the center supports and main girder underlying the deck. Eventually, I found that I needed to move the main girder further aft, as well as clean it a bit.

It was at this point that I realized that the location of the large flight deck support pillars were critical to the final location of the girder substructure that�s fitted under the aft end of the flight deck. If the position of the pillars required corrections, it would affect their alignment with the anchoring points to the girders above.

So, I had to work on that structure as well. (In these photos, neither the upper boat deck or girder assembly is glued in place.) Strangely, the shape of the girders don�t quite conform to the underside of the round down portion of the flight deck. So, adjustments had to be made, though I don�t have a comparison photo for that. The girders were also primed.

I also had to install a portion of the degaussing cable here as well; again, to reduce handling in this area later,

Dan K wrote:Well, let's hope you get that opportunity some day. In the meantime, practice with 1/700?

If only there was more time... And first I have to shake that sailing ship bug...

Great work again!

Those bow and stern areas are always so wonderful on IJN carriers...

Another update. Railings were added to the lower boat deck, then painted to allow for securing the upper boat deck. Most importantly, the girder support structure was glued to the underside of the flight deck in proper alignment.

Then, the underside platform supports that I had cut away were replaced by PE versions. Upper deck railings, some small hull platforms, etc, were added. Then, the underside was painted lightly, again looking for blemishes and issues. Not many were found. Those that were will be corrected.

Note that at the very stern, the railings don't quite meet, plus there's some roughness below on the hull. A PE version of the leadsman platform and railings still needs to be installed here, so much of that will be modified and covered.

Excellent work Dan!

Many aspects of Hiryu are very similar to the Unryu class, so it feels nicely familiar to me (I'm more of a builder than a researcher, so I only know the details of the subjects I build ). One difference I noted is that Hiryu has only one row of pillars supporting the boat deck (central), while Unryu had three rows.

Thx, Marijn

One difference I noted is that Hiryu has only one row of pillars supporting the boat deck (central), while Unryu had three rows.

Well, that's technically true, but not entirely accurate. The Unryus had the same boat layout, which included stowage for 13m daihatsus stowed inboard on the lower level. They were moved by the same overhead rail system as Hiryu, which meant there could not be immovable posts/columns/barriers in the way. Unryu's plans show narrow posts, but they would have to be removable. Not sure why these were needed. Maybe less material used as opposed to adding additional girders underneath the upper boat deck.

Looking great! Is that deck set you are using PE and a wood venire that is designed to be placed on the kit plastic deck?

Future thought for primers (I know I am late to the conversation); I use Mr Surfacer made by Gunze a lot. They have different grades like 500, 1000 and 1500. The larger the number the better on fine detail things. They also have different colors. A little Tamyia XF thinner in it and it airbrushes nicely.

Love the work you are doing. Getting me inspired to get back to mine that intimidated me so I walked away.

Thanks, Gabriel.

Is that deck set you are using PE and a wood venire that is designed to be placed on the kit plastic deck

Yes, from Shipyard Works. However, I'm using the wood veneer strictly as a template for a deck made from Evergreen V-Groove 2025. Plus tie-down holes.

Thanks Dan! I just ordered it. Watch your railing height on the top platform from the aft bulkhead just under the flight deck. I think fujimi had something is off with the height of the platform. The railing was right up against the deck support PE when I test fit mine.