Calling all Yamato (大和) and Musashi (武蔵) fans

[cplchanb]

just another thing to point out from the so called "real photo"
One big tell off is the main mast. It looks like it is in the pre Type 21 radar configuration.
you can see from even the kure model and skulski's book the mast was significantly altered when the radars were installed

but i do have to admit i thought it was real when i saw it for the first time too!

[bucketfoot-al]

Some new and/or larger/clearer photos have been added to the Yamato/Musashi Archive Photo Library. Make sure you click on the "View full size photo" logo on the bottom right:

http://ultimatebattleshipyamatosite.tri ... i?i=12&s=1

http://ultimatebattleshipyamatosite.tri ... i?i=14&s=1

http://ultimatebattleshipyamatosite.tri ... i?i=18&s=1

http://ultimatebattleshipyamatosite.tri ... i?i=20&s=1

http://ultimatebattleshipyamatosite.tri ... e?i=24&s=1

http://ultimatebattleshipyamatosite.tri ... 3?i=28&s=1

http://ultimatebattleshipyamatosite.tri ... 4?i=32&s=1

[cplchanb]

EXCELLENT!!!!
You really are the master of Yamato/Musashi photography...
Now we have a confirmed shape of what the stern looks like!

thanx so much! <3

[eraphael]

It would be nice if an updated 1/350 Yamato kit fitted for Ten-Go be done!

Thanks for the pics!

Eli

[J. Soca]

nice shot of the bridge! it looks to me like the combat bridge.


Jose

[bucketfoot-al]

Well, as I was taking a close look at the famous 2 photos of Yamato being hit by a bomb in Oct 1944 in the Sybyan Sea, I noticed that the single AA 'bucket' installed at that time to the front near the superstructure was visible.

Zooming in on various versions of the photo, I come to the conclusion that the way the sun reflects supports the latest Japanese reconstructions of the buckets being a partial octagonal shape, rather than round.

What do you think? Take a look:

[chuck]

It could just as easily be a partial ring of sand bags. In fact, it is not clear to me that is shown is actually a single 25mm mount.

[bucketfoot-al]

Good points all Chuck. The mass in the middle is impossible to ID (gun? or something else?) While doing the zooming, I had the feeling that I was trying to zoom in on the features of the moon or Mars - eventually its so blurry you haven't the foggiest what you are looking at.

[bucketfoot-al]

OTOH, get a load of this close-up of one of Musashi's .25 cal turrets (and don't forget to take a peek at the new photos linked just upthread):

http://ultimatebattleshipyamatosite.tri ... i?i=10&s=1

[chuck]

Regarding the crane mast, there is another personal photo, taken of a Japanese naval lieutenant in Turk and in which the rear third of the Yamato clearly appears in the background, that clearly shows the crane mast missing from the crane. So it appears the removal of the crane mast is not a one time occurrence.

There is a Japanese website which I can't find on a moment's notice, but which showed a diagram of how, apparently in preparation for imminent gunnery action, the crane arm itself is used to unship the crane mast to clear the arc for the aft 18" guns. Basically, the rear mounting of the crane mast is appearently disconnected from the crane platform, the crane arm is then raised to its highest position, and the crane mast is then secured to the crane arm, and the crane arm and crane mast is then lowered together, with the crane mast hinging on its two forward mounts, until the crane arm rests on its support with the crane mast resting on top of the crane arm. I am not sure what happens to the wireless antenna that are connected to the crane mast. Presumably there is some way to expeditiously secure those as well.

[bucketfoot-al]

Hi Chuck, I've seen that diagram about the 'folding mast' too.

Since I cannot read Japanese I could not be sure whether this was a description of actual practice or speculation as to how the mast could be stowed so the rear 18.1" guns would not be obstructed. In any event, the mast was not on the ship for Ten-ichi-go, that much is certain.

BTW, I have just improved, cleaned up and enlarged that photo of the Yam at Truk harbor (yes, thanks are due to you for pointing me to the book from whence it came!!)

Here is the link to the new - NEW photo (click on 'View Full-Size Image'):


http://ultimatebattleshipyamatosite.tri ... 3?i=28&s=1

[cplchanb]

Chuck,

heres the site that you were referring to:
http://homepage1.nifty.com/watakan/yamato/

actually its just part of the site that explained the evolution of the superstructure

[bucketfoot-al]

And here are three more new/enlarged shots of the Yamato - make sure you click on "View Full-Size Image":

http://ultimatebattleshipyamatosite.tri ... 41?i=7&s=1

http://ultimatebattleshipyamatosite.tri ... 41?i=9&s=1

http://ultimatebattleshipyamatosite.tri ... 5?i=81&s=1

[chuck]

Could the object tentatively identified as a single 25mm mount behind some sort of splinter shield really the crate next to the 6" barbette ventilation cowling shown in the photo above? It would be interesting to know exactly when the above photo was taken. The seemly disorderly storage of various articles between B and 6" barbette hopefully does not represent a common storage procedure on the Yamato.

[cplchanb]

sorry chuck that photo you uploaded is not working...

[bucketfoot-al]

A couple of clearer, larger, and improved shots of the Yamato's demise:


http://ultimatebattleshipyamatosite.tri ... ?i=107&s=1

http://ultimatebattleshipyamatosite.tri ... ?i=108&s=1

http://ultimatebattleshipyamatosite.tri ... ?i=109&s=1

[bucketfoot-al]

Well, having discovered some really cool photoshop software from Japan (ironically enoough), it became possible last week for me to load much larger and sharper photos onto my Library, while actually using up LESS space than before.

So, after a week of work, almost all the old photos have been replaced with enlarged , higher quality versions; new color photos were added along with some truly HUGE full-length shots of the Yamato;

Finally, about 2 dozen never-before-seen photos have been added as well.

I feel comfortable in saying that I am not aware of ANY significant photo of Yamato and Musashi that is not on the site.

So - its pretty much all new, BIGGER, BETTER, than before!!! (As Carnival Barkers of old might have put it!)

Feel free to take a look:

http://ultimatebattleshipyamatosite.tri ... e_battles/

[amiers]

What year does the 1/350 tamiya's yamato depict?

[cplchanb]

to be honest... it doesnt really depict a specific time frame...cuz its a mix of early and late...
the armament is 1945 but the superstructure and mast is from the early 40s...
then again when they made it they ddnt have the research we have today...i dont think they even had references from the wreck

[amiers]

i have been trying to get to this website http://ultimatebattleshipyamatosite.tri ... e_battles/ but it keeps shutting down my browser?