Calling all Japanese pre-war/wartime Merchant Marine fans

[Graham Boak]

Thanks, though it has set my thoughts running again. For interest's sake, I include a tag to someone else's model, with yet a different set of ideas!
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=h ... s%3Disch:1

Going back to the Mcfadyen dive report, he has the AA gun positions on the deck behind the bridge. Although he is not precise enough for us this could be read as supporting the Hasegawa positioning. I am increasingly convinced that above the bridge is too small/narrow for a twin 25mm mounting, which would require space for the crew as it swivelled and storage for ready-use ammunition. Looking at how much space is provided on other vessels for such a fitting suggests to me that it would have required an enlarged platform on top of the bridge, which is not suggested from the dive records. Twin 13mm may be much more reasonable, needing less space. The TROM specifically says they were moved, suggesting either that they weren't there in the first place or as I suggested earlier, they went to one of the vacated 152mm mountings. Or, the 25mm replaced the 13mm where Hasegawa put them and the 13mm went where Motoyuki-san has them? I think I'll go with that - for today, at least.

Mcfadyen talks about two gun barrels by/in Hold 4, but doesn't mention the gun on the deck by hold 3 in the Mesley sketch. I doubt that either of the end-mounted guns would find themselves there, let alone two (but these may just be spares in the hold). This does make me wonder about placing the 120mm AA in this position, leaving the end mountings either vacant or with 152mm (which goes against the latest version of the TROM, I know....)

Looking at the photo in Motoyuki-san's book, this is captioned as June 1944 (I think), in which case the camouflage predated the final refit. Also, there appears to be something aft of the bridge (the Hasegawa AA position) but nothing on top. It is clearly possible to read too much into this photo.

[Gilbert]

Looking at the photo in Motoyuki-san's book, this is captioned as June 1944 (I think), in which case the camouflage predated the final refit.

Graham,
You are right, the camouflage predated the final refit (11/43) but the photo is captioned as 06/43, not june 1944.

Gilbert

[DougKn]

Here is another well executed Hasegawa model of Heian by Chee Wee, Sim
http://www.steelnavy.com/HasegawaHeianMaruCWS.htm

They are of her as a Sub Tender, seem to have triple 25's just aft of the bridge structure, and twin 25's (?) abreast hold #3. Can't tell what's on bridge wings or on main deck forward of the bridge at hold #2

[janschu]

Hello altogether,

finally here is a life sign from me. After some problems with our caster had been solved the first batch
of the kit has been cast. The caster had much work to do and he had problems with his coworkers, so it took that
long until the parts were ready.

Well, at least here are the photos:

Extra parts Mayasan Maru, as completed


Superstructure levels, Tamatsu Maru


Gun platforms, Tamatsu Maru


Winch platforms, bridge, funnel


Latrines, lifeboats


14m Daihatsu landing craft


Ventilators


75mm AA guns made by Niko Models


Masts and extra funnel part made by BMK


The winches you see on the platforms are only on the parts of the test shot. The series production will have
all the winches as separate parts in order to make the painting more easy. At the moment i am collecting
data for the photoetch sheet, as there are railings, ladders, anchor chain, bridge windows, radar, mast platforms,
boat davits, etc.

So, what do you think?

Greetings from the North Sea coast, Jan

[Dan K]

Wow!

[Gilbert]

Wow!

+1

Gilbert

[Quincy]

Looks fantastic!!






Bob Pink.

[reigels]

Very nice work.

Have you cast the hulls yet as well?

[Burkhardt]

I miss only two plattforms, the vents and all winches for the kit. The construction manual is in process and the most parts are just packaged.

[janschu]

Hello Scott,

of course, the hull is part of the kit! Burkhardt has put in some photos of the hull on page 18 of
this thread. The pictures show the hull of a test shot, the hulls of the series production don�t have
the winches cast on. They are included in the kit as separate parts.

Greetings from the North Sea Coast, Jan

[R Wolford]

Hello Everybody
Well it's been quite awhile since any one posted anything, so I thought I might post a couple of picture of what I think is one of the ugliest pre war Japanese Merchant Ships. The Florida Maru of the K line. The first picture is the Florida Maru in LA on 5/22/1941, this picture is from the Stanley Wheeler Collection and the second I do not know when or where it was taken but it from the A. Duncan Collection of Gravesend, Kent. Any information on the Florida Maru would be most appreciated.

Ron Wolford

[Quincy]

Great pics Ron!

[Gilbert]

Hello Everybody
Well it's been quite awhile since any one posted anything, so I thought I might post a couple of picture of what I think is one of the ugliest pre war Japanese Merchant Ships. The Florida Maru of the K line. The first picture is the Florida Maru in LA on 5/22/1941, this picture is from the Stanley Wheeler Collection and the second I do not know when or where it was taken but it from the A. Duncan Collection of Gravesend, Kent. Any information on the Florida Maru would be most appreciated.

Ron Wolford

Ron,

First, thanks for these two great pictures. Some additional info on her:

GRT: 5254
Lpp: 123.4m
Beam: 16.2m
Draft: 11.3m
Machinery: 1 Diesel
Cruising speed: 12 knots
Builder: Kawasaki, Kobe
Yard #: 484
Completion date: 21/02/1925
Owner: Kawasaki Kisen K.K.
Registry port: Kobe
Requisitioned by the IJN during the war and used as a "Kaigun Zatsuyosen" (Auxiliary Transport) with civilian crew
Fate: Sunk on 03 March, 1943 in Kavieng Harbour @ New Ireland, 2.40s 150.50e, bombed by USAAF / 5th AF / Aircraft / B-17

Cheers
Gilbert

[Dan K]

I think there are more awkward looking ships, esp. those with a straight stem, circa 1920s. Aesthetics is subjective, right? Thx for posting, Ron.

[Merrick]

Hi,

a couple of us are working on making a Standard Type 2E 3d model for Silent Hunter 4. The closest thing we have to a 3-view is actually a 2-view (the image in my copy of Ugly Ducklings) with plan and elevation only. I have Mr. Iwashige's excellent book, along with back issues of ModelGrapix for a few years, but cannot find a front view, or cross sections. Any idea where it might be found?

[Ron Wolford]

Hello Everybody
In my last post, I posted pictures of, the Florida Maru, what I thought was on the ugliest pre war Japanese Merchant Ships, well here are some of the Sagami Maru, what I think is one of the best looking pre war ships. The first two were taken in LA on the 22 of May 1941, and are part of the Stanley Wheeler Collection. The last picture is from the National Archives (80-6-33190) and was taken by LT. Jim Mercer, through the periscope of the U.S.S. Seawolf SS-197 on 3 November 1942. The Seawolf sank the Sagami Maru after expending 6 torpedoes and getting 3 hits, she went down in Talomo Bay, Davao Gulf, Philippines. If you want to read a little more on the Sagami Maru and USS Seawolf try this link http://www.shipwreckworld.com/articles/ ... ss-seawolf
Next week I am heading down to the IPMS National Convention in Phoenix, Arizona. If anyone from this board is down there and wants to get together and talk about Japanese Merchant Ships, or get together and pester the model ship manufactures until they promise to produce some Japanese Merchant Ship kits, please let me know. Thanks
Ron Wolford

http://i30.tinypic.com/350vyoh.jpg
http://i29.tinypic.com/2mn3dyd.jpg
http://i27.tinypic.com/2na5jf6.jpg

[Dan K]

I wish I was going. Will have to chat next time.

[Quincy]

Pester away at them Ron! Maybe we can all get together and chat next year in Omaha.




Bob Pink.

[janschu]

Hello altogether,

here are some "teaser" pictures of the Tamatsu Maru / Maysan Maru.

Some explanations:

- the styrene parts (supports and braces for the Daihatsus, supports for the 75mm gun platforms, supports for
the superstructure levels) are added by me. Some of the needed parts will be included, but some have to be bought.
Nevertheless, the information, what stuff is needed and how to build these parts will be explained in the instructions.
- the type 97 81mm grenade launcher (bow and stern) is scratchbuild by me, resin ones will be included. Furthermore
the type 98 20mm machine guns are also provided, if one wants to build the Maysan Maru as completed.
- the type 96 25mm machine guns on the AA platforms are the beautiful ones from Fine Molds (therefore notincluded).
- at the moment i am collecting data and do the sketches for the photoetch fret
- although you can see 12 Daihatsus on board of the ship, 5 of them will be included in the kit. So, if one wants to increase
the complement, additional setes can be bought from the BMK online shop. https://shop.modellmarine.de/

But now for the pictures:

http://www.bilder-space.de/bilder/3df8c3-1280679521.jpg



http://www.bilder-space.de/bilder/feee78-1280679881.jpg



http://www.bilder-space.de/bilder/3a6d24-1280679905.jpg



http://www.bilder-space.de/bilder/96881c-1280679937.jpg



In order to view the pitures in full size you have to klick on them.Or you can choose a zoom factor.

So, what do you think?

Greetings from the North Sea Coast, Jan

[Dan K]

Looks great to me. Should send a note to Motyuki-san