The Ship Model Forum

Hello to all

Some years ago I started the construction of a 1/72 Shokaku... as usual, life got in the way and everything ended up either in the trash or in my fireplace.
Now, 8 years have passed and I still haven´t lost the urge to build such a monster... I now have more time and conditions to take a 2nd opportunity at it... so, with no further delays... let´s get going!

I´ll be using Miyukikai´s plans for "Shokaku 1941" and "Zuikaku 1943".



Setting up a new "drydock"... 4 meters length.



Getting myself a couple of plywood boards, which will turn into the carriers main structure.



Printed on paper bow, stern and hull sections, which will be transfered into the plywood.



Joining 3 sections of plywood to turn into the main carrier structure.



Positioning and glueing both bow and stern sections... (due to size, it´s not easy to get good photographs )



And that´s all for now... As I´ll advance in the construction, I´ll post some more pictures.

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I'm also scratch building a large model. An RC USS Boston in 1:96 scale. I would suggest you build that table stronger and get some good wheels for it, two with locks. Even if your building a waterline and not an RC model, it will be heavy and awkward to work on. A wheeled table will let you get to either side easily. BTW: In 1:72 you can have working torpedoes and other neat stuff. Good luck.

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Build em big

I made the hull in 1/72 for the M class light cruiser that I call KMS Munich, and it has set for over a year as My Plan Z book project took over My life. As soon as I get the book published on Amazon, (I'm hoping in about 3 months I plan to get back to the Munich. Good luck on keeping on this project, if it would help, I will build you an air wing for it LOL. I like to make 1/72 scale airplanes. I look forward to seeing it, and maybe My light cruiser can cover you in a battle group. Smooth sailing Haratio.

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Shoot till You see the Whites of their tails.

I am so glad your back. I watched all of your builds and identify with your style of construction. I want to do some 1/72 scale projects and I like the way you lay out and build and I want to have the knowledge and skill as well.
Will be watching and ask you do be quite detailed in your description and the tools and products you use to complete your project so I learn and gain more confidence.

Looking forward for more post .

Hello to all

Some advances... this time, cutting hull sections...







See you...

I am looking forward for this build .Hope you put some nice 1/72 aircraft on deck .

cool mate ..

That´s a possibility...
To be honest, the following picture is outdated as I already have 21 (out of 26 needed) Vals...



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Thanks for the photos. I really want to follow closely how you build your project. Shokaku was one on my list of 1/72 to build. I am wanting to build water line models though for display in glass case with ocean scene. I check every day so please keep those updates coming. I am learning allot and your posting of your projects are most appreciated.

Also Jose First question?
Who do you get your plans from? Do you get them in 1/72 scale or do you have to in large them? If you have to in large them? Could you explain that process to me?
Also on your sections? How do you determine how many sections you will use? OR Do you just use all the sections provided on the plan?
What is the best material to use on this part of the ship? I know you want to use something durable but also light weight. I would think?
I see your board is white. So is like some kind of paper board? Or a poster board of some kind? Have you covered plywood in styrene again? Which as pretty ingenious.

Jose
How do you know how far apart to mount your sections on the keel piece? Is the numbers on the section cut outs correspond to the frame numbers of the ship? Are those frame numbers on the drawing of the side view plan I have seen you use for the keel?

Hello Dennis JP

Some of these questions were already answered, on previous topic replies (^ look up ^)...

But here goes:

1) I get my plans from Miyukikai, from Japan (there´s a website).
2) They are drawn in 1/200. I scan, enlarge and print them in 1/72.
3) The number of sections are the same that are drawn on the plans.
4) I use 10mm marine grade plywood for the main structure ("keel" and hull sections).
5) The hull is covered with balsa planks (1000x100x1.5mm). After that, I´ll cover the hull with styrene (0.5mm thickness), so that I can add details to it, more easily.
6) Distance between sections... again, all comes from the plans. And yes, the section´s numbers correspond to the same on the "keel"...

Hope this will help.

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Yes it does help and thank you very much.
I remember on your past posts before you were upset because maybe you were wondering if your posts really helped someone. Well they do. You really have helped me allot. My confidence is growing about the hull section.

Jose
Were did you go for your plan printing?
If you blow up a 1/200 to 1/72 your gonna have a 12 foot long plan almost for a 872 foot ship. The only printer I have seen and I am no expert is a Architect printer to print that out. So got a question on that????
I know as well 1" = 6 feet in 1/72nd scale
So gonna have to figure out a way for me to do it. I think the blo up would be to big on my computer unless I do it in pieces and down load it to a USB and have it printed some where.

Here is some pictures of Shokaku after her Coral Sea Damage. As you can see the Shokaku had a middle support for her flight deck forward. In case you did not know. Thought I would try to be of help since you are helping me. Also can see some details there as well.
Also she took damage to her boat deck on the starboard side and there is a picture that shows some good details of ladders ect. Try to post it bellow.


and



Boat Deck as seen from AA gun platform. Looks like the men are standing on a accommodation ladder or Gangway as some might call it LOL for getting off the ship.

The white circles on the pictures is frag damage from the bomb explosion. Apparently it missed the flight deck but had enough angle on it that it hit the boat deck and exploded.
Good detail of the boat deck though and the ladders and hatches in the area as well as the hull rap around from the gun platform to the boat deck and the ladder down from the gun platform to the boat deck with the ladder from the boat deck down to the main deck. Also the little post supports supporting the boat deck from the main deck. Allot of good detail there.

Here is a picture of her Capstan for her Anchor Chain and Chain locker. It seems to be the same as Tone's.

(Image of Tone from Wikipedia and Shokaku images from Wikipedia Comons)

Are you building it in sections for transport? Or are you going to charge people to come in and see it? I've heard stories about modelers who build 20+ ft long ships in their basement or garage, then have to knock down a wall to get it out!

tem que ler cada uma hein Zé?

cool mate..

Hi Jose great subject but a single hull at 1:72 creates transport problems or is your model to be static. . A good friend of mine Paul Bannon builds carriers but always in sections . They are working models but he has to transport them easily which he can do. Other friends have built or are building 1:50th Type 42 and Type 45 destroyers , these are huge but they have huge trailers to tow behind their cars. I wish you well and I will be following this build with interest.
Dave Wooley