The Ship Model Forum

Well the Akizuki class often divided into 3 or more subclasses:
Akizuki, Fuyutsuki and Michitsuki. So such changes in the structural elements are normal.

Yamashita Hobby will release their Akizuki class kit. They will release at least four different kits.

I talked to them this year in May in Shizuoka.

This was their sign mentioning the delay:


https://www.modellmarine.de/index.php/fotogalerien/215-ausstellungen/7234-shizuoka-hobby-show-2024-teil-1-schiffsmodelle

About Yamashita Hobby, yes I remember they released some 10cm AA turret but thats all about it. Fortunately, Aoshima is starting to reproduced their waterline series but with more enhanced tooling on their accessories including their Akizuki class.

About Suzutsuki, I used to think that she was constructed with simplified or angled bridge superstructure to simplify production, but it turns out I was wrong. I should have checked out wikipedia first. According to wikipedia just like you said, her bow was destroyed and it requires her bridge to be repaired but with simpler angled superstructure. Again, thank you for enlighten me.

it's me again.



I'm planning to collect some Aoshima Akizuki class in the future

I'm not sure how urgent this plan is, but know that Yamashita Hobby is planning to release it's own Akizuki class kits, starting with Fuuzuki, in the near future. Hopefully by year's end. Or next year. It will be interesting to compare kits.

Suzutsuki have bevel edge bridge superstructure

Suzutsuki was torpedoed in early 1944 and lost her entire bow, and incurred severe damage to her bridge. When she was repaired, she was given a simplified bridge and bow form. So, depending on when you depict her, you could go for either configuration.

The Gakken volume #23 on the Akizuki class seems to indicate that Wakatsuki might have gotten a similar bridge repair after being damaged at Rabaul in November, 1943, but I've not found any such mention anywhere else. I tend to doubt her bridge was damaged to such an extent.

HTH.

Hello Dan K, it's me again. I'm planning to collect some Aoshima Akizuki class in the future and I noticed in the internet that some of the sister ships particularly Suzutsuki have bevel edge bridge superstructure compare to most have rounded edge. I just want to know if there are other sister ships of the Akizuki class have similarly beveled edge bridge superstructure so I can sort them out.

Thanks, I think I will make the call to include linoleum for that area then. I have seen some other aerial photos of Akizuki class members where there seems to be a difference in light reflection in this area. With the Harutsuki picture in consideration, I think it is good enough evidence that there probably was linoleum there on Fuyutsuki.

Unfortunately, there are no views of Fuyuzuki in this area. In fact, the two views that you have posted seem to be the only ones even remotely related to this area for any of the AKizukis. The same seems to be true for all the available plans.

With that said, it was the general practice among the Type A class DDs, and others, to have a small area of the main deck aft the bridge laid with linoleum, though this was not always symmetrical from side to side. And, I agree that the Harutsuki pic (linoleum 2) show a very different surface than the metal treaded areas slightly further aft.

Interestingly, the 1/350 HobbyWorld-Monochrome-Trumpeter-Wave Akizuki class kits all show some linoleum in this area, though I've no idea what their source material might be.

Fuyuzuki underwent some fit changes as well as repairs due to torpedo damage, but I doubt that this area was ever changed. She probably wore linoleum in the area indicated.
My two cents.

Hello, I am asking if anyone has looked into the linoleum deck layout of Fuyutsuki. I am interested in whether there was linoleum just aft of the bridge? A lot of sources depict there being a small portion of linoleum deck before metal, but others show it as just plate metal. I can't find any pictures that give a good look at this area. The area in question is highlighted by a red arrow in the attached photo, which is of a line drawing from Model Art vessel Special issue 71.

I have found a picture of Harutsuki in Gakken 23 where it appears that there is linoleum at this point due to a clear texture change. However, I have already found a handful of differences between Fuyutsuki and her sister ships of her subclass which make me want more evidence before deciding what to do. There is also attached a picture of Yoizuki also from Gakken 23 but I cannot tell if there is a change or not. Fivestar's 1/350 detail kit depicts metal plating in this section using its photo-etched brass deck, so before I cut out the section that seems to be linoleum I thought I would seek some confirmation from any experts, thanks.

I have to apologize for the delay, Harquebus, but I got the fret I made to correct some errors and found that there were noticeable discrepancies between step spacing on the side ladder, inclined ladders and vertical ladders. In addition, a test build of the side ladder with platforms and rails was far too fragile, so a second revision fret was planned. That also stalled work on the instructions.

Then the Covid-19 virus hit and I lost contact with my guy in Hong Kong who had been processing my brass at a reasonable price. I don't know if that was caused by the virus, or the political climate. Either way, I need to find a new etcher who won't charge me California prices. I don't know what I could charge for the frets in their current state.

This was one of those projects that started out with great enthusiasm and the best intentions, then life got in the way. Sorry.

Mike C, Dan K or anyone else in the know:

Any word on this Akizuki PE set? I need two sets even if I never get around to building these kits (I have three Nichimo IJN destroyers), because they would make an added 'sweeten-the-deal' kit bonus to a potential buyer...

THANKS!

Awesome, thanks Greg. I've just started back into warship modeling and haven't done a ton of IJN stuff so trying to get the lay of the land.

Jason, I believe your general assumption regarding painting is correct, although AFAIK the IJN battleships had wood main decks, not linoleum like the cruisers and destroyers (at least from WWI through WWII).

Thanks Dan, much appreciated.

As an outlier, can I safely assume the same thing holds true for most IJN ships, including light/heavy cruisers and battleships regarding the linoleum strips and steel deck color. I know it will require some research per individual ship, time frame etc. but generally speaking.

Yes. Weathering can affect it, though.



Yes. There may have been some variations (most notably with Suzutsuki after her numerous repairs), but the linoleum is there. This is true for all the IJN DDs.

I have a couple of questions on colors for Akizuki, or maybe IJN destroyers in general.

First, it seems from my viewing of pictures of other folks builds on here and other forums that the metal deck color for most IJN destroyers is the same color as the rest of the ship, is this correct? I mean, other than the linoleum strips on certain sections, the actual steel deck color seems to be consistent with the hull and superstructure from what I've seen. So, if for example it's Kure gray for the hull and superstructure, it's Kure gray for the deck as well?

Second, did the Akizuki's have linoleum strips on sections of their decks? I found a couple of builds that were just gray decks, no reddish brown linoleum color. The Aoshima kit I'm working on shows just gray in the color callouts, but then I have seen some builds that have the reddish brown linoleum deck strips.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Hi Dan K,

Yes, in my opinion, Fujimi is improving progressively with each NEXT release. The moulding quality/sharpness and the general shape accuracy has gone up another level from their Kagero release a few years back. I am really impressed with the details they mananged to get on the gun turret and the bridge face. Replace with the metal barrel and the turret is ready to go more or less IMHO

Thx for posting those NEXT pics, caledonia. Much appreciated.

Detail-wise on the major pieces, the NEXT Akizuki seems to be as or even more sharp than those of the NEXT Kagero/Yugumo kits. The turrets, funnel and bridge look very good from here.

To Mike C, I am looking forward to the completed set. My 1/200 Hatsuzuki awaits!

photo continues. The first thing you will notice when you get the kit is the size of the box. It is the same length as the box for a battleship!!

Just received Fujimi's 1/700 NEXT Akizuki. looks very impressive with the details and the molding sharpness. Some quick pictures to compare with the Fujimi's "normal" offering of the same ship