Calling all Japanese pre-war/wartime Merchant Marine fans

[Timmy C]

The build-up of the Aikoku Maru is actually their resin kit, even though the kit will be in plastic.

[Jim Smith]

Just typical! I finally managed to get a kit of the Pit Road Aikoku Maru after a lot of searching.

Here is my version in pre-war OSK livery:-

Aikoku Maru

Enjoy

Jim S
(Freighter)

[Graham Boak]

Nice to see the photos, the subjects seem to have been beneath the radar of the other show reviews. I must admit I was hoping to learn what Fujimi are going to do next with the tools for the Sanuki Maru. I also assume that Pit Road will be reusing their tools, so perhaps hold fire with any Gaikoku Maru conversion?

Talking of which, are those red decks realistic? I'd assumed grey.

Also, what is the problem with the stern of the kit? Is it that it stays too wide at the waterline, and should taper more attractively? I can still add filler inside and file away, if that's the problem.

[Gilbert]

Talking of which, are those red decks realistic? I'd assumed grey.

Deck colours were either grey, red or natural wood depending on the ships. As for examples, on Motoyuki-san's website, you can see Aikoku Maru with a natural wood colour, and Sagara Maru (Sanuki's sister) with a dark grey colour ahead of the bridge and natural wood on the quarterdeck. However, Sado Maru (another sister) is depicted with a red (lino) deck. See details here: http://ww6.enjoy.ne.jp/~iwashige/modellist.htm

Gilbert

[Graham Boak]

janschu above states that these ships had steel decks, so natural wood would not be appropriate. Unless the seaplane handling decks were wood?

Either way, I find it surprising that much effort went into camouflaging the sides of the ship but the decks left natural wood or lino red. It makes for a more interesting (if more difficult) model, but wouldn't the navy have camouflaged the decks, too? I can see an argument that submarines were considered more of a threat to the transports than aircraft, at least initially, but surely that wouldn't apply to the seaplane carriers?

[Gilbert]

janschu above states that these ships had steel decks, so natural wood would not be appropriate. Unless the seaplane handling decks were wood?

Either way, I find it surprising that much effort went into camouflaging the sides of the ship but the decks left natural wood or lino red. It makes for a more interesting (if more difficult) model, but wouldn't the navy have camouflaged the decks, too? I can see an argument that submarines were considered more of a threat to the transports than aircraft, at least initially, but surely that wouldn't apply to the seaplane carriers?

Jan was talking about the "S" class, not about Aikoku Maru and her sisters. You might find surprising about natural wood or lino red but :

a) - The IJN left her warships with natural wood and lino (except on specific occasions where Yamato & Musashi decks were dark sooted for Sho-Go)
b) - Not all merchies were requisitioned by IJN. Some were under IJA, others directly under "Teikoku Sempaku Kaisha" control and chartered to IJA or IJN, and finally many of them were under civilian control.

Anyway, Motoyuki San paint his models depicted in wartime colours with such deck colours and I strongly believe he is an expert in this matter. Therefore, I shall follow his advice.

HTH

Gilbert

[Quincy]

I am almost sure that the natural wood decks would lose their luster and fade/weather with time. Especially in the Pacific and Aleutian campaigns.
They won't be as bright as depicted in the show pictures.



Bob Pink.

[Gilbert]

Hi All,

Motoyuki San's cargo ship in WW2 visual guide #2 is due to be released this december

See here : http://www.hlj.com/product/MDG23041

Gilbert

[Dan K]

Thx for that. Ordered.

Jim, that's a nice version of Aikoku Maru

[reigels]

This may have been posted before, but if not photos of Koei Maru in the Australian War Memorial's online collection may be of interest.

http://www.awm.gov.au/search/collection ... units_text

I know it's odd, but I had wondered if the deck latrines had doors. Looks like they did (in this case) which makes them easier to model.

http://cas.awm.gov.au/screen_img/125624

[Gilbert]

Scott,

Thanks for sharing.

Gilbert

[janschu]

The japanese deck latrines look nice. Well, i mean the picture is really informative.
But how to shift that into 1/700 scale?

Maybe with the use of photetch?

Greetings from the North Sea Coast, Jan

[janschu]

Hello,

i have just found some new announcements on the Frog Foot website.
http://sachibiyoushitu.com/ff_03.html
It is about the first three ships on the top, the special transport Kashino, the store ship Irako
and another unidentified vessel.

Greetings from the North Sea Coast, Jan

[Freighter]

Jan,
The 3rd kit looks like Mamiya. I heard that Frog Foot were planning to release it sometime this year.

Another good freighter to add to the collection. Thanks FrogFoot World!!

I made the Pit Road/Waveline models of Irako and Kashino some time ago. They're now almost impossible to get hold of so these releases are really worthwhile.

Jim S

[Jim Smith]

Here's a photo of my recently completed Asama Maru. Thanks to FrogFoot World for producing the kit and Gernot for getting me an early production example.

Asama Maru from FrogFoot World

I will be taking it to Telford - look me up at the FineWaterline stand

Jim S (Freighter)

[Gilbert]

Very nice build, Jim

Gilbert

[janschu]

Hello Jim,

i am really looking forward to your ships!

So, hopefully you can give some recommendations what Frog foot kits can be used.
Gernot told me, that "my" Arabia Maru, Toyooka Maru and Taiyo Maru are already underway.

My Taiyo Maru and Asama Maru will look like this, when completed:


Taiyo Maru by Kihachiro Ueda


Asama maru by Kihachiro Ueda

See you at Telford, Jan

[Dan K]

We would expect no less.


Beautiful build, Jim

[Gilbert]

Browsing through "Frogfoot World" website, I noticed in the SS-C series the following bunch of new forthcoming kits :

- SSC-007 FUJI MARU, 9138 Grt., 1937
- SSC-008 HAKONE MARU, 10423 Grt., 1921
- SSC-009 KOBE MARU, 7938 Grt., 1940
- SSC-010 SOMEDONO MARU, 5154 Grt., 1917
- SSC-012 KATORI MARU, 10513 Grt., 1913
- SSC-013 SUWA MARU, 11758 Grt., 1914
- SSC-014 ANYO MARU, 9534 Grt., 1913
- SSC-015 HARBIN MARU, 5167 Grt., 1915
- SSC-016 BAIKAL MARU, 5243 Grt., 1921
- SSC-017 KITSURIN MARU, 6783 Grt., 1935
- SSC-018 TAKASAGO MARU, 9347 Grt., 1937
- SSC-019 PANAMA MARU, 5287 Grt., 1910
- SSC-020 MANILA MARU, 9486 Grt., 1915
- SSC-021 RAKUYO MARU, 9419 Grt., 1921
- SSC-022 SANTOS MARU, 7266 Grt., 1925

What a great program (Gernot is going to be very busy, thanks go to him for his unvaluable help !)
Gilbert

[Freighter]

If FrogFoot continue producing at this rate, I'll have to go back to work!!

Seriously though, it's good that a manufacturer, albeit a small one, has recognised a growing demand for ships inspired by the work of Iwashige-san and the interest shown on this website.

Jim S