Calling all Nagato (長門) and Mutsu (陸奥) fans

[Matt Gill]

OK - as I begin getting pictures and updates, I'll post for those interested. Matt

[Timmy C]

Looking forward to the pictures! Just make sure to post them in the Picture Post -> Work in Progress section of the forum - you'll get more views that way and it'll keep this CASF thread "cleaner".

[Atma]

Some parts in the new IJN Nagato 1933 by Aoshima in 1/700 are not used. Some bridge platforms, boats etc. This maybe means that we might see an IJN Mutsu or even better an IJN Nagato during the 1920's ? Lets hope so.

[Atma]

Anyone got the new IJN Nagato 1933 from Aoshima in 1/700 ? Any thoughts/comments/impressions are welcomed.
Thanks in advance.

[Atma]

Check by the way the dedicated PE set for the new IJN Nagato 1933 from Aoshima:
http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10160954

[Atma]

Some parts in the new IJN Nagato 1933 by Aoshima in 1/700 are not used. Some bridge platforms, boats etc. This maybe means that we might see an IJN Mutsu or even better an IJN Nagato during the 1920's ? Lets hope so.

Now it became clear with this upcoming release:
http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10176601
IJN Nagato 1927 in 1/700 by Aoshima out in April.

[mermaid]

Unfortunately all those releases not in 1/350.

[Atma]

Lets be happy at the moment that they are in 1/700. The old Hi-Mold IJN Nagato 1929 was sold in black market for at least 200 euros !

[D-Boy]

Anyone got the new IJN Nagato 1933 from Aoshima in 1/700 ? Any thoughts/comments/impressions are welcomed.
Thanks in advance.

Nagato 1933 ported here in Albany NY today.

Deep box, the size of recent kits of the IJN carriers. Most of the depth appears to be to accomodate slide molding and/or sprue protection of distinctive pieces in the kit. Parts count is relatively modest - approximately 180 parts, I would estimate.

One piece hull, with seperate WL plate - the seam where they join is visble in the standard way (compare to several of Fujimi's recent offerings, such as the Amagi, where the plate seam is interior to the hull sides). Portholes and gutters are delicatly done and do not draw any attention that screams "overscale" or "heavy-handed."

Four main deck pieces. Scribed deck, with no cross-hatching of planks - just straight plank runs on each piece. Minimal obstructions will make for relatively easy masking - just vent covers and other minor superstructure parts.

Interesting engineering choice re turrets - first time I've seen this approach in the WL series: the round base of each - what would elevate a turret from the wood deck and represent the armored plating descending to lower decks - is cast seperately, meaning no need to mask around turret bases to paint the deck. The turret bases are molded into the hull piece, so you'll have to be mindful to cover this area when painting the hull. Likely will also provide more rigidity to deck, but only assembly will tell if it leaves any gaps at the deck/hull joint.

I'm impressed with the turret molding. Lots of detail there, including distinct range finders for the #2 and #3 turrets. Slight flare in barrel ends. Delicate castings in plastic of funnel caps and searchlight towers. Many will likely replace these towers with PE, but the plastic is a distinct improvement over solid towers of older (and even fairly recent) IJN BB kits.

Bent funnel, as expected, is a beautiful thing to behold. Most external piping is molded seperately for the funnels.

Transparent sprue for searchlights and four levels of bridge windows.

A handful of parts go unused in this kit - we now know these are for the circa 1927 Nagato build announced for release in April.

Will not be able to provide any pictures this evening - sorry.

[Atma]

Thank you D-Boy !
A quick question about the barrels, are good enough to avoid use of brass barrels ?
Thanks in advance.

[Atma]

Looking at IJN Nagato's TROM:http://www.combinedfleet.com/nagatrom.htm
"1932:
Four twin (4x2) dual purpose 5-inch (127-mm) HA guns are installed. The existing 3-inch (76-mm) AA guns are landed. Four 40-mm/62 Vickers AA guns (2 x 2) are also added to the weather deck.

25 February 1933:
Geneva, Switzerland. Japan withdraws from the League of Nations and decides she will no longer abide by restrictions such as the Washington of 1922 and the London Treaty of 1930 that impose limitations on the number and size of her warships.

Summer 1933:
A Kure Type No. 2 Model 3 catapult, collapsible crane and rails are installed between the mainmast and the No. 3 turret.

16-21 August 1933: Special Great Maneuvers:
Departs Tateyama as the flagship of the Red Fleet to operate N of Marshall Islands, then returns to Kisarazu Bight.

15 November 1933:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Sada Kenichi (former CO of BC HIEI) assumes command.

1 April 1934: First Modernization :
Kure Navy Yard. NAGATO�s hull is lengthened aft, anti-torpedo bulges are added and all torpedo tubes removed. A clipper bow is retrofitted. Additional horizontal armor is fitted over the magazines and machinery spaces. An armor strake is fitted to hull bottom in the vicinity of the turn of the bulges.

New main caliber turrets taken from unfinished battleships KAGA and TOSA are installed. Her 16-inch (406-mm) guns' elevation is increased to 43 degrees, increasing their maximum range to 41, 448 yards or 23.5 miles. Additional armor is fitted to turret faces, sides and tops. The barbette armor is likewise strengthened. The secondary battery 5.5-inch (140-mm) guns' elevation is increased to 35 degrees. Two upper deck secondary caliber guns are landed.

The NAGATO�s forward funnel is removed. All of her 20 original steam boilers are removed and replaced with four large Kampon oil-fired boilers in addition to six rebuilt small boilers. As a result of increase in displacement, the NAGATO�s maximum speed drops to 25 knots. Three Nakajima E4N2 floatplanes are embarked.

15 November 1934:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Yukishita Katsumi assumes command.

15 July 1935:
Captain (later Rear Admiral) Saito Jiro (former CO of CA FURUTAKA) assumes command.

15 November 1935:
Attached to BatDiv 1, First Fleet."


And if we assume that this is accurate, the 1933 IJN Nagato from Aoshima represent only a single year from the "life" of IJN Nagato, the 12,7cm AA outfit IJN Nagato with bent funnel. The new 1927 version of IJN Nagato this April seems more logical modeling subject.

[Atma]

Also notice this piece from IJN Mutsu's TROM:

"20 November 1933:
Rebuilding of pagoda mast started. 10-m (in place of 8-m) rangefinders fitted on turrets 2 and 3. A Kure Type No. 2 Model 3 catapult is fitted. "

[D-Boy]

Thank you D-Boy !
A quick question about the barrels, are good enough to avoid use of brass barrels ?
Thanks in advance.

Pictures posted to the thread in the "Review" section: viewtopic.php?f=53&t=96897

Barrels look pretty good to me!

[D-Boy]

Nagato 1933 wood deck and PE set arrived today - see comments in review section. These accessories look very nice.

[Atma]

Some observations/comments about the 1933 and the future 1927 versions IJN Nagato:
I would like to ask D-Boy if the PE set has the missing pipes for the number 2# funnel(Red circle). Also notice the small rangefinder shall be a in front of the second row of Pagoda's pillars, not behind like Aoshima's model(Yellow arrow):

And here an extra photo:

Last picture is the model of the upcoming 1927 version of IJN Nagato due out in April by Aoshima, Red circle is the position of the missing pipes, Yellow circle the wrong position of the small rangefinder(s) and Blue circle the correct position of the small rangefinder(s).Same for the already released 1933 IJN Nagato:


Anyone who has the 1/700 IJN Amagi from Fujimi will recognize how the missing pipes look like:

[Atma]

Forgot to add that to anyone who will attempt a straight funnel(with flare or without) he must rearrange some position of searchlights. Different positions for straight funnel without flare and different positions with flare on the number 1# funnel.
If anyone wants to know where is what, please ask me !

[Atma]

And here a picture of IJN Nagato as build:

And here notice how the canvas storage devices where suited on the face of Pagoda, Pink circle, there is noone in the Aoshima kit:

And here is a clean view of IJN Mutsu still under constrution but with her main pagoda almost complete:

[Atma]

Im planning to make a mid 1930's IJN Nagato or IJN Mutsu, got some questions:
This is a picture of IJN Mutsu and I was wondering what was at that time the AA equipment of IJN Mutsu(besides the 12,7 cm AA), Dan any help ?

The Yellow circle is future positions for the double 25 mm AA guns. But whats that on the Brown circle ?Still the old double 40mm AA ?

Also notice the difference of a prewar pagoda IJN Nagato class with a wartime Pagoda:

The Red circle was 1,5 navigation finders that later (late 1930's) where moved further back and in their position new 2 double 25mm AA guns where placed.
Black cirlce an extra pair of spoting device that was later removed, and the Yellow cirlce show the positions of the future AA 25mm guns.
Notice in the Blue arrow some difference in the face of the pagoda from a wartime era Pagoda.

[Atma]

Here is comparison of 1936-39 Pagoda(Number 1) and a 1939-1943 Pagoda(Number 2):

Also keep in mind that at the back of the funnel the 2 AA platform complex with 4 double 25 mm AA guns was not yet fitted till 1939.

[USS California BB44]

Does anyone know if Aoshima will release an as built Nagato to go with their 1933 and soon to be released 1927 kits? This would be the one gap in a full stream of her appearances.